bentley Gold coast...wow...

Wow...this is the worst delearship I have ever been to in my entire life.


First of all, these exotic dealers taht sell all brands are the worst,aka the toy store. So I walk into Gold Coast today, after paying my 10 dollar parking fee, to find the most hodge podge display of automobiles. Yes, they had nice cars, but they were roped off so I couldnt even see them. They had a spyker in front which was pretty solid, but you could barely come within 10 feet of the most eye catching part of the dutch car, the interior.

The showroom is completley tasteless. WHo cares that there are columns, phony replicas of greek and roman statues, or even frescoes that say "racing." As an art history major, i am insulted by the embarassing degredation of art, with an sl65 jammed into a corner, or an aftermarket challenge grill with an ugly pattern of holes.
The salesmen were cocky, they simply spat facts about how many cars they sold at my face. When I showed interest in their z8, he simply ropped me off so I couldn't even look at the interior. He got frustrated when I said that the normal z8 is a better car than the alpina he was selling. He had no allegiance to the cars they sold. IT was simply as if you were giving him a price limit to pick a car out.
You go to LFSC to buy a car. At LFSC the automobile sells itself, nothing else. No, i am not paid by LFSC but it provides a much classier setting to look at, and buy, a wider variety of enthusiast cars. (f40, 288gto, challenge stradales, and other cars that do not scream status symbols)
In my mind, I would go to BGC to drive out onto rush street to see the look on some hot girls' faces. That's about it. Not to mention they also sell 26" Giovanni rims that they suggest to put on Bentleys...no class.

 

Wow, I guess we're from opposite ends. I can't match your history major, but I almost went on to study archaeology after High School, such is my interest in ancient history and art. To me their showroom is simply the most amazing car show room I have ever seen in my life and I have travelled pretty much all over the world by now. I totally love the background which to me looks like an Italian Opera, quite fitting for the Lambos and Ferraris on display.
But since you hate aftermarket challenge grill as well, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

PS: I like LFSC's showroom as well for its elegance.

PPS: It wouldn't hurt if you'd fill out your profile. Especially if you're making such strong statements.

 

I am just surprsied that so many people give such high praise and acclaim to this showroom. In the Ferrari community, where I think people value stock wheels and stock specs, I don't see where this dealer fits in. They are selling an image more than they are selling cars. LFSC, in my opinion, whatever that means, exutes class and dignity whereas GBC simply, as I said before, screams status.
WHen you shop at a place like LFSC which specializes in mainly two cars, astons and ferraris, you see, like i mentioned, an allegiance to the cars they sell-a passion for the automible. If you bougth an aston, the ferrari sales men would look down upon you, in a sense, and vice versa.
I also failed to mention the way you can walk through the LFSC service department and talk with people who actually work on the cars. SOlid aspect of the dealership.

 

A few remarks:
- Not everybody is into stock specs - the speaking included -.
- If you look at BGC as a temple to status symbols, then I can see your point. I look at it as an hommage to all things beautiful in life, also as a temple to hedonism in its best sense if you will.
- Most dealerships are white boxes with a Ferrari poster on the wall and the cars inside. That's why I find this place so refreshingly different. LFSC also tried to go a slightly different route. They have some nice memorabilia like one of Schumi's suits and of course Prost's F1. That is heritage and also in my book better than marble columns. But I take a fresco any time over a white painted wall. That is so unimaginative.
- Personally I appreciate it when somebody tries to go the extra mile in design. I like the leaning tower of Skokie. I like the Italian Village restaurant, especially the 2nd floor and I like BGC. You'd probably call all of that kitsch.

Thanks for updating your profile.

PS: It'll be interesting to see what direction Continental is going to take with their new show room. I hope they too will use a page out of the heritage and elegance book. The cars are a bit eccentric, so why not the showroom?

 

I was just wondering (based on the previous post above)-is Continental Ferrari moving to a new location, or are they updating their well known Hinsdale/Ogden Ave. location-Thanks in advance for any info. !!!-A curious Ferrari/ exotic sportscar fan just wondering here. I use to visit their showroom,outdoor area quite a bit with my father since the early 1990's(however,I recall being in middle school in the late 1980's and going across the street to RobertCrown health center for fieldtrips-that's the first time I saw a couple of 308s,328s and a Trossa) Still to this day I recall that image of Continental Ferrari-What a great memory to be instantly embedded into a (then) seventh graders brain!!!

 

Continental stays at the location they are right now. They bought the adjacent property and are building an extension to their building with a new showroom etc. At least that was their plan about a year ago.

PS: Also a friendly reminder to you to fill in your profile. And welcome to the board!

 

I live about 5-10 Minutes away from Continental,and Drive by/Stop by frequently to check out what they have. I grew up in this area,and have been going by there since I was a Teen in the Late '70's! (I'm 44 now)

I think that maybe with Mr.Weinbergers Love of Racing. Perhaps they will go more with a Performance and Racing motif...? especially now that they just have the Ferrari's and Maserati's. And,no longer have the Rolls Royce/Bentleys. Just a guess,though.....

 

I see your points tifosi. To me, LF brings a more tasteful and worthwile buying experience.

 

Well, cubbyman... one problem could be your age. They may figure you are not worth the time. This is, however, dangerous for the dealer. For all they know, you are Justin Timberlake, and could buy the whole friggin' store.

