Horrible, Horrible Experience at Exotic Motors Midwest!

Agreed. When I purchased my 360, I did a proper search, had the car checked out and drove up to Chicago to pick it up. Handled all negotiations over the phone. Arrived, signed papers and loaded the car and started my 14hr journey back to DC. I didn't need a test drive to confirm what I already knew of the car.

 

+100

20 miles is excessive. I would have reacted much the same way as the shop owner in this case.

 

All wrong, all wrong! You call the dealership to look at the f50, act calm, very calm and self assured. Tell them you are a CEO, dress casual with a baseball cap.. but wear a gold Rolex, look the part and then take off in the car AFTER the test drive! ;-) (f50 ref)

FWIW, I take PPI as signal you're interested before you even see the car.

 

Completely correct...

The idea to defend this dealer in this situation is a bit comical...

To not be allowed to drive a car that you are prepared to write a $183k check for is simply insulting. Just because you drove one car does not by default indicate all is perfect with a second of the same make yet different ownership. While a test drive won't suss out everything it would allow the potential buyer to take note and walk away from anything glaring that nothing more than staring at a car would tell them. It would be nice to not have to rely on whatever warranty is in place that may/may not become a future point of contention.

OP isn't a tire kicker, isn't a game player, they just want to be as comfortable as one can be when sitting down to do that kind of deal.

Trying to convince the OP he's unreasonable because he wasn't allowed to test drive a car he's fully prepared to sign a deal on is more than a bit condescending and poor form.

While it sounds others have had more luck, EMM dropped the ball plain and simple in this case.

 

IMO 20 mile test drive on a 3,689 mile car is excessive - especially if you knew the color wasn't for you.

I looked at a 2010 California at a local dealership - it was Rosso on Black (I want Rosso on Tan) - I was offered a drive, but I declined knowing I was 99% not going to buy due to the color.

Either way you should have been told before making the second trip that you would be unable to drive the other car.

Erik

 

The test drive of my 997 GT3 RS was done after purchase. Bought it used. The test drive on my Cayman S was done after purchase. The test drive on my Scuderia after purchase.

The important thing is to get a proper PPI by a knowledgeable shop, a review of the records, if I have the time I do a visual inspection. A PPI reveals things nobody will detect with a Test Drive, while a Test Drive does nothing a PPI would not detect (which is part of the PPI anyway). The only thing a Test Drive reveals is for buyers that have never driven the car, how the car feels to them, and this is something a fair buyer would reveal to the seller right away.

There are several things that set off my alarm on potential buyers and I dump them right away: requests for test drives, not knowing the standard features of the car, asking the same questions multiple times, low ballers, and especially the ones that call off a deal for an insignificant % of the purchase price.

In my experience, I might call off a deal for a difference of $3,000 on a $10,000 good, but a $180k toy with low supply where mostly every unit is unique and calling off the deal over $3k, I would rather not do any business with that type of buyer.

If I don't like a car color, that's something I would determine prior to a test drive. I won't even go to check out a car on a color I don't want, but that's just me.

Unfortunately, there are two sides to every history, and we're missing the other half.

Very unfortunate for EMM not to be able to present their side of the story.

Personally, I always sell my cars way below market value, cheaper than wholesale or trade-in value, but then I filter who gets the privilege to see it based on phone conversations or emails, and typically the first buyer closes the deal. If I were to sell my 09 Scuderia today, the asking price would be $139k, and likely I would be talking to 5-10 people, filter down to the ones that would use the car as I would like it to be used, then close the deal.

 

The typical sequence is: decide on model of car, look at what's available, decide you want a specific car, agree on price, then IF the car meets PPI/test drive, sign papers, take delivery.

Note the first buyers, the ones who paid the highest price, MSRP or higher, generally get their first drive after they've taken delivery. If the car is rejected by the buyer when it is delivered, it's usually for issues such as the car didn't come as spec'd, etc. I don't think I've ever heard about a new Ferrari being refused because the buyer "didn't like the way it drives".

Once you've driven a car, the samples of the same model are not going to change much and 20 miles is ample to have gotten a feel for the model behavior. Sample variations are cosmetic and mechanical issues that are best picked up by visual inspection and PPI.

Considering the number of anal buyers that will reject a car if it has a couple more paint chips than they would like, refusing a test drive to a buyer who has already been given that courtesy is reasonable. The dealer is entitled to talk about whether you want to buy it first, not after. Also consider that every time a high performance car gets on the road with a driver unfamiliar with that model, the chances of an incident are higher than usual. The worst incidents can cause the car to take a huge hit on value due to carfax/repair history leaving the dealer with a huge headache.

 

Can I get on that list.. let me know if I need to put a depost lol.... thanks

 

Say what?!!

To the OP....appreciate the post. I was looking online at their Scuds last week and now, well....

 

+1MM....you beat me to it.

 

I can see both sides..

When my business was small and growing, I used to meet with customers on Sunday afternoons, but only if I knew they were coming to buy. One or two Sunday tire kickers broke me from that. We are open 6 days a week and I need a day off .

To the OP, you should have not showed up on a Sunday if you weren't 100% in love with the color. On the other hand, if I was the buyer, I would want to drive the Scud to see difference in road noise etc.

With that said, I want to plug Ferrari of Atlanta. I showed up one day and drove an F430 and a California. I was 90% sure I wanted the F430, but the salesman had no problem letting me drive both. He did not ask many questions or 'pre-qualify' me. I did make them an offer on a consignment car they had, but couldn't get together on the price, so I ended up buying one from another Ferrari dealer just from the pictures and service records. Cars are everywhere and easy to transport.. look around... there are plenty out there.

