Lancaster Sevenoaks
29 April 2002, 05:13 PM
#31
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Steve
Glad you like the website
Without wishing to drag this off topic, the military teach us so much tech that it makes your eyes bleed. Given that our aircraft are so old (Hercs) and that the only digital thing on board is the co-pilot's watch we do actually have to apply a lot of our tech knowledge in the field just to keep the b@ggers going!
That said, my oft used knowledge of 14-stage axial flow compressors, triple hydraulic systems, INUs and other nonsense doesn't really qualify me to comment on automotive 4 pot brake callipers and Subaru steering
I appreciate your comments regarding them trying to get their hands on my money but compared to other dealers I've been to, looking to buy, they were very good. A lot of dealers are staffed by either spotty youths in ill-fitting suits with no idea about the products in their showroom or alternatively, by patronising wide-boy geezers who are fluent in over 15 forms of verbal bull54it. Lancasters were neither.
I appreciate that you're having problems with them and please don't think I'm knocking you personally. I had good service from them, you're having s4it service from them; at least it's both sides of the argument...
PS. The comments about technical knowledge was more banter than anything else hence the large number of
Cheers
Glad you like the website
Without wishing to drag this off topic, the military teach us so much tech that it makes your eyes bleed. Given that our aircraft are so old (Hercs) and that the only digital thing on board is the co-pilot's watch we do actually have to apply a lot of our tech knowledge in the field just to keep the b@ggers going!
That said, my oft used knowledge of 14-stage axial flow compressors, triple hydraulic systems, INUs and other nonsense doesn't really qualify me to comment on automotive 4 pot brake callipers and Subaru steering
I appreciate your comments regarding them trying to get their hands on my money but compared to other dealers I've been to, looking to buy, they were very good. A lot of dealers are staffed by either spotty youths in ill-fitting suits with no idea about the products in their showroom or alternatively, by patronising wide-boy geezers who are fluent in over 15 forms of verbal bull54it. Lancasters were neither.
I appreciate that you're having problems with them and please don't think I'm knocking you personally. I had good service from them, you're having s4it service from them; at least it's both sides of the argument...
PS. The comments about technical knowledge was more banter than anything else hence the large number of
Cheers
23 May 2002, 09:20 AM
#34
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I've had a mixed bag from Lancaster Sevenoaks. They have supplied me two new cars, ahead of schedule and presented them beautifully. They have good facilities and never have had any cause for concern with their services.
Have had several gripes to their manager though regarding attitude. One time, I was wanting to swap my car for another, and they made me an absolutely awful offer for my existing car, wouldn't even consider improving the deal, and then told me to take it or leave it as they had another customer lined up ! I told them I'd leave it and also any future business unless the manager accounted for this poor attitude towards someone who had spent a lot of money with them.
He did actually apologise and they have offered me every attention, and a good deal since. The staff turnover is pretty high, and the spotty youth salesmen they have right now don't do them any favours.
Just my tuppence worth.
Cheers,
Rich
Have had several gripes to their manager though regarding attitude. One time, I was wanting to swap my car for another, and they made me an absolutely awful offer for my existing car, wouldn't even consider improving the deal, and then told me to take it or leave it as they had another customer lined up ! I told them I'd leave it and also any future business unless the manager accounted for this poor attitude towards someone who had spent a lot of money with them.
He did actually apologise and they have offered me every attention, and a good deal since. The staff turnover is pretty high, and the spotty youth salesmen they have right now don't do them any favours.
Just my tuppence worth.
Cheers,
Rich
23 May 2002, 09:47 AM
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I have been a customer of Lancasters for almost five years and have had very satisfactory service throughout. The stories 'reported 'don't sound like Lancasters at all - if you think about it why should you expect a loan car when you sell your car privately and await delivery of a new car- surely it is down to you to get the timing right not rely on someone else to sort it out for you.
