Weird...nobody seems to be complaining about that
I mean the jaguar garage literally has 7 f-types parked in a row fully prepped.
Opinion time please!
- Thread starter Dis86
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Weird...nobody seems to be complaining about that
I mean the jaguar garage literally has 7 f-types parked in a row fully prepped.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Unfortunately literally grabbing hold of one of the sales individuals tends to be classed as assault. They were aware I was there and interested in a car. So I'd argue their approach wasn't the best one.
Interestingly the very helpful gentleman at Mercedes was a former Jaguar employee who knew all too well the issue I was facing.
Additionally you're going on like you've never encountered poor customer service
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All dealers are different and comes down to people. Little purpose of a dealership walk in facility if you can’t just walk in. JLR Stafford were all over me last week and was in a car in 10 minutes. I never intended to drive one just to have a look but they gave me the keys and let me head out unaccompanied.
Derby Merc the same. Tamworth Audi like a ghost town. All dealers are different and I don’t expect to have to call ahead but also don’t walk in and expect people to drop everything. There are still crap dealers there are still great ones. If you walk in it isn’t unreasonable to expect a conversation at some point during your visit.
Derby Merc the same. Tamworth Audi like a ghost town. All dealers are different and I don’t expect to have to call ahead but also don’t walk in and expect people to drop everything. There are still crap dealers there are still great ones. If you walk in it isn’t unreasonable to expect a conversation at some point during your visit.
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Nothing special just a Defender 90. Decent but flawed.
i love auto and it makes a great change from a manual which gets very annoying in stop start driving
Precisely why I'm testing both where that option is available.
my car didn't break loose at the rear end today but i'm still going to buy new wheels.
the AMG has manual too but i've never used it, just sport or sport plus.
I had exactly the same experience at my local JLR dealer. Was looking to buy my new car, went along and made myself known at the front desk as required for covid regulations. Then waited. And waited. And waited. Walked around the one way system looking at the cars from all angles on the outside without being able to look inside because they were taped shut.
In the meantime the sales people were sitting at their desks and didn't even loo at me.
Eventually I left and bought my car at another dealer. The telephone call that came later asking how my visit went was not very complimentary. The woman doing the questioning said that she had heard many of the same experiences from other potential customer. Muppets.
Weird. Fox seems to believe the problem is us!
I don't dispute the existence of poor customer service in the motor trade. On the contrary, its everywhere. Good customer service is the exception, not the rule. But that said, you're buying a car and it's just a transaction. A salesman has never enhanced the process for me - they are an obstacle between me and the car I want at the price I want to pay. I'm certainly not going to base any of my car choices based on the initial interaction with the sales staff. Who cares? They won't after they've sold it to you anyway!
Unless you're factory ordering a new car (In which case you're probably going to use a broker/carwow/whatever anyway) then your choice of dealer especially when looking at most specialist cars will be dictated not by who rushed over with a biscuit and a cup of tea fastest but who actually has the spec you want in stock anyway. So these stories of walking out purely on the basis of the sales staff ignoring you and buying somewhere else? Unless these people wanted a Generic Crossover 1.6 with Black Wheels and lived within 10 miles of 3 different insert-mainstream-manufacturer-here dealers how often do they happen really?
The internet is full of these stories - usually the same theme, walked into a dealer, expected a red carpet, didn't get it, ran out to another dealer instead. Bonus points for anecdotes where the poster or someone they knew was wearing old jeans and a hoody and later paid cash for a Ferrari.
I've been ignored in showrooms - I've simply asked again for assistance until such time as I received it. I'm not looking for a new friend, I just want to buy or look at a car. Generally I telephone in advance anyway - I'd imagine that part of the problem is that most salesmen quickly learn the conversion rate from walk-in to sale is very low, especially when you get the usual test pilots who need a good drive of the auto and the manual version of the entire Evo Car of the Year shortlist to make their decision -then buy something else anyway. Very few people buying expensive cars will do so after randomly showing up unannounced expecting to be given free and unlimited access to the demonstrator fleet and the attitude you're getting from dealers reflects this reality I'd suggest.