 

After re-reading the OPs story, the owner was a total jerk. This forum is loaded with stories about people walking into a dealership looking like they're homeless and paying cash for their car. Dealers should act professionally and take every sale seriously. But what do I know..I'm just an owner.

Now as an owner, I have consigned cars from time to time. I requested that the dealers not let anyone test drivie my car unless a sale contract is in hand. If someone is unsure about their purchase..and if a car is right / wrong for them, go rent one. Go find a friend. I don't see any reason why my car should be available for someone else's joy ride.

 

Earlier this year, I inspected a car for a client; the owner went with me when I put 23 miles on it. The amount of mileage a seller will let you put on a car varies from person to person; some sellers won't let you so much as start it without a deposit. Irrespective of the dealer's feelings about how intimate you got with the first car, his approach was crass. But even with that aside, it's unfortunate that the car was misrepresented.

Lastly, just because you drove one Scuderia, doesn't mean you know how they all drive. Test driving a car is part of one's due diligence. Driving a different Scuderia will give you a better impression of how the car should drive, and if anything is/was wrong with either one of them.

I can appreciate some guys saying that the buying process is regarded too seriously by some people; but on the other hand, there are far too many horror stories for a first-timer to really be comfortable just jumping into a Ferrari purchase.

 

This thread is getting a bit much. We have no idea on the "Op's" financial qualifications to even buy a Scud, other than the fact that he has been saving for 11 years. There are plenty of ways to drive one, Exoticar Racing in Las Vegas? Friend's, Ferrari Club of America Events, etc. etc. He did no research other than the fact that the dealer had two in stock. He placed no deposit, did not ask the dealer to help him find another more to his liking, just test drove the car, came back and said don't like the color, so he left. Then wants to come back again and drive another? Think people are missing something here.

 

Bendrover,

I personally know Danny Baker, and have known him since his days at Lamborghini Chicago. He is a very nice guy. It is unfortunate that your experience is not a positive one. I am by no means, trying to defend him or EMM, but if things doesn't work out... let it go, don't hold grudge, and move on. If you're not satisfied with his service, don't come back. There are other Scuderias on available on the market, and maybe you'll find just the perfect one for you.

Good luck.

 

I also know danny and have never been treated bad by him or anyone at EMM.. good luck with your search...

 

I find it shocking to hear you had such a bad experience at Exotic Motors Midwest, and I am sorry for that. My dad has bought a 09 scuderia, and a 05 CGT from them and has had nothing but great things to say about Danny Baker. On the CGT my dad was not sure whether or not he wanted the car so Danny offered to trailer the car out to Michigan himself and show my dad the car, then he could decide if he wanted it or not. I don't know of many other dealers who would go to this extent to make a sale. As for my experience with Exotic Motors Midwest I would recommend them to anyone in the market looking for a high end exotic sports car.

 

This is a good point. I would say every single time I walk into a dealer, I am immediately ignored because I do not look like I can afford the car they are selling. And I am not talking about Ferrari dealers or dealers for other exotics. I am talking about Mercedes and BMW and even Cadillac. I recall walking into a Mercedes dealer to buy 2 new high end Benzes for cash, one for me and one for my wife. I was ignored completely by 3 sales people. Then a couple walked in and they closed in on them like flies to sh#%. One got there first and the other two went back to ignoring me. After 20 min I asked one of them about one of the cars, and she literally looked me up and down and said, "all the info is on the window sticker" and walked away. I left without getting helped and bought from another dealer in a city 500 miles away, which I stayed loyal to through a few more Benz purchass.

Many exotic car dealers, however, IMO, don't assume if you are young and walk in the delership in bluejeans and a t-shirt, that you can't afford their cars. Some do, but most don't in my experience. One of my favorite exotic sales guys loves to tell stories of 28 yr old Silicon Valley .com entrepreneurs who come in dressed like high school kids and buy a handful of brand new exotics for $1M plus all in one shot.

 

Exactly...the dealers I've been to in SF area certainly have learned over the past 15 years to not judge the book by its cover! Thank god IT wiz kids don't shower often or invest in clothes...helps me get taken somewhat seriously at the delears! (IT folks, I kid, of course)

 

When I first went to look at a Ferrari, I didn't even get the time of day. I had to go all the way to Chicago to even get a salesman to talk to me. The dealer that gave me the respect got that sale and about 6 more in the next year.

 

Perhaps with all your money you should hire a personal stylist that can pick you out some nice clothes so you look more presentable?

 

I feel the salesman wasn't nice about it, but did the right thing. I'm not a fan of test drives before a sale. PPI OK, but pulling that on him the first time with the color thing, i don't blame the salesman. Don't drive the car if your NOT GONNA PURCHASE it PERIOD. I personally think 20 miles is a bit much. But this is my opinion. and I'm not saying it's right.

 

ruh roh

 

Add me to the list - I buy everything sight-unseen, no test drive, no PPI, I just wire the $$$ and send a transporter. Part of the fun is the surprise (or horror as it happened 4 weeks ago with a Porsche) when it gets delivered!! Life it too short!

 

+1, since when do you have to drive a car to know if you like the color? When you are driving, you can barely see the color anyway...

Try doing the same thing with any mainstream dealer (Toyota, GM etc..), burn up one hour of their time (on a Sunday) driving the car and walking away b/c of the color, come back to the same sale's guy for another test drive of the same model and see what he says!