Ian is a top bloke and i will be more than happy to go back for new business with them everyone is very friendly and always say hello( from mechanics to sales,service etc )
They ahve always gone out of their way to be helpful with servicing pickups, warranty issues etc
Andy
Ian is a top bloke and i will be more than happy to go back for new business with them everyone is very friendly and always say hello( from mechanics to sales,service etc )
They ahve always gone out of their way to be helpful with servicing pickups, warranty issues etc
Andy
23 May 2002, 12:11 PM
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Guys,
I'm glad that you've had good service from them and that you think Ian is a nice/knowledgable/helpful guy. After all, if *nobody* thought this then they would not be in business.
One thing though, does the fact that Ian came on here posting, and pretending to not be part of Lancasters not bother you?
Seems a little childish and unprofessional to me (IMHO)
Just a Q!
Matt
I'm glad that you've had good service from them and that you think Ian is a nice/knowledgable/helpful guy. After all, if *nobody* thought this then they would not be in business.
One thing though, does the fact that Ian came on here posting, and pretending to not be part of Lancasters not bother you?
Seems a little childish and unprofessional to me (IMHO) Just a Q!
Matt
23 May 2002, 01:43 PM
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Spring Park gave me my first drive in an Impreza....that's gotta be a good thing....Apart from that, I have always thought them keen NOT to have me as a customer! Just an impression they give, but that's fine with me.
Rich
Rich
10 June 2002, 08:09 PM
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I can’t believe some of the b*******ks I’m reading in this thread. As a current car salesman, I have to reply with the dealers view on things and add some of my own thoughts on a few of the comments in this thread. Just a few words about my background. I’ve been a car salesman for about 14 years, mostly in prestige, and currently in prestige. I am the proud owner of a 98my Scooby Turbo (a UK car BTW).
Pooder was whinging about delivery times…dealers have NO control over delivery times. We will do our best to get cars to you on time, but we are at the mercy of our manufacturers or importers. They send cars out to dealers when it’s convenient for them. I would be very wary of guaranteed delivery times if you were ordering a factory car. One of the lines I still use is that I will not guarantee any delivery date until the car is physically with us, in our compound. Guarantees are pointless if you have no control over what you are guaranteeing.
Loan cars. Someone in this thread was complaining about a lack of a loan car. Loan Car? HELLO!! Dealer margins are currently ****E, and do you think they have enough spare cash to run a fleet of cars for the odd occasion when a dissatisfied customer demands one for a couple of months? I once saw a dandy in a Tommy Nutter suit demanding an XJR as a service loan car whilst his own XJR was in for a service. For gods sake!! A loan car that depreciates at £1,000 a month, plus servicing and repair costs for a car that people are going to thrash the nuts off…I don’t think the shareholders would get their heads around that one somehow. Anyway, he got his car. The Service Managers wife’s’ Fiat 126. And it was specially sign written for him, with “I am a ****” in Morse code down the side. And he had it for 5 days, rather than the estimated 2… “Parts haven’t arrived yet Sir.” Ha!
As for SiCotty “missing some important parts in the engine department.” Mate you gotta be very, VERY careful quoting **** like that in a public forum. You are exposing yourself to serious legal action. And god knows what the mechanic involved would think if he read that. If it was me that did the work on your car, I’d come after you with a large spanner (a VERY large spanner). BTW, did you take the issue up with Lancaster? Did you take it far? Did you get satisfaction? Or are you too cowardly to take it further?
Mega_stream had a comment about someone at Lancaster ought to remember that “he’s only a car salesman…” Mate, ONLY a car salesman…What are you…ONLY a customer? A bit of mutual respect I think. If that’s the way you think about car salesmen, no wonder you get treated like ****.