Much of this comes from the salesman/commission business model where a salesman is judged and earns purely on the basis of what they sell with no real eye for future brand loyalty. Were they salaried with no bonus for selling car you'd probably get a different experience as the incentive to profile is gone, but we're not there and you have to work with what you have, don't you?
I'd question the value of test drives in the car buying process anyway. For me, I find they are often counter productive. You never get enough time to really get to know a car and are instead left with often false initial impressions. I've bought the wrong car off the back of test drives and I've also seen the 'wow this car is great' feeling gradually move to 'If I never drive this car again I won't care' over the period of, say, a weeks rental. These things take time, a test drive only ever offers a taste.
Unless you're factory ordering a new car (In which case you're probably going to use a broker/carwow/whatever anyway) then your choice of dealer especially when looking at most specialist cars will be dictated not by who rushed over with a biscuit and a cup of tea fastest but who actually has the spec you want in stock anyway. So these stories of walking out purely on the basis of the sales staff ignoring you and buying somewhere else? Unless these people wanted a Generic Crossover 1.6 with Black Wheels and lived within 10 miles of 3 different insert-mainstream-manufacturer-here dealers how often do they happen really?
The internet is full of these stories - usually the same theme, walked into a dealer, expected a red carpet, didn't get it, ran out to another dealer instead. Bonus points for anecdotes where the poster or someone they knew was wearing old jeans and a hoody and later paid cash for a Ferrari.
I've been ignored in showrooms - I've simply asked again for assistance until such time as I received it. I'm not looking for a new friend, I just want to buy or look at a car. Generally I telephone in advance anyway - I'd imagine that part of the problem is that most salesmen quickly learn the conversion rate from walk-in to sale is very low, especially when you get the usual test pilots who need a good drive of the auto and the manual version of the entire Evo Car of the Year shortlist to make their decision -then buy something else anyway. Very few people buying expensive cars will do so after randomly showing up unannounced expecting to be given free and unlimited access to the demonstrator fleet and the attitude you're getting from dealers reflects this reality I'd suggest.
Much of this comes from the salesman/commission business model where a salesman is judged and earns purely on the basis of what they sell with no real eye for future brand loyalty. Were they salaried with no bonus for selling car you'd probably get a different experience as the incentive to profile is gone, but we're not there and you have to work with what you have, don't you?
I'd question the value of test drives in the car buying process anyway. For me, I find they are often counter productive. You never get enough time to really get to know a car and are instead left with often false initial impressions. I've bought the wrong car off the back of test drives and I've also seen the 'wow this car is great' feeling gradually move to 'If I never drive this car again I won't care' over the period of, say, a weeks rental. These things take time, a test drive only ever offers a taste.
The advantage of a test drive is it can immediately eliminate a car. As is the case for me a pre-2019 mustang is now completely off the list.
Nobody has asked for 'free and unlimited access'. What we have asked for is a sales rep to discuss a potential sale. Seeing as that's their job its expected they do it. As both of us have pointed out the order of the day is that you put the request in with with receptionist. I could visibly see and hear that some of the reps were just stood about having personal conversations the whole time.
Also as it happens I was in jeans and a hoody
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GT4 for me
Regarding test drives, always ring ahead and pre-book, its the polite thing to do.
Mustang - With an exhaust, epic noise from V8, the community is also fantastic, Simply Mustang group bunch of great guys. The actual car though needs work they are average out the box. The MY18 models with magneride and manual are a big step on compared to the earlier model, also the stock exhaust is very fruity so Mustang wise only consider MY18 or newer with the magneride suspension, 6 speed manual.
F-Type V8 - Superior car in everyway to the Mustang, the ZF8 is amazing, the AWD works flawlessly and they sound very fruity out the box, plus the R / SVR models are seriously quick, would take an R / SVR over any Mustang, except maybe a GT 350, which is not an issue as you are not buying a RHD GT 350 anywhere.
