That place is a joke never had a good experience there.
Agreed. They brought in a few Toyota / Honda lower level guys to sell Ferrari's. Pretty horrendous in my experience.
You know, it's kinda funny, years ago back when Chris Miele was the manager, he used to throw F1 events - didn't matter what time the race came on either, he'd open the showroom and the lounge. I remember, on several occasions, getting a phone call from Chris at like 10 or 11 at night: "Hey, Carb, you comin'?" "Coming where?" "The showroom! The race starts in two hours!" If the race was in Asia, he'd leave his house and his family to open the dealership, and a bunch of customers would show up and watch the race from midnight to four in the morning. It took me a while to get used to him - I always thought he wanted me to do something or bring something - but he just wanted me to have a good time; he just wanted everyone to have a good time. He'd put out a big spread and everyone would have a good time. He took care of his customers - but he also took good care of his friends. I'd get there and he'd pull me aside and say, "Hey, Carb, I wanna show you something..." And he'd show me some unique Ferrari that was just traded in, or he'd take me in the back and show me some rare car that was in for service. It didn't matter that I wasn't a customer; he loved the marque, he knew I loved the marque, and he loved sharing that passion with me. After Chris left, things were never really the same at Ferrari of Central New Jersey, because he was the original guy who started the place and that special vibe, and it was never quite the same after he was gone. Chris was a workaholic, and he was always on call, 24/7/365, and that's why FoCNJ was so successful. Joe is great, don't get me wrong, he's just not on Miele's level when it comes to Ferrari. Period. Miele is legendary. Miele is a hell of a guy, and he went out of his way for anyone - including me, on more occasions than I can remember. But he didn't take any bull**** from anyone, not even customers. He was always on the level, and he always kept it real. If you were honest and upfront with him, you had a friend for life. It's a shame that a lot of the great Ferrari guys have moved on, and other companies have scooped them up, and now they're doing magical things over at those other marques. I felt personally slighted when Chris left, and I know I'm not the only one. But why is he gone? When Penske stock was getting killed a few years ago, his financial advisors wanted to back into a number, hence cutting compensation across the country. No joke. Point blank, Miele was the best Ferrari guy in the country, bar none. He knew everything about every car, and don't let anyone tell you any different. Now he's gone, and not even a whole team of people can equal the magic he created when he was there ...and that's what happens when you get rid of a great guy. I hope they realize what they've done; although it's too little too late, because a guy like Miele comes along but once in a lifetime.
Gotta second everything Carbon said. The place is just not the same but pretty much dead now. After Miele left they had a couple events but attendance was minimal and mostly all new faces. Since then nothing. As a customer there since 2004 I was basically forgotten. No correspondence, no mailers, no invites, no nothing. Basically the opposite from when Miele and Collado ran the place. They had the best crew going with Danny, Charlie, Nicole, Jackie, and everybody else. It was a place you wanted to stop by and hang out at. Even in the middle of the day on an empty weekday you could stop in and hang out and Chris and the guys would show you some new stuff that came in or take you back in service and show you what they were working on, it really made you feel like family. A Ferrari dealership is not and should not feel like a typical dealership. It's all about passion and relationships and Miele knew this. The guy had passion in spades and it overflowed and consumed everyone there, from the staff to the customers. The vibe they had going was unreal, people couldn't wait to go to an event there and it was basically the EC unofficial hangout and meeting place. I met so many great people and enthusiasts through the dealership back then. Friends I still have today. Chris just knew what it took to make a great dealership and he made it happen going above and beyond. One night after a late night F1 race viewing event we all hung out to 3am while Chris helped a customer finalize an order, it was crazy but back then it was normal. Chris was regularly working at the dealership two or three hours past close, his dedication was beyond reproach just as his love for the marque was beyond reproach. I look back on those years and think about how much fun it was. At the time we all thought it would last forever but things change and not always for the better. I hope FoCNJ comes back, they have a lot of work to do.
Wow never got I meet the guy when I went there looking for a 430 it was already 2012 and I don't think he was there. However everyone else I dealt with I felt like they knew very little about the car and they were sleazy like used car dealership guys not Ferrari guys. I couldent even get a call back from those guys as to a price quote. Since then I have bought a 430 a Scud and SLS AMG. Some knowledge courtesy and respect go a long way!!!!