Mutant_matt was grizzling about how people are treated when they buy imports. I currently work for a manufacturer that is heavily exposed to imports. It may be childish and unprofessional, but it is very difficult not to get pissed off when someone you’ve been dealing with for some time, and have developed a good rapport with, and seems close to dealing, suddenly announces that “Sorry mate, gonna buy an import.” And I do get infuriated by people that were stringing you on the whole time and never had any intention of buying a UK car. All that time, effort and energy wasted (and not to mention the brochures, the PX valuation, the petrol etc etc). Any fool can set up an import business selling cars cheaply. All he needs is a hired office above a butchers shop with a desk, chair and phone. Brochures? No. PX valuations? No. Test drives? No. Servicing? No. Parts? No. Warranty work? No. (“Gearbox dropped out sir? Terribly sorry sir! Suggest you take it to the supplying dealer sir. In Cyprus sir? Oh, I’m sorry to hear that sir. I suggest you hire a transporter and boat sir.”
Another perennial customer gripe is PX valuations. I’m not an expert valuer, and never pretend to be. Values come straight out of Glass’s or CAP. No secret. If you think a dealer is having your trousers down, go to another one (or three). It’s very easy to get a good idea what your car is worth to the trade. And bear in mind, values for an outright purchase will always be slightly less than if you’re going to be buying another car off the dealers forecourt. And do bear in mind condition. Every owner seems to think his car’s immaculate, but 4 tyres with 2mm is £500 that’ll be knocked off the price. Dings, dents, scratches, scrapes, missed services, *** ash everywhere, doggy stink…it all gets taken account of. In the trade we have a saying “that bloke needs a reality pill.” Well, some customers need an equine sized reality pill, a 4 inch special, up the backside.
As a salesman, one thing I’ve found with customers is that you can have 100 customers, and treat them all exactly the same. Some of them will be beside themselves with anger about how badly they’ve been treated, some of them will love you to bits and think they’ve been treated like royalty, but most of them will have no particular thoughts either way. You can’t win ‘em all.
I got into this career because I love cars. I love the cars that I sell, I love dealing with people, I love talking cars with knowledgeable and enthusiastic customers, I love taking them out on demos. I enjoy the horse-trading that goes when negotiating deals, I try to be as professional as possible, and I genuinely like most of my customers. But there are always a few ***** to leave a bad taste in your mouth, and some of them appear in this thread.
As a salesman, a couple of final points…treat us with respect, and we’ll treat you with respect…be open and honest with us, and we’ll be open and honest with you…don’t cane cars on the demo, let the salesman cane the car when he’s driving. He may not be a professional driver, but he knows the car a damn sight better than you do. And DON’T ask for a demo unless you are close to buying something.
‘Nuff said.
Pooder was whinging about delivery times…dealers have NO control over delivery times. We will do our best to get cars to you on time, but we are at the mercy of our manufacturers or importers. They send cars out to dealers when it’s convenient for them. I would be very wary of guaranteed delivery times if you were ordering a factory car. One of the lines I still use is that I will not guarantee any delivery date until the car is physically with us, in our compound. Guarantees are pointless if you have no control over what you are guaranteeing.
Loan cars. Someone in this thread was complaining about a lack of a loan car. Loan Car? HELLO!! Dealer margins are currently ****E, and do you think they have enough spare cash to run a fleet of cars for the odd occasion when a dissatisfied customer demands one for a couple of months? I once saw a dandy in a Tommy Nutter suit demanding an XJR as a service loan car whilst his own XJR was in for a service. For gods sake!! A loan car that depreciates at £1,000 a month, plus servicing and repair costs for a car that people are going to thrash the nuts off…I don’t think the shareholders would get their heads around that one somehow. Anyway, he got his car. The Service Managers wife’s’ Fiat 126. And it was specially sign written for him, with “I am a ****” in Morse code down the side. And he had it for 5 days, rather than the estimated 2… “Parts haven’t arrived yet Sir.” Ha!
As for SiCotty “missing some important parts in the engine department.” Mate you gotta be very, VERY careful quoting **** like that in a public forum. You are exposing yourself to serious legal action. And god knows what the mechanic involved would think if he read that. If it was me that did the work on your car, I’d come after you with a large spanner (a VERY large spanner). BTW, did you take the issue up with Lancaster? Did you take it far? Did you get satisfaction? Or are you too cowardly to take it further?
