Stradale - Looks good value.

[gb-gta]

I try to stay away from all dealerships.

I have had bad experiences with a few, but BMW were one, but also Alfa and toyota. The problems were either due to incompetence, or trying to rip me off replacing parts clearly not required, but generally both of those things. Plus bad attitude when questioned about said incompetence/ripping off attempts.

People make mistakes, I get that, but in my view, how a buisness reacts to things that go wrong, that is clearly their fault, says a lot about a buisness.
Apologise, and put things right quickly, can actually be a positive for their reputation. Arguing the toss, making excuses, clearly not interested in listening to what you are saying to them etc etc. also says a lot about their buisness. Not in a good way.

The exception to that is Lexus. We have a 13 year old rx400h, goes for a service year on year because they’ve not once tried to ‘up sell’ me anything or lied about stuff needing replacement. To be fair car never goes wrong, so never get thrown any daft bills either which helps!

 

[lifes2short]

I've used 7 different locations (and more franchises) across multiple years over the 20 plus years and all have disappointed unless I have virtually forced myself upon them to put down a deposit for a new car. This started in 2005 when I was running a brand new 525 .... I was ignored when I first enquired by phone, I was not taken seriously when I spoke to a salesman and even when we were discussing options I had to get the Sales Manager involved as the Salesman was adamant I didn't really want a manual.

The servicing experience was also shocking - I gave them a 2nd chance (they failed) and then tried a new dealer. I did over 100,000 miles in a bit over 3 years so gave them a good lump of money. I chopped that for another 5 series because I thought another dealer would be better - 2 dealerships didn't even call me back and 1 told me that nobody would buy a manual 5 series.

Another dealership point blank refused to let me test drive a 6 series and when I did buy another BMW, as soon as I drove away they couldn't have been more disinterested. And my experience in terms of servicing got worse and I had to threaten to take them to court over damage that they did to the car and claimed was already present. In 2015 (after multiple BMWs and over a quarter of a million miles) I chopped in my 6 series and walked away from the brand forever.

I appreciate what you are saying about generalisation but life is too short for me to endure shoddy service.

FWIW I did consider buying an i8 when I bought my GT but as no dealer showed any interest in letting me have a test drive, I stayed away.

Interestingly, I have found Mercedes to be even worse (as has a friend who is a lifelong Mercedes owner and wanted an AMG GT but couldn't even get a dealership to call him back).

Maserati on the other hand has shown me what true customer service is.

your experience not good granted, but i could write few pages about my own experiences with main stealers cr4p customer service and servicing over the last 30 odd years, i just take it on the chin after a few choice words and take my business to the next main stealer that provides the right customer service, latest example is the wife's newly acquired e pace, our local main stealer were a complete bunch of muppets, arrogant and up their own 4rses, so took the business to another main dealer about 70 odd miles away that provided an excellent service and got a better deal as well, as said i would never be put off a brand purely because of the service received from individuals, you get good and bad dealers, that's the way it is

 

[Guy]

Guy, there are grey Stradales and there are Lava Grey Stradales...!!!

That is such a gorgeous colour. How many of those are there? I think it was about £8k extra when new.

 

[gb-gta]

That is such a gorgeous colour. How many of those are there? I think it was about £8k extra when new.

Nice. Second favourite for me on a stradale after blue.

 

[Hurricane52]

cant understand why you're tarnishing all bmw main dealers with the same brush, i've had sh1t experiences with some main dealers but doesn't put me off the brand entirely, i just go to another out of the area who provides better customer service

Similar story with Landrover dealers. I bought mine from Devon because the Aberystwyth salesman took two weeks to ring me back. That’s sales - god knows what their attitude to servicing is like.

 

[safrane]

We went to a LR dealership in Bristol three times to have a test drive in a RR. First 2 times they claimed to not know we were coming despite booking appointments third time kept us waiting for 30 minutes. We decided not to wait any longer.

