As some of you know I'm considering selling the Boxster and getting something a bit more suitable to my needs so in the last week I've been to a couple of car dealers to test drive a couple of cars.
Dealer 1 (large general dealership selling most types of cars)
Audi TT 225 in my favourite combination of Avus Silver with red leather. Described as "PROBABLY THE UKs BEST PRESENTED CARS". Despite the fact that it was about £2k over priced I was prepared to pay the extra for something so special so I went along to view it.
Pulled up outside garage and saw the TT. Even from a distance I could tell that it wasn't all that well presented. Got up close and immediately realised that it had been owned by a woman driver/gay hairdresser. Yes I know that sounds stereotypical but the gearstick was scratched so badly from rings, every panel had dents on it, both bumpers were badly scuffed (in several places each) and the leather interior was really shabby (impressive wear for a 40k miles car)
Didn't even bother to test drive, just walked away having wasted my time.
Dealer 2 - Renault dealership
Phoned up and arranged to test drive a Clio 197. Were very helpful on the phone as the car wasn't in the showroom however they told me that if I gave it a few hours they'd get it on site.
I arrive 2 hours later and see a scruffy, dirty Clio. It's apparently being used by one of the salesmen therefore it's a mess. Not a good start.
Out of the corner of my eye I spot a 197 F1. Salesman tells me that it's 2 yr old, £13k with only 17k on the clock so I arrange a test drive. Was given the keys to a stone cold car and told to thrash it within an inch of its life, salesman tells me he doesn't care how I drive it. Despite being told to do what I want I warm the car up anyway and give it a decent test drive.
I quite liked the F1, seats are very good, driving position is good (if a little high), steering feels precise, handles very well yet is still comfortable. My only criticisms are the noise and the cheap feel to everything. I poke the door cards and they creak, the parcel shelf is squeaky, the drivers seat has quite a hole worn into it and generally it feels not dissimilar to my old R5GTT or Clio 16V.
Overall it's a decent car though although this particular example is a bit shabby for such low mileage so I move onto dealer 3.
Dealer 3 - Sports car specialist
Arrive at dealer 3. They appear to have lots of nice cars on the forecourt and I spot the Audi TT that I was going to view.
From a distance it looks decent enough and it's priced more reasonably (£10k instead of £12k like the other one). Up close however it's obvious that the dealer has tarted it up to sell quickly. El cheapo Linglong type tyres look like they've just been fitted and there's loads of badly touched up paintwork where stone chips have been painted over.
The salesman gives me the spiel about TTs (mostly incorrect) before I politely tell him that my last car was a TT and then he shuts up. He starts the car and we go for a test drive (with him as a passenger). Car feels on its last legs, 2nd gear is knackered and it won't rev cleanly above above 4000rpm (coil pack/maf perhaps?). It feels loose and sloppy, like an old car (even though it's a 53 plate)
I get back to the showroom and we talk figures. I give him all the details of my car and he umms and ahhs about how Boxsters are crap and nobody wants to buy them before looking in Glass's guide and tells me that he'd be able to give me £15k for mine. Even then it's doing me a favour as my car is crap, the book guide apparently says that all Boxsters come with 19" alloys as standard, PASM and PCM so none of my options are actually options and therefore I'm lucky to be offered anything that figure. He'd only be retailing my car for £16k apparently. Yeah, right....
After being thoroughly insulted I give a fake mobile number and simply walk out. I don't want to deal with a bunch of clowns like this and hope that the recession hits them hard. Idiots.
I understand that dealers have to make a profit but by belittling and insulting their potential customers? Surely that's no way to run a business?
So, all in all a bit of a wasted time really. The Renault garage was the best of the lot (main dealer so it's to be expected) however the standard of their cars wasn't good enough for the price they were charging.
Still unsure what to do though. The more I think about it the more I think I might just keep the Porsche. The sun is shining outside so I think I'll go get the top down and listen to that glorious engine and exhaust as I blast down the ringroad. (or maybe I'll go test drive an Exige as I do quite miss my 111R...)