Mega_stream had a comment about someone at Lancaster ought to remember that “he’s only a car salesman…” Mate, ONLY a car salesman…What are you…ONLY a customer? A bit of mutual respect I think. If that’s the way you think about car salesmen, no wonder you get treated like ****.
Mutant_matt was grizzling about how people are treated when they buy imports. I currently work for a manufacturer that is heavily exposed to imports. It may be childish and unprofessional, but it is very difficult not to get pissed off when someone you’ve been dealing with for some time, and have developed a good rapport with, and seems close to dealing, suddenly announces that “Sorry mate, gonna buy an import.” And I do get infuriated by people that were stringing you on the whole time and never had any intention of buying a UK car. All that time, effort and energy wasted (and not to mention the brochures, the PX valuation, the petrol etc etc). Any fool can set up an import business selling cars cheaply. All he needs is a hired office above a butchers shop with a desk, chair and phone. Brochures? No. PX valuations? No. Test drives? No. Servicing? No. Parts? No. Warranty work? No. (“Gearbox dropped out sir? Terribly sorry sir! Suggest you take it to the supplying dealer sir. In Cyprus sir? Oh, I’m sorry to hear that sir. I suggest you hire a transporter and boat sir.”
Another perennial customer gripe is PX valuations. I’m not an expert valuer, and never pretend to be. Values come straight out of Glass’s or CAP. No secret. If you think a dealer is having your trousers down, go to another one (or three). It’s very easy to get a good idea what your car is worth to the trade. And bear in mind, values for an outright purchase will always be slightly less than if you’re going to be buying another car off the dealers forecourt. And do bear in mind condition. Every owner seems to think his car’s immaculate, but 4 tyres with 2mm is £500 that’ll be knocked off the price. Dings, dents, scratches, scrapes, missed services, *** ash everywhere, doggy stink…it all gets taken account of. In the trade we have a saying “that bloke needs a reality pill.” Well, some customers need an equine sized reality pill, a 4 inch special, up the backside.
As a salesman, one thing I’ve found with customers is that you can have 100 customers, and treat them all exactly the same. Some of them will be beside themselves with anger about how badly they’ve been treated, some of them will love you to bits and think they’ve been treated like royalty, but most of them will have no particular thoughts either way. You can’t win ‘em all.
I got into this career because I love cars. I love the cars that I sell, I love dealing with people, I love talking cars with knowledgeable and enthusiastic customers, I love taking them out on demos. I enjoy the horse-trading that goes when negotiating deals, I try to be as professional as possible, and I genuinely like most of my customers. But there are always a few ***** to leave a bad taste in your mouth, and some of them appear in this thread.
As a salesman, a couple of final points…treat us with respect, and we’ll treat you with respect…be open and honest with us, and we’ll be open and honest with you…don’t cane cars on the demo, let the salesman cane the car when he’s driving. He may not be a professional driver, but he knows the car a damn sight better than you do. And DON’T ask for a demo unless you are close to buying something.
‘Nuff said.
11 June 2002, 02:26 AM
#43
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And DON’T ask for a demo unless you are close to buying something
Ive currently got a list of cars as long as my arm that I am considering getting. They all have their good points and bad points but they are all fairly desirable and would be happy with them.
But, there is no way on earth that I will be anywhere near buying one until I have driven it - that is the first thing I will do. After a chat with the dealer, organise a demo.
If I am not given a demo because I havent got a cheque in my top pocket ready to give you, then sorry buddy, Im moving on.
11 June 2002, 10:16 AM
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At the end of the day Lancasters dont have a particularly good reputation, I for one voted with my feet and took my Scooby to a different dealer and get a service thats not only cheaper but in my opinion better.
I have turned 3 friends around as well, my advice to anybody using Lancasters is to try an alternative dealer.
I have turned 3 friends around as well, my advice to anybody using Lancasters is to try an alternative dealer.
