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Good Dealers For Car Junkies!

Discussion in '360/430' started by fredf355, May 30, 2008.

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  1. fredf355

    fredf355 Karting

    Nov 1, 2005
    72
    Dallas Texas
    #1 fredf355, May 30, 2008
    In February I bought an excellent Modena from Marshall Goldman in Cleveland. I arrived at their dealership unannounced, drove the 360, and had them drive/appraise my tt trade-in. With a few phone conversations over the following week I purchased an excellent car, at a competitive price with a fair trade-in. I found this to be an excellent experience and they learned that I’m a car junkie.

    A month ago I called Marshall Goldman to advise them that my car junkie friend and I would be visiting them today to drive a couple of cars. In reconfirming two weeks ago they said that they didn’t want to have to rearrange their whole showroom floor (they have a terrific and extensive inventory) to “get a bunch of cars out”. In that conversation I confirmed that I just wanted to drive a 550 (thinking about a Brachetta in my future) and a 430 F1 for my buddy (he will buy one next winter which is when we usually flip cars).

    When I called to reconfirm last night at 5:30 I was told that they did not have a 550 for me to drive, which was fine and completely understandable to me. However, I was confounded when told that the only way my buddy could drive a 430 was if he was willing to buy it if the test drive was acceptable. And even with that, they were somewhat tentative with the drive commitment since his 360 trade-in wouldn’t be there.

    I was shocked. First, I pointed out that we both have repeatedly bought cars with the trade-in to be delivered as represented. Second, told them we’re certifiable junkies and great customers: the past 3 years we have bought 2 355’s, 3 360’s, 2 tt’s, 3 997’s and 1 RS4. Lastly, that we would never misrepresent our intentions by saying there was an intention to buy a car when that wasn’t true. We always do what we say, as do most Fcar guys.
    With this information, the management of Marshall Goldman reconfirmed their policy that they would not let my buddy drive one of their cars unless he intended to buy that car. I told them that I would never have contact with them again and was sorry that I had bought the car from them. Very sad ending to a good purchase experience and what could have been 2 good customer relationships.

    On a positive note, we continue to enjoy good relationships and have had multiple hassle free purchases with:
    • Steve Barney; Sport Auto, Lamborghini Carolinas; 336-643-9595
    • Jeff Francisco; Foreign Cars Italia; 336-294-0200
    • Dave Jones; Byers Porsche; 614-864-5180
    Please feel free to PM me your phone number if you’d like to further information about Steve, Jeff or Dave. I’m less inclined to spend any more time discussing Goldman.

    The last good news, we now have a tee time at 11 – four!
     
  2. rberg32

    rberg32 Karting

    Mar 14, 2007
    245
    #2 rberg32, May 30, 2008
    Maybe you have to buy an Enzo before they let you test drive their 430's.. ;)
     
  3. thoang

    thoang Formula 3
    Owner

    Apr 12, 2004
    1,990
    SF Bay Area
    Full Name:
    Tuan Hoang
    #3 thoang, May 30, 2008
    I understand why they would want to "pre-qualify" a person before a test drive, but to not extend you a courtesy, even after you purchased a car from them (a Ferrari no less) is unbelievable. Thanks for sharing your experience with us because I do see their cars advertised in print or the internet.
     
  4. fc2

    fc2 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Nov 2, 2006
    5,263
    Silicon Valley Ca.
    Full Name:
    Frank C.
    #4 fc2, May 30, 2008
    When I first approached our local F-Car dealers, they too were somewhat apprehensive about tossing me the keys to one of their used cars. Once I was "qualified" one of the dealers let me take a used 360 I was considering home for the night. Very cool.

    Once I bought my first, used, 360 all the local dealers let me drive anything, anytime I wanted... including new cars.

    It's this level of trust and respect that keeps me coming back and buying cars from these guys.
     
  5. Mark from Ork

    Mark from Ork Formula Junior

    May 29, 2007
    449
    Miami Biatch
    #5 Mark from Ork, Jun 1, 2008
    If it was really your buddy's to test drive the car, why didn't you say he was in the market for the car? And yes he was in the process of looking at several cars to buy?

    To get into all the detail about - well my buddy, see, sometime next Christmas he might want a 430, and he might trade in his 360, etc. etc. is just saying to the dealer - hey my buddy wants to try out an F430.

    There's plenty of places that rent F430 in most big cities for the day. If your buddy wants a joy ride for the day so he can decide come next Christmas if he wants one - go rent one.
     
  6. fredf355

    fredf355 Karting

    Nov 1, 2005
    72
    Dallas Texas
    #6 fredf355, Aug 22, 2008
    A surprising turn of events - while I contacted Marshall Goldman not intending an eminent purchase, less than 90 days later, I just purchased a 2001 spider.

    The unfortunate news is the dealer was 800 miles further from me than Goldman, and the Goldman website had comparable cars in inventory. But, as I said above, I'll never buy another car from them.