Yup. Sounds like my experience with them. Penske would upset if he knew how poorly run the place is now
Penske knows everything that goes on there, he allowed it to get the way it is. If you ask me the problem starts at the top.
That's pretty bad. It's a shame to have a dealership that is mostly useless for Many NJ customers. The pattern of not getting back to customers is inexcusable. If I owned the place I'd let somebody make that mistake once. Second time they could find a new job. Those sales guys I want at my competitors shops, not mine. I'd pay to plant them elsewhere because those people in another competing dealership would only help mine.
I wasn't going to post on this thread but I will give my opinion. I went to this dealership multiple times last year, as a non paying costumer. Every time the contact was cordial, there are good guys working there. From a business point of view, I believe the level of contact will vary depending on sales history with customer. There was a vibe given off that salesmen are about......sales. No harm, no foul. As a non paying costumer one can appreciate the privilege to stop by and glance at cars without any negativity. Expecting anything beyond that is a dream. I don't plan to go back there anytime soon though because car viewing gets old. Long story short, Ferrari is a brand that sells itself and I don't believe that dealership is losing allocations on premium models. If there was a huge issue on customer relations I'm sure the guys up top would of changed personnel.
The fact that nobody from FoCNJ has seen/responded to this thread speaks volumes... Seriously, the TITLE of the thread is the dealership name... on the biggest Ferrari forum on the internet. Either they haven't seen the thread because they have no internet presence... which is just laughable.... Or .... they have seen it, and have no response. Just Sad Really...
+1 When I bought my first F430 from them back in 2008 they were very active in the fchat. That was when Chris Miele was still there with them. Things were very different. It's sad because it's a nice dealership, great facilities with a lot of potential.
Ironically I bumped into Miele at a Miller event just this morning. Apparently he's working his magic for the Rolls brand now, and doing an excellent job of it. He gave me the nickel tour of a gorgeous Drophead Coupe He looked like a million bucks... same high level energy, enthusiasm and charm... a true gentleman. It was great catching up and reminiscing with him about the CNJ days that Carbon and Ring mention above.
Chris is at Paul Miller and doing a great job in his new setting. I stopped by last month to talk shop and was reminded of how genuine of a person he is.
Chris Miele was the best car and Ferrari dealer out there.Always was helpful and returned your call.Have had numerous dealings with him and was always quick to respond.Now getting a return phone call from Central N.J.requires a miracle.AS a board member of the FCA ,I wouldn't being referring guys there when they need a recommendation.
Agreed the shop foreman from the original crew left around Jan 2013 ... found out he's working at J. Scuderia Automotive. Check out their site Home - J. Scuderia Automotive
So true. Chris was the absolute best. I wish he were still at a Ferrari dealership but instead he's at Rolls Royce now. I still talk to him regularly and if he ends up at another Ferrari dealer at some point as the GM, I am sure that he will make it into the premiere Ferrari franchise in the US. Here's a post I made about him years ago after I bought my Daytona from FoCNJ: https://ferrarichat.com/forum/new-york-tri-state-sponsored-bradan/393282-word-thanks-chris-miele.html
Gorgeous day today in NJ. Decided to take the 458 Spider out and stretch its legs & stopped by to see Chris Miele today at Paul Miller Rolls Royce. He is doing a fantastic job there running the place as I would have expected him to be. Was great catching up with him on cars, work and life. Ironically, while I was sitting there at his desk talking to him, ANOTHER disgruntled Ferrari of Central Jersey customer (I think ex-customer now) called him. I won't get into details but it seems things have not improved at Central Jersey but I cannot say I am too surprised. I wonder how long they can continue to treat customers this way there in Edison? Anyway so glad to see Chris is doing well. He is a treasure trove of information on Ferraris, Rolls, Bentleys and as you posted he is a genuine person who always has time to help or answer any questions. I look forward to doing business with him at Paul Miller. He taught me something cool I didn't even know about Rolls. Those umbrella holders in the doors....they have dryers built into them!
Pat Cianci all the way. he goes above and beyond for his clients, all who have purchased a car from him know this. His experience with Ferrari has earned him the respect and recognition all the way to Maranello not just with the factory but also with Ferrari associated company's in Italy.