11 June 2002, 12:09 PM
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And I do get infuriated by people that were stringing you on the whole time and never had any intention of buying a UK car. All that time, effort and energy wasted (and not to mention the brochures, the PX valuation, the petrol etc etc).
11 June 2002, 12:11 PM
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If I am not given a demo because I havent got a cheque in my top pocket ready to give you, then sorry buddy, Im moving on.
11 June 2002, 01:32 PM
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Effortless,
Actually, if you re-read my post, my point was that I had an idea of what was involved in importing, along with a quote to do so. I was actually planning on buying the car from a dealer but expected a little negotiation to move the price a little nearer....I was not rude, wasting the guy's time or just out for a test drive, I would have put a deposit down there and then if he had budged on price. He refused to even consider negotiating and that was what drove me to actually import. "If that's the price you can get, I suggest you go and buy it" was the exact words used, so I mearly did what Ian told me to do 
Why should I pay £8000 more for the same car???? Would YOU pay £8000 more than you needed to????
As stated above, I was not one of these people and it took 45 mins out of Ian's day. I can understand it's annoying but as Carl, said, it's comes with the job, regardless of what you're selling. Also, why do you assume that everybody that ends up buying an import has been stringing you along? Perhaps they did so because they didn't like you attitude (as in my case). People buy for a lot of different reasons, price being just one of many (IMHO).
RUBBISH!!! - as others have said, you don't know if you are remotely serious about buying a car until you've test driven it.
Not in my case....
Why not? You're buying a performance car, you want to see what the performance is like 
Perhaps you should have said, don't abuse the car, which is of course, a different thing entierly to caning it...
Just my thoughts,
Matt
Mutant_matt was grizzling about how people are treated when they buy imports
Why should I pay £8000 more for the same car???? Would YOU pay £8000 more than you needed to????
It may be childish and unprofessional, but it is very difficult not to get pissed off when someone you’ve been dealing with for some time, and have developed a good rapport with, and seems close to dealing, suddenly announces that “Sorry mate, gonna buy an import.” And I do get infuriated by people that were stringing you on the whole time and never had any intention of buying a UK car. All that time, effort and energy wasted
And DON’T ask for a demo unless you are close to buying something
…treat us with respect, and we’ll treat you with respect…be open and honest with us, and we’ll be open and honest with you…
don’t cane cars on the demo
Perhaps you should have said, don't abuse the car, which is of course, a different thing entierly to caning it...Just my thoughts,
Matt
11 June 2002, 01:59 PM
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Efartlist,
I hope I've never bought anything from you cos i'm just a customer.
One day you'll remember it's customers who pay your wages. ****.
Ian
ps As Sales Manager for the second biggest Sony broadcast dealer in Europe if any of my staff had that cr@p attitude they would be straight out of the door.
I hope I've never bought anything from you cos i'm just a customer.
One day you'll remember it's customers who pay your wages. ****.
Ian
ps As Sales Manager for the second biggest Sony broadcast dealer in Europe if any of my staff had that cr@p attitude they would be straight out of the door.
11 June 2002, 04:49 PM
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I'm sure Mr. Effortless (from 'London' allegedly: I reckon it's somewhere in Kent myself ) has never been and played with the electrical goods in John Lewis, then gone and bought the item off the Internet.
) has never been and played with the electrical goods in John Lewis, then gone and bought the item off the Internet.
11 June 2002, 05:25 PM
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I can't believe this is the man from Kent (has he got married yet?) unless the 14 years as a car sales man is a lie. It is a shame all this has continued about Lancaster without someone from that firm openly coming forward and either rationally defending themselves or just saying they intend to do better. No car dealer is perfect by any stretch of the imagination but this thread, without comment from Lancaster Sevenoaks (assuming they have seen it) continues to rightly or wrongly make them look bad.
