Scottish Motor Services Glasgow opinions

Scottish Motor Services Glasgow opinions

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Discussion

nunpuncher

Original Poster:

3,444 posts

131 months

Sunday 14th April 2019
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Just wondering if anyone here has bought from this outfit? They've been there for what seems like forever and always seem to have some tasty stock, yet I've never spoke to anyone who's had dealings with them. Google doesn't turn up much which could be a good thing. However, the generic name makes searching difficult.

I'm looking to buy quite an expensive (to me at least) car from them and just trying to do a bit of due diligence.

Terzo123

4,415 posts

214 months

Sunday 14th April 2019
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I've looked at their stock a few times. Their cars are always very well presented. Never bought from them though.

nunpuncher

Original Poster:

3,444 posts

131 months

Monday 15th April 2019
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mikedm1983 said:
“Outfit” ?????? It’s a genuine family run car dealership that has been successfully trading for a long time. What merit is there in a stranger to give you there opinion about any business when you are only purchasing one car. Get off of your backside and make up your own mind. At the same time grow a pair or pay for somebody to help you.
Aye alright sweetheart. No need to get your knickers in a twist. I'm sure since they've been about so long there's bound to be some happy customers here somewhere.

Edited by nunpuncher on Monday 15th April 00:49

clarki

1,323 posts

225 months

Monday 15th April 2019
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While ago now. But I bought a Renault GTA V6 Turbo from them back in the mid 90s.

Pleasure to deal with. Had the car 6 years, took it with me down to London. It got snapped up pretty quick, for decent £££ when I got there. It was a decent example to be fair.

Only real hiccup I had was a water pipe going a month or so after I got it. They fixed it foc. Had a tie up with a garage more or less across the road IIRC.

Now i'm back in Scotland do keep an eye on their stock.

R8Steve

4,150 posts

181 months

Monday 15th April 2019
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My dad used to buy his cars from there all the time, at least 8-10 i'd guess and he never had any issues.

I bought a 911 from them and again, no issues.

It must have been going for at least 35 years now so i'd say you are in safe hands.

Used to love going there with my dad as they always had some unique sports cars.

Humper

946 posts

168 months

Monday 15th April 2019
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Know nothing about them apart from there's a very old SMS sticker on the window of my SL's hardtop, and it's still going well smile

Scott Laurie

148 posts

157 months

Sunday 28th April 2019
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owner is Hugh McKinnon, bought a 911 (993 S) many years ago from him, was pleasure to deal with and when I came to sell the car he took it back on a SOR,

not heard anything bad about him in the twenty or so years I have been buying porsches,,

as with any secondhand car, be happy that you have sufficient warranty or inspection on the car

regards
Scott.

RTaylor2208

189 posts

167 months

Tuesday 30th April 2019
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Twice in the last few years I came very close to buying from SMS. Both times they offered a fair trade in value but on closer inspection both cars had niggles that meant I never completed the sale.

Both cars were advertised with full dealer service history but on closer inspection both had patchy history. Some expensive items were missing on both cars, both were estates and missing the load covers for the boot which I couldn’t get them to agree to replace or discount the car due to this.

The actual sales person was good, not pushy, happy to do a test drive etc but I just felt that the prices were at the top of the scale for the model but realistically due to niggles should have been a bit cheaper.

In the end we bought a car from killermont cars as they had a similar model, in excellent used condition and with a complete history for as near matters the same price as SMS.

I’d still go back if they had a car I was interested in as it wasn’t a negative experience, unfortunately on those occasions the cars just weren’t as keenly priced or as good a condition I expected for the age and mileage.

nunpuncher

Original Poster:

3,444 posts

131 months

Wednesday 1st May 2019
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Thanks for the replies. The positive experiences did settle my suspicions but unfortunately the deal has now gone south.