However the Cheltenham LR dealer was excellent and had 4 cars ready for us to try back to back over a Saturday... sadly he could not find us a used one with the spec we wanted so we got an XC90.

 

[Ewan]

A good friend of mine recently bought the LR dealerships in Salisbury and Christchurch, so if anyone has any problems at either, let me know!

 

[Scaf]

Reminds me of when I bought my first Jaguar XJ back in 2006, went in to Guy Salmon Thames Ditton close to my office, they did not take me seriously or make me feel special but had the perfect car in their showroom. Contacted the Oxford branch and bought the very same car over the phone. The chap came from Oxford to Thames D for the hand over - a bit of a pretty woman moment.
Since then I have bought 4 other XJs from the same chap, even though he moved to Coventry. Bought some works cars from him as well and recommended him numerous times.
Customer service matters !

 

[Strad]

That is such a gorgeous colour. How many of those are there? I think it was about £8k extra when new.

Thanks Guy,
I like the way it can look black in low light but is actually quite a vibrant grey in the sun. It did come at a cost though, hence the PPF.
Right now all I want is just one dry day so I can take her out!!!!
Mark.

 

[woody1144]

Lovely looking car. I think this is bang on the money for the car and milage noting the points around it might need a clutch and other bits at that age. I had my front suspension and new pads sorted last year and can vouch that you won't be getting much change from 3k so it mounts up! Remember minus the paint there aren't any options on it, zero carbon from what I can see so they might have knocked off a couple of k for that. I think this is a very cost effective way to get into a Strad as long as nothing goes wrong!

 

[Andyk]

Lovely looking car. I think this is bang on the money for the car and milage noting the points around it might need a clutch and other bits at that age. I had my front suspension and new pads sorted last year and can vouch that you won't be getting much change from 3k so it mounts up! Remember minus the paint there aren't any options on it, zero carbon from what I can see so they might have knocked off a couple of k for that. I think this is a very cost effective way to get into a Strad as long as nothing goes wrong!

Spot on.......Just a question though....Dies carbon interior stuff really add. Hat much to the asking price? If now that it was an exspensive option when new but I don't think it really adds much at resale....Maybe £500 max.....but hey I now an expert in these things.

 

[Ewan]

It’s a moot point really, as the chance of finding two otherwise similar Strads for sale, but one with carbon and one without, is virtually zero. When buying a Strad, all you can really do is look at the one or two that crop, and decide whether or not you want it/either. But personally, I would not have offered any more when buying mine if it had more carbon.

 

[woody1144]

Agree, it's personal preference I think. For me the essential carbon was the paddles and the rear spoiler, anything else was a bonus. For others it may be no carbon, others might find it essential to have every box ticked. The number I quoted is what the value was to me so ignore that as it's personal taste. So yeh 500 could easily be the amount it's worth to people. In reality in the car market I don't think it adds value, just makes it easier to sell. Think it can be said about most optional extras, minus lift on modern supercars as that's pretty essential nowadays!

 

[Guy]

Not trinkets but condition, mileage, interior and exterior colours you can live with, proper history and most importantly source - not this one especially as if it was good it would be MD.

 

[azapa]

indeed I would have paid the same with or without. but the carbon is nice. certainly the mirrors, wheel, tail lip and paddles. I'm sure well lacquered CF hydro-dipped tail lip and mirrors would look great too.

the nutter who really pays for this stuff is the first owner. wonderful!

 

[Scaf]

Like all these things it’s down to personal taste, I am not fussed about the interior carbon but wanted exterior, I would however expect cars with carbon to have a bit of a premium over those that don’t.

 

[Andyk]

Dropped a bit more at 48500....Same price now as the grey high mile one....

 

[Ewan]

This must be the cheapest (reasonable mileage) 4 seat Strad ever. What a bargain.

 

[Wattie]

Dropped a bit more at 48500....Same price now as the grey high mile one....

Cheaper than the QP!!!!

 

[safrane]

Tempted... but suspect I would be shafted on PX price with the GS, and selling it privately would be a long drawn process no doubt.