I did buy my WRX from Lancaster and the experience was similar to most other car purchases I've made, not great not bad. Expectations when spending so much money are high, you and I see the thick end of £20k, the dealer sees small margin. "Effortless" seems to think this is a thread simply about car sales and car salemen - it's not, it's about Lancaster and it hasn't rested for 3 pages because no one from Lancaster has been able to put it to bed. Indeed if Lancaster staff have been involved on this thread then whilst their comments may have made them personnally feel better it has not show Lancaster in anything but a poor light IMO. You simply cannot be in business and talk openly or otherwise about your customers in such a way. Gerald Ratner springs to mind.
Just my 2p worth.
Piers LoFi
I did buy my WRX from Lancaster and the experience was similar to most other car purchases I've made, not great not bad. Expectations when spending so much money are high, you and I see the thick end of £20k, the dealer sees small margin. "Effortless" seems to think this is a thread simply about car sales and car salemen - it's not, it's about Lancaster and it hasn't rested for 3 pages because no one from Lancaster has been able to put it to bed. Indeed if Lancaster staff have been involved on this thread then whilst their comments may have made them personnally feel better it has not show Lancaster in anything but a poor light IMO. You simply cannot be in business and talk openly or otherwise about your customers in such a way. Gerald Ratner springs to mind.
Just my 2p worth.
Piers LoFi
11 June 2002, 08:59 PM
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OK guys, replies in the order they appear.
John McC and Carl, you've obviously read, but not understood what I wrote. My words were, '...unless you're close to buying SOMETHING.' I didn't say 'close to buying MY CAR.' I quite accept that people drive other cars, and I’m happy to compete, but I've had muppets wanting a demo 18 months before they will buy something, and if that isn't wasting my time, I don't know what is. Put it this way, my Sales Manager wouldn't let you take out our M3 today if you were going to be buying in 2005.
John McC. Industry research shows that people drive on average 3 cars before they buy. If your list is as long as your arm, are you going to drive them all? I suggest you read a few more car mags and narrow it down a bit.
Carl and mutant_matt, you're right about having to deal with Imports. It's part of our life, we have to deal with it, and we do deal with it. But don't ask me to be pleased when people use us for info, brochures, demos etc etc, and then f**k off to an importer. As I said...human nature.
mutant_matt. You’re right, perhaps I should have said ‘abuse’. What I mean is, it’s not clever to hang the **** out on a car you’ve been in less than 2 minutes.
mutant_matt. Thanks for explaining in a little more detail your dealings with Lancasters. I’m sorry you feel badly treated by them, but I don’t know the circumstances, so I can’t comment.
ian_sadler (****). If you’d read my comment properly, you will see it is in reply to a comment by mega_stream on page 1 of this thread, where he says ‘but he needs to remember he's ONLY a car salesman’.
Nathan L (What a load of fecking cr4p.). So you step into a car and immediately know how it handles better than a salesman who’s in it every day, do you? Maximum respect Mr Schumacher. Just don’t come down to my dealership and try it in an M3.
Carl, no I’ve never played in John Lewis and then bought off the internet, but then I’ve never bought anything off the internet anyway.
LoFi, I’m merely trying to illustrate the other side of the coin. All the issues mentioned in this thread have also arisen in my dealership, as I’m sure they have in most other dealerships. But please remember, there are always 2 sides of the coin.
John McC and Carl, you've obviously read, but not understood what I wrote. My words were, '...unless you're close to buying SOMETHING.' I didn't say 'close to buying MY CAR.' I quite accept that people drive other cars, and I’m happy to compete, but I've had muppets wanting a demo 18 months before they will buy something, and if that isn't wasting my time, I don't know what is. Put it this way, my Sales Manager wouldn't let you take out our M3 today if you were going to be buying in 2005.
John McC. Industry research shows that people drive on average 3 cars before they buy. If your list is as long as your arm, are you going to drive them all? I suggest you read a few more car mags and narrow it down a bit.
