HANWELL CAR CENTRE , ANY EXPERIENCES?
Discussion
Sorry unable to give an opinion but I do recall moving from t'North to London in 1994 and walking west along the Uxbridge Road late one night and then weirdly finding myself outside the above mentioned emporium slap bang in the middle of bandit country
Weird
Less weird now naturally when a 2 bed flat in Hanwell costs more than a Cheshire mansion...............................
Never purchased from them but visited them on two occassions to browse. They only do Bentley and RR and seemed to know the cars. All their cars have what seems to be a all bells and whistles warranty so that should give some piece of mind.
Other other thing I can say is they have a wide selection of stock to view.
Other other thing I can say is they have a wide selection of stock to view.
there's a thread on here about them. a guy bought a Turbo R from them a couple of years ago and really liked their ability to resolve issues via a mechanic they used in Liverpool. Some other posters pointed out that these should have been picked up in the PDI. As ever, get an inspection done beforehand, preferably by someone in the RRBSA. I use Nigel Sandell, and have done for 11 years and can highly recommend him. And he's local to them.
http://www.rrbsa.co.uk/
http://www.nsandell.com/
ETA:
I've found the link
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=1&a...
http://www.rrbsa.co.uk/
http://www.nsandell.com/
ETA:
I've found the link
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=1&a...
Edited by ADP68 on Wednesday 4th March 14:23
The only issue with getting inspections done is conflict of interest. I would always be worried that the inspector would value their relationships within the trade more than the one off inspection job. This might just be overly cynical on my part, but think about it - as the inspector you have the power to frustrate or destroy a 20K/30K/40K etc deal - as the inspector are you really going to want to jeopardise that deal in a small industry where everyone knows everyone.
A very valid point Matt and there's also the fact that the inspector could 'fail' a car and then produce one 'he knows' out of the hat, so-to-speak. I suppose you have to trust someone and you are mitigating risk, but not entirely eliminating it, by having it inspected.
I had Frank Dale inspect a car I bought from Hunt& Keal (now Peter Keal) and a mobile chap up North, called Gary Bretherton, inspect a car I bought from Mike Abbas Classic Cars. In both cases, I bought the cars and used the inspection to negotiate a better price.
A friend had a car in the North inspected by Bretherton and he told my pal to walk away. He didn't produce an alternative. My pal used a company called Centurion (a mobile guy) to inspect a few cars for him and he also advised him to walk from them, without suggesting an alternative.
I had Frank Dale inspect a car I bought from Hunt& Keal (now Peter Keal) and a mobile chap up North, called Gary Bretherton, inspect a car I bought from Mike Abbas Classic Cars. In both cases, I bought the cars and used the inspection to negotiate a better price.
A friend had a car in the North inspected by Bretherton and he told my pal to walk away. He didn't produce an alternative. My pal used a company called Centurion (a mobile guy) to inspect a few cars for him and he also advised him to walk from them, without suggesting an alternative.
ADP68 said:
A very valid point Matt and there's also the fact that the inspector could 'fail' a car and then produce one 'he knows' out of the hat, so-to-speak.
Yes, that I've come across that.It's a tricky situation if you are someone who lacks the technical knowledge to draw their own judgement and needs an independent opinion - this is the advantage of the AA/RAC of course, because they can say what they like and don't care. But whether they are suitable to inspect a specialist car, I don't know. I've never used them.
Unfortunately, however nice and decent anyone in the motor trade comes across, it pays to be overly cynical.
I have bought from Hanwells- a turbo R- in fact I bought 2 as my wife did not like the colour of the first one... I would note the following- the cars are not prepared pre - purchase- so you may notice faults on the test drive- and some things I found after purchase should have been found during a 100 point inspection. Warranty is comprehensive for 2 months but then covers£1000 for 22 months- not a huge amount for a Bentley. So a pre- purchase inspection by someone else is highly recommended (I think for any purchase).
They are delightful guys to deal with, very helpful and I loved my turbo r. Also they have a good choice for the older cars- pricing may be a little above the average?
They are delightful guys to deal with, very helpful and I loved my turbo r. Also they have a good choice for the older cars- pricing may be a little above the average?