Without a doubt my worst car buying experience in 25 years but it does seem like my experience was a one off.

nunpuncher

Original Poster:

3,444 posts

131 months

Friday 3rd May 2019
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Message removed as reply to deleted troll

Edited by nunpuncher on Friday 3rd May 08:23


Edited by nunpuncher on Monday 6th May 12:03

AmiableChimp

3,674 posts

243 months

Friday 3rd May 2019
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mikedm1983 said:
“Outfit” ?????? It’s a genuine family run car dealership that has been successfully trading for a long time. What merit is there in a stranger to give you there opinion about any business when you are only purchasing one car. Get off of your backside and make up your own mind. At the same time grow a pair or pay for somebody to help you.
Bad day or time of the month?

What a bizarrely aggressive post to, what I can see, is a perfectly valid and not uncommon request.

Dr_Rick

1,621 posts

254 months

Friday 3rd May 2019
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Bullet could have been dodged from the other side of the table.

I used to work around there, and went in specifically to look at a B7 RS4 Avant they had on their pages. It wasn't stored at the main showroom, but a a lockup warehouse they have elsewhere in the Eastend of Glasgow.

When I finally got to look at the car, they must have presumed I wasn't serious as the car wasn't available for a test drive. It was there, but several rows back and they weren't exactly falling over themselves to get the car out for me. The car was dusty, had scratches on the paint, the wheels were scuffed, it smoked when started and the general condition of the car was really poor. Wasn't their cheapest car, definitely wasn't their most expensive, but they weren't giving me the time of day, let alone the sort of attention you'd expect of a buyer.

Didn't even get a followup call about my thoughts.

I went elsewhere.

nunpuncher

Original Poster:

3,444 posts

131 months

Friday 3rd May 2019
quotequote all
Dr_Rick said:
Bullet could have been dodged from the other side of the table.

I used to work around there, and went in specifically to look at a B7 RS4 Avant they had on their pages. It wasn't stored at the main showroom, but a a lockup warehouse they have elsewhere in the Eastend of Glasgow.

When I finally got to look at the car, they must have presumed I wasn't serious as the car wasn't available for a test drive. It was there, but several rows back and they weren't exactly falling over themselves to get the car out for me. The car was dusty, had scratches on the paint, the wheels were scuffed, it smoked when started and the general condition of the car was really poor. Wasn't their cheapest car, definitely wasn't their most expensive, but they weren't giving me the time of day, let alone the sort of attention you'd expect of a buyer.

Didn't even get a followup call about my thoughts.

I went elsewhere.
Almost identical to my experience. The difference being I was stupid enough to pursue the purchase and made the mistake of giving them a deposit.

Edited by nunpuncher on Saturday 4th May 17:52

Driver101

14,376 posts

127 months

Saturday 4th May 2019
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You're getting very defensive and argumentative over this Mike.

You're right on the ball to see a review that had just been published on Google.

This clearly means a lot to you. Why so angry and defensive?

The next most recent review on Google is worse than this thread.


Edited by Driver101 on Saturday 4th May 09:59

nunpuncher

Original Poster:

3,444 posts

131 months

Saturday 4th May 2019
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Post removed as details are now irrelevant.

Edited by nunpuncher on Saturday 4th May 17:49

nunpuncher

Original Poster:

3,444 posts

131 months

Saturday 4th May 2019
quotequote all
Also Mike, it's worth noting that the date I started up this thread was the day after I lost it on the phone with SMS (13 April). It was at this point I started to have my doubts about ever getting the car and wanted to know if others had had issues with this trader.

I did not post exact details as they were irrelevant to my enquiry and I did not want to say anything negative at that point. This remained my stance until your second smart comment.

You have done nothing to help this situation and have only managed to escalate the situation.

cardigankid

8,849 posts

218 months

Saturday 4th May 2019
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I have dealt with them and found them pretty straight. I would also say that there are a number of cars I have seen in there which I wished I had bought as they would have appreciated massively. They get interesting cars. However, the cars are often good value, reliable even if not concours, and sometimes need a bit of work, so you go in with your eyes open. I wouldn't buy any car off the net, without seeing it and that applies to any dealer. Perceptions and requirements are so different.

You can have a bad experience with any dealer.

Only yesterday I called a well known Jaguar specialist who told me that he was extremely busy and did not have time to send some specific photographs to confirm the condition of a car and possibly justify a 400 mile road trip.