Kudos for Sport Auto... | FerrariChat
Buy

Kudos for Sport Auto...

Discussion in 'North & South Carolina' started by dgpIII, Jun 29, 2007.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. dgpIII

    dgpIII Karting

    Jun 23, 2006
    148
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    DGP
    #1 dgpIII, Jun 29, 2007
    I recently posted a request for anyone in the neighborhood to drop by Sport Auto to look at a car for me. Despite being beautiful to look at, I was concerned that the car had not had a major service in over 6 years so the guys at Sport Auto offered to perform compression and leak-down tests at their expense before selling me the car.

    I just received an email from them informing me that the car did not pass and was not up to their standards and would be returned to the consignor. Kudos to them for their honesty and integrity. Not all dealers of pre-owned exotics would be so honest.
     
  2. HUTCH91TR

    HUTCH91TR F1 Rookie

    Nov 7, 2003
    2,894
    Charlotte, NC
    Full Name:
    Hutch
    #2 HUTCH91TR, Jun 29, 2007

    Kudos indeed. That is almost unheard of, for a car dealer to do that. Major props to Sport Auto for doing that :) !!!

    Sport Auto will be getting first crack at my business, when I'm ready to get back behind the wheel of an exotic.
     
  3. GWB

    GWB Karting

    Feb 18, 2007
    209
    Houston Texas
    Full Name:
    Gavin Britz
    #3 GWB, Jun 29, 2007
    That is someone that will be in the business for a long time.
    GREAT FOR THEM.
     
  4. ECTurboGSX

    ECTurboGSX Formula 3

    Dec 26, 2004
    1,074
    Bay Area, CA
    Full Name:
    Eric
    #4 ECTurboGSX, Jun 29, 2007
    Did they divulge what was causing either the low compression or high leak down issues? I'm just curious what went bad. Good on Sport Auto, their reputation continues to prove true.
     
  5. dgpIII

    dgpIII Karting

    Jun 23, 2006
    148
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    DGP
    #5 dgpIII, Jun 29, 2007
    Nope...but I didn't ask. Sales guy's name who was helping me is Jim Schubert. Give him a call.

    The car is so pretty that it might be worth the cost of getting the heads redone (or whatever) assuming you could get the current owner to sell at a deep discount given this new information.
     
  6. ferraripete

    ferraripete F1 World Champ

    Nov 5, 2003
    11,560
    san diego/charlotte
    #6 ferraripete, Jun 30, 2007
    these folks have been in the bus forever and steve barney is as blood blood a ferrari guy as you will ever find.

    this thread should be posted in the general section as we local ferrari (nc and sc) folks all know of the quality of sport auto.

    it would be nice for others to know as well!

    pcb
     
  7. coachi

    coachi Formula 3

    May 1, 2002
    2,108
    SC USA
    #7 coachi, Jun 30, 2007
    I am highly impressed. Kudos.
     
  8. DrStranglove

    DrStranglove FChat Assassin
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Oct 31, 2003
    31,504
    Google Maps
    Full Name:
    DrS
    #8 DrStranglove, Jul 1, 2007
    Hard not to see what high praise that is comming from Coachi!
     
  9. J. Salmon

    J. Salmon F1 Rookie
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 27, 2005
    4,367
    VA
    #9 J. Salmon, Jul 1, 2007
    I was just there and heard the news about that car. I must admit I was crushed. The interior and exterior are amazing. Jim said you would never know by driving the car. It just sucks.
     
  10. DrStranglove

    DrStranglove FChat Assassin
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Oct 31, 2003
    31,504
    Google Maps
    Full Name:
    DrS
    #10 DrStranglove, Jul 1, 2007
    Did anyone in this thread say what type / model of car it was? I seem to have missed it if they did....
     
  11. dgpIII

    dgpIII Karting

    Jun 23, 2006
    148
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    DGP
    #11 dgpIII, Jul 1, 2007
    That's why it's so important to do the compression and leak-down. You could take a test drive without it and never know you had a problem - a big problem.