Mercedes - A well built Mustang to put it bluntly with a far nicer interior and even faster, the Jaguar is far more an event to drive.
R8 V10 - Bonkers fast, epic handling and crazy ability, but due to this I found almost boring whats the point if to have fun you have to drive so far beyond the speed limit, simply not for me.
Another plus point of the Jaguar is cheap servicing, likewise for Mustang also very cheap to service, just with Jaguar try to buy from an official dealer for warranty as they can and do have issues, I got lucky with my SVR it was trouble free but my mates SVR has had a few issues.
Also another wild card, Ferrari 360 or 430, check your local Ferrari dealership as you might be surprised as to what you can get and how the finance works on some, due to them have little depreciation I believe they can offer some pretty strong finance deals. However the servicing cost and maintenance cost would be in a different league so do be warned.
Also as its a fun car do check stuff like a Lotus Exige 350 Sport or even a new Emira could be a possibility?
Mustang - With an exhaust, epic noise from V8, the community is also fantastic, Simply Mustang group bunch of great guys. The actual car though needs work they are average out the box. The MY18 models with magneride and manual are a big step on compared to the earlier model, also the stock exhaust is very fruity so Mustang wise only consider MY18 or newer with the magneride suspension, 6 speed manual.
F-Type V8 - Superior car in everyway to the Mustang, the ZF8 is amazing, the AWD works flawlessly and they sound very fruity out the box, plus the R / SVR models are seriously quick, would take an R / SVR over any Mustang, except maybe a GT 350, which is not an issue as you are not buying a RHD GT 350 anywhere.
Mercedes - A well built Mustang to put it bluntly with a far nicer interior and even faster, the Jaguar is far more an event to drive.
R8 V10 - Bonkers fast, epic handling and crazy ability, but due to this I found almost boring whats the point if to have fun you have to drive so far beyond the speed limit, simply not for me.
Another plus point of the Jaguar is cheap servicing, likewise for Mustang also very cheap to service, just with Jaguar try to buy from an official dealer for warranty as they can and do have issues, I got lucky with my SVR it was trouble free but my mates SVR has had a few issues.
Also another wild card, Ferrari 360 or 430, check your local Ferrari dealership as you might be surprised as to what you can get and how the finance works on some, due to them have little depreciation I believe they can offer some pretty strong finance deals. However the servicing cost and maintenance cost would be in a different league so do be warned.
Also as its a fun car do check stuff like a Lotus Exige 350 Sport or even a new Emira could be a possibility?
@Gibbo thanks for the opinions. One thing that does appeal to me about the mustang is the customisation/performance options. Spent a fair bit of time browsing what Steeda have to offer and it looks pretty good.
The emira is on the list but feel it's too close to the boxster with engine layout etc.
Had briefly looked at a 430 some time back and actually...they do seem an interesting prospect! Only downside is they'd be older than I'd like.
The emira is on the list but feel it's too close to the boxster with engine layout etc.
Had briefly looked at a 430 some time back and actually...they do seem an interesting prospect! Only downside is they'd be older than I'd like.
/Ban
The customisation side with a Mustang is indeed a lot of fun and can yield great results but if buying an MY18 with correct options there is less need, Steeda, BMC are good choices for parts, if your changing out the suspension completely however then revert back to European brands like KW, Ohlins etc unless going crazy like JRZ etc.
You have to drive them, I thought my Mustang was good, I then drove an F-Type V6 380/400 and thought it was pretty meh in all honesty, it felt slow. I then drove the SVR and it blew my socks off, I have since driven the P450 V8 and new R V8, again these are also really good, but if funds allow you to get into an SVR, absolutely do it as they are truly incredible road cars with incredible performance, sub 3s to 60mph is possible out the box and its so easily accessible, no LC literally just stomp the loud pedal and its like a slingshot accompanied by one of the best soundtracks out there, however avoid the MY19 and later cars, their vocals got seriously muted.
F430 will feel like a race car but yes they are older can can easily throw 10k plus bills in maintenance.