Carl and mutant_matt, you're right about having to deal with Imports. It's part of our life, we have to deal with it, and we do deal with it. But don't ask me to be pleased when people use us for info, brochures, demos etc etc, and then f**k off to an importer. As I said...human nature.
mutant_matt. You’re right, perhaps I should have said ‘abuse’. What I mean is, it’s not clever to hang the **** out on a car you’ve been in less than 2 minutes.
mutant_matt. Thanks for explaining in a little more detail your dealings with Lancasters. I’m sorry you feel badly treated by them, but I don’t know the circumstances, so I can’t comment.
ian_sadler (****). If you’d read my comment properly, you will see it is in reply to a comment by mega_stream on page 1 of this thread, where he says ‘but he needs to remember he's ONLY a car salesman’.
Nathan L (What a load of fecking cr4p.). So you step into a car and immediately know how it handles better than a salesman who’s in it every day, do you? Maximum respect Mr Schumacher. Just don’t come down to my dealership and try it in an M3.
Carl, no I’ve never played in John Lewis and then bought off the internet, but then I’ve never bought anything off the internet anyway.
LoFi, I’m merely trying to illustrate the other side of the coin. All the issues mentioned in this thread have also arisen in my dealership, as I’m sure they have in most other dealerships. But please remember, there are always 2 sides of the coin.
11 June 2002, 10:03 PM
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So you step into a car and immediately know how it handles better than a salesman who’s in it every day, do you? Maximum respect Mr Schumacher. Just don’t come down to my dealership and try it in an M3.
So you wouldn't drive a car hard on a test drive
What's the point in doing a test drive then. Most performance cars are going to be driven hard by their owners, unless you can see what the car goes like and if you are comfortable with the handling then you cannot objectively buy it if that includes driving it to its full potential then so be it.You said the salesman knows the car a lot better than you. Not always. Is a Scoob salesman who has worked for say Lancaster for a year going to know a Scoob better than someone who has owned fr example an MY96 + MY99 + P1 + STI IV. Errr no. (Not me BTW)
You mentioned the M3 quite a bit in your thread. Its a great car no doubt but the handling is easy compared to something like a TVR Cerbera.
Cheers Nathan.
P.S. if you want to quote then put this infront and behind the text without the spaces [quo te] blah blah blah [/quo te]
P.P.S At least you replied which shows you listen, unlike Lancasters which is partly what this thread is about.
12 June 2002, 12:35 AM
#55
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John McC. Industry research shows that people drive on average 3 cars before they buy. If your list is as long as your arm, are you going to drive them all? I suggest you read a few more car mags and narrow it down a bit.
so in my case thats *****.Yes there are more than 3 in my mind, and yes, I am going to drive them all. As I said, If Im not allowed to then Ill either strike it off my list or try another dealer.
As for buying more car mags - a) I buy just about every issue of every serious car mag (ie not stuff like Fart Car or Lax Power) going, and b) I'm not relying whole heartedly on car reviews in mags to discount any prospective cars. As I said in my previous posts all of them are fairly desirable so with no major gripes that concern me too greatly - but at the end of the day whatever several people think about a car bears no correlation to what I think - hence the need to drive them all....
p.s. Even though I disagree with a lot of what you are saying I have to agree with Nathan and give you respec' for replying.
p.p.s. Whatever happened to the adage, 'The customer is always right'?
[Edited by JohnMcC - 6/12/2002 12:36:08 AM]
[Edited by JohnMcC - 6/12/2002 12:37:27 AM]
06 December 2002, 10:15 AM
#56
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Effortless, thanks for coming back, shows conviction rather than rant and bugger off (which often seems to happen). Still would like Lancasters view as some of your comments, made generally, do seem to do little to improve the public personna of carsales. And yes I know there are two sides to every coin, seeing both sides is often one of my failings. I did try to address this in my post by acknowledging that there is a marked difference between the amount of money being spent by the punter and the margin earned by the dealer, this is perhaps where the difference in expectation arises.
Piers LoFi
[Edited by LoFi - 6/12/2002 10:17:29 AM]
Piers LoFi
[Edited by LoFi - 6/12/2002 10:17:29 AM]
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