    I still haven't given up on this car. Jim is going to give me estimates on what it would cost to bring it up to "their standards" mechanically so who knows - maybe the owner I can negotiate a price around that.
     
  12. dgpIII

    dgpIII Karting

    Jun 23, 2006
    148
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    DGP
    #12 dgpIII, Jul 1, 2007
    It was under the thread "check out a car for me" in North/South Carolina... it's a Green and Tan 355B 6 speed with 25000 miles.
     
  13. Crawler

    Crawler F1 Veteran

    Jul 2, 2006
    5,018
    #13 Crawler, Jul 1, 2007
    That seems like an awfully low mileage for a compression problem.
     
  14. dgpIII

    dgpIII Karting

    Jun 23, 2006
    148
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    DGP
    #14 dgpIII, Jul 1, 2007
    It's a '94 and hadn't had a major service done in over 6 years. Neglect these cars and they self-destruct I guess
     
  15. GatorFL

    GatorFL Moderator
    Moderator Owner

    Nov 18, 2005
    16,967
    Wellington, FL
    Full Name:
    Duane
    #15 GatorFL, Jul 1, 2007
    I bought my car from them, and agree they are first class. Good to hear they took care of the problem appropriately.
     
  16. DrStranglove

    DrStranglove FChat Assassin
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Oct 31, 2003
    31,504
    Google Maps
    Full Name:
    DrS
    #16 DrStranglove, Jul 2, 2007
  17. cameronh

    cameronh Formula Junior

    Apr 6, 2006
    320
    NC
    Full Name:
    Cameron
    #17 cameronh, Jul 2, 2007
    They were pretty awesome. They were kind enough to let me hang around and look at the cars, and they even were kind enough to let me sit in the 07 Gallardo, and they even reved it up for me.

    Awesome bunch of guys.
     
  18. J. Salmon

    J. Salmon F1 Rookie
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 27, 2005
    4,367
    VA
    #18 J. Salmon, Jul 2, 2007
    You'd have to ask Tom, but my understanding here is that this is most likely valves guides. If that's the case, a routine engine-out would not have stopped the problem, though maybe you would have picked up on it. But I think even if a major was done 2 or 3 years ago you would still be in the same boat.
     
  19. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,599
    Gates Mills, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Jon
    #19 Bullfighter, Jul 2, 2007
    Good to hear. I'm not surprised - bought my 328 from them in 2005.

    The sad thing is you know that car will end up on eBay somewhere. Hopefully people who frequent this board will buy from places like Sport Auto. Much as we all love these cars, they are a potential minefield.
     
  20. N24RE

    N24RE Formula Junior

    Dec 8, 2003
    532
    Greensboro NC
    Full Name:
    Steve Jones
    #20 N24RE, Jul 2, 2007
    We talked to the owner of the car and rightfully he is upset. It is sad that Ferrari built a car this way. There is just not enough metal to support 5 valves properly, and in turn you get this kind of problem.

    The car is beautiful and it drives like nothing is wrong. We are seeing this more and more with the F355. It is not the 308 of the 1990's as I had hoped. Even carbed cars designed for leaded fuel are aging better than these cars.

    That being said the F355 to me is the last Ferrari that "looks" like a Ferrari. I hope that in time we will find a good way to repair these heads and it is a one time fix to never be heard from again.

    Thanks for your understanding,

    Steve
     
  21. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2003
    18,071
    Savannah
    #21 thecarreaper, Jul 2, 2007
    another kudos for Tom at Sport Auto. he let me drive a 512BBi at a ferrari event, i loved the car, and cherish the memory of that short drive.

    i had mentioned in a casual conversation that i wanted a BB. i also made it clear that they were out of my reach without financing. so it was clear i was not a buyer at this point.

    the car for sale, and he insisted i sit in it a drive it to hear and feel the car.

    i dont posses the words to convey how great an opportunity this was for me.

    Tom and Sport Auto are a class act!

    michael :)
     

Share This Page