Dealer 1 (large general dealership selling most types of cars)
Audi TT 225 in my favourite combination of Avus Silver with red leather. Described as "PROBABLY THE UKs BEST PRESENTED CARS". Despite the fact that it was about £2k over priced I was prepared to pay the extra for something so special so I went along to view it.
Pulled up outside garage and saw the TT. Even from a distance I could tell that it wasn't all that well presented. Got up close and immediately realised that it had been owned by a woman driver/gay hairdresser. Yes I know that sounds stereotypical but the gearstick was scratched so badly from rings, every panel had dents on it, both bumpers were badly scuffed (in several places each) and the leather interior was really shabby (impressive wear for a 40k miles car)
Didn't even bother to test drive, just walked away having wasted my time.
Dealer 2 - Renault dealership
Phoned up and arranged to test drive a Clio 197. Were very helpful on the phone as the car wasn't in the showroom however they told me that if I gave it a few hours they'd get it on site.
I arrive 2 hours later and see a scruffy, dirty Clio. It's apparently being used by one of the salesmen therefore it's a mess. Not a good start.
Out of the corner of my eye I spot a 197 F1. Salesman tells me that it's 2 yr old, £13k with only 17k on the clock so I arrange a test drive. Was given the keys to a stone cold car and told to thrash it within an inch of its life, salesman tells me he doesn't care how I drive it. Despite being told to do what I want I warm the car up anyway and give it a decent test drive.
I quite liked the F1, seats are very good, driving position is good (if a little high), steering feels precise, handles very well yet is still comfortable. My only criticisms are the noise and the cheap feel to everything. I poke the door cards and they creak, the parcel shelf is squeaky, the drivers seat has quite a hole worn into it and generally it feels not dissimilar to my old R5GTT or Clio 16V.
Overall it's a decent car though although this particular example is a bit shabby for such low mileage so I move onto dealer 3.
Dealer 3 - Sports car specialist
Arrive at dealer 3. They appear to have lots of nice cars on the forecourt and I spot the Audi TT that I was going to view.
From a distance it looks decent enough and it's priced more reasonably (£10k instead of £12k like the other one). Up close however it's obvious that the dealer has tarted it up to sell quickly. El cheapo Linglong type tyres look like they've just been fitted and there's loads of badly touched up paintwork where stone chips have been painted over.
The salesman gives me the spiel about TTs (mostly incorrect) before I politely tell him that my last car was a TT and then he shuts up. He starts the car and we go for a test drive (with him as a passenger). Car feels on its last legs, 2nd gear is knackered and it won't rev cleanly above above 4000rpm (coil pack/maf perhaps?). It feels loose and sloppy, like an old car (even though it's a 53 plate)
I get back to the showroom and we talk figures. I give him all the details of my car and he umms and ahhs about how Boxsters are crap and nobody wants to buy them before looking in Glass's guide and tells me that he'd be able to give me £15k for mine. Even then it's doing me a favour as my car is crap, the book guide apparently says that all Boxsters come with 19" alloys as standard, PASM and PCM so none of my options are actually options and therefore I'm lucky to be offered anything that figure. He'd only be retailing my car for £16k apparently. Yeah, right....
After being thoroughly insulted I give a fake mobile number and simply walk out. I don't want to deal with a bunch of clowns like this and hope that the recession hits them hard. Idiots.
I understand that dealers have to make a profit but by belittling and insulting their potential customers? Surely that's no way to run a business?
So, all in all a bit of a wasted time really. The Renault garage was the best of the lot (main dealer so it's to be expected) however the standard of their cars wasn't good enough for the price they were charging.
Still unsure what to do though. The more I think about it the more I think I might just keep the Porsche. The sun is shining outside so I think I'll go get the top down and listen to that glorious engine and exhaust as I blast down the ringroad. (or maybe I'll go test drive an Exige as I do quite miss my 111R...)
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