Horrible, Horrible Experience at Exotic Motors Midwest!

He is a sale's guy hoping to close a deal, obviously he is going to be nice and make sure that you have a great experience with the car - I am sure he had better things to do with his Sunday. You coming back with no offer on the table, no deposit, just wanting another drive to see if it was "the car" is naive at best. In your own words, all you needed was to look at it to know that it wasn't the car for you. So why are you pissed, the owner did you a favor, unless of course, you just wanted another joyride!

 

I have to agree with you on this one. The OP had to know in advance he didn't like the colour. The right thing to do would have been to see if the dealer could locate a colour he did want. I can understand how the dealer's frustration level would go up from someone refusing a car because of colour and then turn around and come back demanding a test drive of another one.

 

I have to say I have read thru this thread several times and I've been conflicted as to who's "in the wrong here" and my opinion has flip flopped a few times. So, I'm glad this thread was posted as its a very interesting situation.

I think I've finally netted out my thoughts on this:

I can UNDERSTAND why the dealer acted as he did, but I don't CONDONE his behaviour.


Meaning, I think I would have been frustrated by this buyer (the OP) given the circumstances listed here (previous test drive, then saying didn't like the color, now wanting to drive another), but I hope (!) I would have acted gracefully and kept in mind that its a small world and thus kept my frustration in check and told the OP why I was concerned about granting another test drive and stay civil and see if a transaction could be had now or in the future. Finally, given that the OP then said the red car was not for him either due to some quick look at potential over spray (its a ferrari, they are infamous for poor factory paint) I bet the dealer felt justified in his treatment of the OP.

I have to say, I really was pissed at the dealer when I first read this, but after really chewing on this, I'm not. Rather, I tihnk the OP (IMHO only) has expectations that are unrealistic for many (most?) dealers and cars...

To the OP. I didn't drive the CS I ended up buying. I drove another to learn what they are like. Then had the one I bought PPI'd. If/when I buy a Scud I won't test drive one (I've already driven them) and will only get a PPI and buy. If you find a scud with the color and options and condition and history (my big 4) that you like, and can get it at a price that works for you, get it PPI'd and buy it. Owning and driving it are too much fun...and certainly better than suferring through this type of buying process!

 

Good post.....looks like we have some pretty legit posts in defense of the dealership owner.

I also never test drive, but all of my Ferraris are the same model.

The first purchase was 'white knuckled" as it was "all the money in the world".
So I do relate to the OPs mindset and all...

The dealerships 'do it every day" so I think they tend to be sensitive to time wasters, which the OP was not, but was time consuming certainly.

Tons of Scuds out there.
And Ferrari touches up their own paint at the end of manufacture, so it could very well have been their work.

 

.....and Rob Lay still needs his MONEY!

 

What about the car's owner in all of this... they miss out on their car being sold because EMM feels put out that a person willing to write a check for $183k wants a short test drive before doing a deal.

The owner now has to risk/sit/wait for their car to sell at possibly a lesser price because EMM decided to act in their interests(not sure what those were actually) as opposed to those of the cars owner by balking at a reasonable request by a buyer with checkbook in hand.

Sorry, based on the OP's comments and nothing from EMM to counter it it still sits poorly.

 

Sorry, I don't think we know that...

First, do we know for a fact the car was consigned? (vs. owned by EMM?)

And, regardless, the OP wasn't going to buy the red car due to the paint issues as he stated...so EMM's behaviour didn't hurt the sale of that car...

 

What does whether one drives the exact car they finally locate after a long search (in many cases) have to do with ego? I don't think that's the right word. For me, it was that I trusted the PPI technician to determine the state of the car far better than I could (that would be a decided lack of ego about my own ability to know what the heck I was looking for). These cars are spreadout all over the country and most buyers like to get a PPI. That is the only/main reason most buyers don't bother to fly to whever every time they find a candidate car. Simple logistics and modesty about their own abilities to find stuff compared to an expert. You call that ego?

You posted here. You got feedback that agreed with your position and you got feedback that could at least "understand" why the dealer acted as he did. For me, I really struggled with what to think before I posted. And, I certainly said I don't condone the dealers' behavior. You may not like it, but some of us tried to give unbiased (as in we weren't there and aren't involved - which is both a good thing and a bad thing when it comes to giving advice) views on this...but please don't brush the opinions of those who disagree with you off as the words of egomaniacs...

Now find that dream car, drive it and show us pics!

 

most of us here are professionals. Getting into fisticuffs is unlikely going to happen with this bunch.
now, you stated that you weren't going to buy the car. The owner then understandably doesn't want to add miles to the car, which wastes his time and devalues the car.
if it's a Camry then I can see why you are upset but it's a Ferrari. The next buyer is also understandably reluctant to buy a car that's been test driven extensively.

 

I don't think it's unreasonable for someone to test drive a specific car even if they tested another one.

I had a loose steering column on my F430. There was noticeable dead space off center right and left. It was fixed under warranty.