 

Age really is a horrible excuse to treat someone bad. Last year I sold a new Murci to a 20 year old kid because he was blown off at both Ferrari dealers and at Bentley DG. At the other end of the spectrum, an older gentleman in his late eighties bought an e-gear Gallardo a few months ago.

 

I wasnt actually blown off. I was with my dad and my cousin who are both older. I would ahve rather been blown off. THe salesman, was just spitting out facts about how his dealer is bigger than the toy store and much bigger than other dealers in the area. I think this is due to the fact that BGC is connected to other dealerships like luxery motors and also other non-exotic dealerships. However, I did see many other people get blown off. Like the 550/575, LFSC, to me, relative to BGC, is the examplary vision of class.
Back to being blown off... Good story about the kid who was blown off at ferrari dealerships and ended up with a murci. That is awesome. Now, come to think of it, as I continue my praise of LFSC, when I went up there with my cousin to pick my dad's car off, the salesmen all came up to me asking me if I had any questions as soon as I walked in. The salesmen, along with the people in service are willing to answer questions about anything regardless of whether your car rolled off their showroom floor, or if you are simply getting the rare chance to touch and sit in an exotic.

 

When I bought my first exotics ( a Jag XKE, and then a Ferrari), I was in my early twenties. That was more years ago than I care to think about!

Anyhow, I was treated with respect and was allowed to test drive the cars......I guess things have changed.

At any rate cubbyman, you're not alone in your feelings about BGC and Luxury Motors.

They have a lot of negative publicity, and you'll find very few satisfied customers of theirs.

I won't even buy parts for my Roller from them!

 

I agree with Tifosi strongly, there showroom is very taystefull and classy compared to other exotic dealers. Which have the usual poster on the wall and cars inside with a bunch of office max desks in the corners. I been to BGC a couple of times I have never bought anything from them. I heard some good and bad things about them. I particulary noticed that there automobiles are not detailed up to standards espacially at the rush street showroom. Swirls in the paint, Dirty interiors, Brake dust on inside lip of the wheels not exactly what I want to see when purchasing a 100k+ car. The sales people where very friendly when I went there and I think a board member from Minnisota bought a 360 Spyder from them last spring and was satisfyed with his purchase.

It all comes down to what you like I think the showroom was gorgous but the cars they sell could be questioned and I have heard alot of horror and success storys about Luxury Motors/Bentley Downers Grove aka Bentley Gold Coast

 

If Liberace were still with us I think GCB would be his kind of place.

 

LOL

I see him turn around from the cars to the audience and say: "You like'em? You better, you paid for them!"

 

Detailer at BGC is the worst I've seen. All cars swirled to heck including Enzo when I was there last.

 

GCB / BDG / LuxMotors = black shirts, overoiled hair, goldchains galore, attitude plus, shifty sales methods, disorganized, smoke and mirrors, need I say more.

Oh, I almost forgot CAPPUCINO!

 

FVMC is the only worthwhile exotic dealership I've been to in the Chicago area. I've been to Continental and LFSC and been looked down upon at both. I've also had a nasty experience with someone asking me questions such as "were you invited?" (I was) in an apparent attempt to make me feel unwelcome (which worked...) in the Maserati/Ferrari booth at the Chicago auto show last year. Because of this, I doubt I'd ever consider purchasing anything from any Ferrari or Maserati dealership. I refuse to wear a suit and tie when I don't have to, just to impress some pompous prick salesman.

As far as Luxury Motors goes... that place is just a nightmare. Out of curiosity, I just dropped by the new location in Orland Park which is near my house. Never before in my life have I seen so many high-end cars in such poor condition. Most of the cars had nasty scratches that were easily visible, were missing cosmetic parts, etc...

Pathetic.

I know it's no Ferrari or Lamborghini (in terms of price), but when I went to put down a deposit on my Elise at FVMC, I was only 18 years old and probably wearing cargo pants and a t-shirt. I was treated like gold from the moment I stepped in the door and never felt like I was being looked down upon. I can't even say that much about BMW dealerships in the area.

 

Solid, Mike. Have you gotten your elise yet, probably the funnest car in the states. Yes, BMW dealers are the worst. At one, they lost the deposit for my dad's M5-the saleswoman found it on her desk 6 months later. I have had some good experiences with the people at Knauz, however.

 

Iam 28 And wear jeans and teeshirts with a hat all the time , Ive been to lfsc many times and never an issue ,When in the market for a 355 recenty ,Tyler too the time to explain everything too me even thou I ended up buying a car out of state .Continetel is pretty nice also . When I bouth my Porsche 993 TT from luxury motors it was the quickest and smoothist car deal i ever did ,and the car has been wonderful. I Can see where your comming form thou .
When I went to fox valley a few weeks ago to look a 355 thay had I was appaled by there service and the car itself .

 

cubbyman - Got my Elise a little over 2 months ago... it's incredible (and winter is torture).

Bill - I guess it just depends who you run into when you go to these places. Personally, I've been treated well by everyone over at FVMC... and I don't doubt you've been treated well at LFSC or Continental, I must have just ran into the wrong salesmen at both :-\. I personally just don't understand how unpleasant people manage to keep their jobs, especially when it's obvious that they're quite capable of scaring away potential customers with their ****ty attitudes. It's unfortunate for the other employees at these dealerships when one pompous prick with a bad attitude ruins the dealership's reputation for the rest of them.

 

Arriviste, I believe is the word to describe BGC.


Forza,



Cavallini