    The good news, add Chad Morgan and Scottsdale Ferrari to the list above of great people to buy a car from. The F-chatters that helped and details of this purchase are in http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=206877.
     
  7. tfazio

    tfazio Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 20, 2004
    1,983
    Michigan
    #7 tfazio, Aug 22, 2008
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2008
    I think Marshall Goldman did nothing wrong. They cannot give out free car rides to people who are not looking to buy a car any time soon. Every mile that is put on these cars can cause them to lose value(not just mileage but what if something happens during the test drive- paint chips, cracked windshield, blown tire, etc...). Could the dealer have handled the situation better? Of course they could have. I am glad you found another car though. Ultimately, you are the customer so if you do not feeling comfortable buying a car from a certain dealer than move on to the next one. That's what you did and it worked out for you. I do think you should try to look at the scenario from Marshall Goldman's point of view though and maybe agree to disagree with them and leave it at that.
     
  8. charliebronson

    charliebronson Formula 3

    Dec 5, 2004
    1,244
    Full Name:
    Charliebronson
    #8 charliebronson, Aug 22, 2008
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2008
    Weather the dealer was right or wrong in this case, the dealer ended up being the loser. They got bad press on the biggest ferrari site in the world and lost two (self proclaimed) good customers. It doesn't seem to be worth denying a potential customer, something that most dealers (maybe not exotics dealers though) offer as standard customer service, and over what, a test drive? Marshall Goldman could have supervised or limited the test drive in order to ensure safety and precaution. If they didn't want to rearrange the floor for a potential buyer, then how do they expect to do business?

    -Peter Oh
     
  9. PCH

    PCH F1 Rookie

    Apr 7, 2004
    3,007
    #9 PCH, Aug 22, 2008
    Agree. Just way to much liability in allowing test rides and not typical practice of most exotic car dealers. Personally I've never felt comfortable allowing so called potential buyers to test drive my cars and if they can't appreciate or understand why I'm more then happy to let them walk.
     
  10. 575Mike

    575Mike Formula 3

    Mar 11, 2004
    1,706
    Midwest
    Full Name:
    Michael
    #10 575Mike, Aug 22, 2008
    So Fred, you buy a 360 Modena and you have a positive experience with the dealer: "excellent car, at a competitive price with a fair trade-in", according to you. But later, because the dealer won't allow your "car junkie" friend to rip around in a 250K car, you are "shocked" and you won't do business with them again! :rolleyes:
     
  11. fredf355

    fredf355 Karting

    Nov 1, 2005
    72
    Dallas Texas
    #11 fredf355, Aug 23, 2008
    Mike,

    Your point is a good one -- I just have high requirements on these types of relationships.

    My buddy and I seem to be averaging 3-4 cars a year between us. Part of what enables us to do that is we have worked with a handfull of dealers who make it very easy for us to do business with them. The dealers that I have listed have all let us drive cars, even before either of us had bought our first car from them or were buying on that given day. They sized us up as potential long-term customers, and then began building a relationship; I'm sure you do the same thing in your business. And their support continued after the sale.

    When I buy high-end luxury goods, I expect and get a commensurate high-end purchasing experience. And yes, I reamin "shocked" that Goldman would not extent an appropriate test drive (not a "rip": sales person copilot, etc.). In contemplating this thread, I am glad I did not have a post-sale issue with Goldman, it might not have been handled well.

    The important thing, Scottsdale Ferrari seems to be a promising new relationship.
     
  12. John G

    John G Karting
    BANNED

    Feb 24, 2008
    133
    Jupiter, FL
    Full Name:
    John
    #12 John G, Aug 23, 2008
    I believe the term you are referring to here is "Fore"

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fore_(golf)

    Sucks about your experience. I would be disenchanted too.

    Oh well, there is an *ss for every toilet seat.

    JG
     
  13. mjw599

    mjw599 Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Jul 30, 2008
    510
    A Chinese Democracy
    #13 mjw599, Aug 25, 2008
    Are you a dealer or private party?
    Does the no-test drive policy extend to PPIs by reasonable and reputable mechanics?
     
  14. John G

    John G Karting
    BANNED

    Feb 24, 2008
    133
    Jupiter, FL
    Full Name:
    John
    #14 John G, Aug 25, 2008
    good question. lets say that i wish to buy car A from dealer XYZ and my 3rd party independent mechanic is hired by me for a PPI, do most dealers participate?

    I assume there is some kind of liability waiver, no?
     
  15. PCH

    PCH F1 Rookie

    Apr 7, 2004
    3,007
    #15 PCH, Aug 25, 2008
    Private party. My statement referred to, so called potential buyers only. Or in other words, when I'm selling one of my cars and the potential buyer requests to 'test' drive it.
     
  16. 68rcodemustang

    68rcodemustang Formula Junior

    Aug 12, 2006
    506
    Houston Texas
    Full Name:
    Mullet
    #16 68rcodemustang, Aug 25, 2008
    money talks........take it elsewhere
     

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