There is no way I would have found that without driving it. What if I hadn't bothered or noticed? Should I rely solely on the word of the guy doing the PPI? What if he misses it?

Ultimately, I'm the one putting down the cash. I want to know what I'm buying. I even want to know how it SMELLS.

I have no idea of all the circumstances here but I think a little communication with the seller in advance of driving a great distance to see the car might have avoided the entire situation. If the seller said "forget it -- you're not getting to drive it", I don't think the OP would have even bothered.

Yes, it's not a good idea for cars to be constantly test driven by every looky-loo. But, it's also the responsibility of the seller to weed out the waste-of-times from the good prospects.

 

When we see it, we will believe it. If you are serious, get a PPI, make sure "IT'S THE RIGHT COLOR", negotiate the price, put down a deposit contingent on test drive. If you are serious, and none of the cars Exotic has in stock are for you, then give them a deposit, and your options list, color requirement, miles etc. and have them find you what you are looking for. If not, keep kicking those tires. You don't seem very serious with your comment "4/5 months down the road." We have such things as airplanes and cars all over the country, not just a dealer 6 hours away. I bought my GT2 from Florida, my Lotus from Atlanta, my Ferrari from Washington, my Mercedes from Washington.

 

I bought a used F150 this week. I contacted the seller and made an offer continent upon a test drive and the car being what he said it was on EBay. He agreed to the price, I flew down, looked it over, drove it etc. It was good, I paid him and took it home.

This is how I've bought every car I've ever owned. I would never test drive a car without the seller accepting my offer first. I would never let a buyer test drive my car without him agreeing to buy it in advance. I think it's rude to expect a test drive from a seller of a used car if purchase price isn't agreed upon up front. I wish everyone followed this rule.

Now, if were talking about a new car, that's a different story.

 

That's a good point. If they have some crazy offer in mind, there is no point in letting them go for a joy ride "just because".


Somehow, I just think there is more to this story than we see here. I'm not saying the OP is wrong -- I just wonder if we have all the information. To me, it's highly unusual that a seller kicks a potential buyer out without at least trying to make them happy. You won't stay long in business that way.

 

+1
Very well put.

 

Is EMM aware of this thread? Perhaps EMM/Danny Baker can chime in so we can get to the skinny of it. I would like to hear the other side of the story. I'm sure he would like to defend himself in the matter. I think their are some words that were spoken WE DONT KNOW about.....

 

I think most of us here would agree that asking to test drive Ferrari without any intention to buy it is unreasonable.
conversely, it'd be reasonable for the seller to turn down a test drive request when the "buyer" made it known that he is not buying the car.

 

Doubt it !! More than 5 days of this story in "Front page" and no indication.
Hope it will pass and be forgotten? We'll see

 

I don't think it has anything to do with Ego... For myself and I imagine there is plenty of others on this list that would probably agree with me that my time is more valuable than wasting 12 hours to go look at a car. I knew I wanted a Ferrari, when I found the one that had everything I wanted, PPI'd it, made an offer and closed the deal. What time I have away from my business I would rather spend on vacation than flying/driving all over the United States looking at cars. I never knew valuing your time more than anything made you egotistical...

 

I would agree to that. I said so later. It's just that I would never ask for a test drive of something I had no intention of buying. So, the thought never entered my mind.

But, something sounds strange to me.

If the buyer said: "I'll buy the car if it checks out OK in a test drive" then the seller really said "No way, you can't drive the car"? Hard to believe.

 

Agreed, I call BS. Something is fishy, no dealer does that unless they feel that they are being taken for a (joy)ride!

 

Call me crazy but I always buy the seller. My CS came from FoSD with pictures and PPI only. I may have paid a little more but it was worth peace of mind. I have had no troubles and it has been 5 yrs. The test drive was not important for me. If it was then I would have placed a deposit after PPI checked out and drove it. Is a test drive unreasonable no IMHO if you are seriously considering the car but to drive it 20 miles and then reject it based on color is excessive IMHO. I could only imagine how many tire kickers they get and stories they are told. Maybe the second car was a consigned car who knows. I would not let someone drive my car until after the check was signed.
He could have handled it better for sure and the fact that Rob is looking for him gives me pause.

 

My first drop by Exotic Motors I expressed interest in a SLR and Danny let me take it home for the evening. It got more than 20 miles put on it in the process. I didn't buy that car, but since have completed my 8th transaction with him. I currently have cars consigned at his dealership. Danny is as honest and accomidating an individual in the car business as I've found. I have suggested several friends work with him and they have all had very similar excellent results. My guess is Danny had a gut feeling and recognized this for what it was- someone driving from a distance to joy ride a car and is now whining publicly when it didn't work out.

I would posture that the forum should give a bit more weight to the offered thoughts on Exotic Motors by those who have both been there and also managed to produce a check. I doubt anyone will find much in the way of negative statements.

I would also assume that the offended individual still hasn't managed to come up with the funds to purchase the perfect car.

 

Lots of first time posters in this thread.

Regardless, I think a lot of people have sided with the seller with what little information was given.