I had a friend who bought a very nice 1982 Corniche from Hanwells, he wanted to drive it down to Spain where he lived, fancied driving through the south of France and then on to Spain. What else would you buy a Corniche for?.
They insisted he had the car transported to Spain and advised him not to drive all that way, reluctantly he agreed and the car arrived in Spain.
Every time he drove it after so many kilometres it would fail to proceed and he would have to be recovered home. This went on and on until he got so fed up he sent it back to Hanwells who then advised him the engine was cooking and it would cost him 12k to put right. He wasn't prepared to pay that and so sold it back to them for less than half he had paid. It was then back in their showrooms at the price of £48k which he had paid some four months before.
I would advise a serious inspection and a long test drive.
They insisted he had the car transported to Spain and advised him not to drive all that way, reluctantly he agreed and the car arrived in Spain.
Every time he drove it after so many kilometres it would fail to proceed and he would have to be recovered home. This went on and on until he got so fed up he sent it back to Hanwells who then advised him the engine was cooking and it would cost him 12k to put right. He wasn't prepared to pay that and so sold it back to them for less than half he had paid. It was then back in their showrooms at the price of £48k which he had paid some four months before.
I would advise a serious inspection and a long test drive.
I went in to look at a Shadow II a few years back and was shown a car which they said was top condition, this notwithstanding that I could smell damp in it, the dashboard veneer had shrivelled up with damp and they had left all the windows an inch down.
I think that they may be fine but they need watching. Then again who doesn't?
I think that they may be fine but they need watching. Then again who doesn't?
Sparhawk2 said:
I would not go there. My opinion is so negative, if I posted the truth it would be subject to the name and shame rule.
+1 on my experienceI bought a continental r from them and had my corniche convertible serviced by Hanwells
If you are wearing a watch when you arrive - check up sleeve its still there when you leave.
I would aviod, we came very close to court action, there are better specialists around
When i first started looking for car, i did pop in there one day for a mooch around. Good point no salesman came out to give me the full presentation.
in fact no salesman came out at all for 10 mins and when he did the conversation went
Salesman 'Got to pop out for 10 mins, do you mind looking after the shop?
Me looking around hurriedly and noting no another soul was in the office, 'Errrrrrr.......'
Salesman 'Thanks' and vanishes
So i could have found the keys for the one on the front and buggered off. But i just buggered off. and No it was never shown on any TV prog
in fact no salesman came out at all for 10 mins and when he did the conversation went
Salesman 'Got to pop out for 10 mins, do you mind looking after the shop?
Me looking around hurriedly and noting no another soul was in the office, 'Errrrrrr.......'
Salesman 'Thanks' and vanishes
So i could have found the keys for the one on the front and buggered off. But i just buggered off. and No it was never shown on any TV prog
They do seem to be the RR/B equivalent of a car supermarket, the stock looks to be a combination of good/bad/indifferent.
I have seen two cars supplied by them, both IMO were average to poor examples, with numerous issues/faults that were apparent to me from just a casual glance. But that said, the owners were very pleased and seemed oblivious.
I have seen two cars supplied by them, both IMO were average to poor examples, with numerous issues/faults that were apparent to me from just a casual glance. But that said, the owners were very pleased and seemed oblivious.
I think it would be nice to expect every car offered to be in perfect order, without faults, but realistically with anyone selling classic/ old cars, they very often do have faults.
These should all be disclosed of course, but i would think this is hardly unusual at any car dealership. i suspect they are relying on someone walking through the door, who doesn't know what they are looking? No doubt a hefty "London Premium" tag is also added, just like anything for sale in London. Pretty much a standard car dealer set up, IMO.
I have seen their adverts online of course, but for me all their stock is way overpriced. I was looking around for about a year, and I bought a 97 TR privately in the end, with good history, and fair condition, at considerably less than anything they offered.
These should all be disclosed of course, but i would think this is hardly unusual at any car dealership. i suspect they are relying on someone walking through the door, who doesn't know what they are looking? No doubt a hefty "London Premium" tag is also added, just like anything for sale in London. Pretty much a standard car dealer set up, IMO.
I have seen their adverts online of course, but for me all their stock is way overpriced. I was looking around for about a year, and I bought a 97 TR privately in the end, with good history, and fair condition, at considerably less than anything they offered.
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