Sports car dealers in UK? (pref South) RSJ, Cridfords, etc
Discussion
Good evening all,
Basically next month I will be flying over from NI with a budget of £25>£30k to finally begin the search for my dream 997 C2S (I have quite a specific spec in mind so waiting for the right one to pop up in the classifieds).
But before I make the leap into Porsche ownership I would like to test a few other cars in this range namely: Lotus Exige S, BMW e46 CSL, e90 M3, Audi RS4 etc just to make sure the 997 is the one I want.
Can anybody be so helpful as to name me a few used performance car dealers in the London & surrounding areas as I'm happy to take 2 or 3 days trying other options out before I commit?
Cheers,
Barry
Basically next month I will be flying over from NI with a budget of £25>£30k to finally begin the search for my dream 997 C2S (I have quite a specific spec in mind so waiting for the right one to pop up in the classifieds).
But before I make the leap into Porsche ownership I would like to test a few other cars in this range namely: Lotus Exige S, BMW e46 CSL, e90 M3, Audi RS4 etc just to make sure the 997 is the one I want.
Can anybody be so helpful as to name me a few used performance car dealers in the London & surrounding areas as I'm happy to take 2 or 3 days trying other options out before I commit?
Cheers,
Barry
POORCARDEALER said:
Not going to be easy to get drives in the sort of machinery you are looking at walking in off the street , I would suggest making appointments. You might find a bit of reluctance from dealers due to the weather too ( recleaning) .
Good luck
Obviously I would be in contact with them before arrival to ensure the 'RS4/Exige/M3/911' etc they have advertised is still available before I venture to their establishment. Thanks for the advice, can you recommend anywhere within an hour or two's driving that may stock such machinery? Good luck
Il have a scroll through PH classifieds later & pick out dealers in the area. Just thought I'd check for some local knowledge in here first.
They are indeed. But if you are expecting to go there just to test drive and make your mind up against other test drives they will sniff you out and send you packing. Unless you are ready to buy on the day it isn't the best place to test drive given the storage of the cars in a second floor showroom. Can you not test one at your local opc? They may even have something you like! (There is an opc nearer to you isn't there!?)
Porkupine said:
They are indeed. But if you are expecting to go there just to test drive and make your mind up against other test drives they will sniff you out and send you packing. Unless you are ready to buy on the day it isn't the best place to test drive given the storage of the cars in a second floor showroom. Can you not test one at your local opc? They may even have something you like! (There is an opc nearer to you isn't there!?)
Funny RSJ would normally stock my desired spec (C2S Atlas grey with black leather), if a little over priced compared to the rest of the dealers out there. I saw they had an Exige in at the same time as a 911 I wanted, I was about to fly over as I would 99% be driving away with one of them. Surely in that case somebody would have let me decide. I'm not up for thrashing the thing, I just want to know how they behave on the road.I friend took me out in his 997 C4S tip & I wasn't overly impressed. (My last car was a 360bhp e46 m3).
BarryPort said:
Funny RSJ would normally stock my desired spec (C2S Atlas grey with black leather), if a little over priced compared to the rest of the dealers out there. I saw they had an Exige in at the same time as a 911 I wanted, I was about to fly over as I would 99% be driving away with one of them. Surely in that case somebody would have let me decide. I'm not up for thrashing the thing, I just want to know how they behave on the road.
I friend took me out in his 997 C4S tip & I wasn't overly impressed. (My last car was a 360bhp e46 m3).
As others have said, Joel is reluctant to let cars out on test drives. I friend took me out in his 997 C4S tip & I wasn't overly impressed. (My last car was a 360bhp e46 m3).
He argues the cars are highly prep'd before going into the showroom so doesn't want them in and out which I can understand to a degree. However, he always has stock going through the workshop so if you ring him he'll get you out in something to understand the feel and performance of the car you're interested in.
As for the "swapping" comments, ignore them. They put off a small minority. Many have bought cars from Joel and speak highly of him.
As a previous poster mentioned, try an OPC for driving cars. They'll have the broadest selection and will allow you to judge if you like the cars and their performance.
BarryPort said:
Funny RSJ would normally stock my desired spec (C2S Atlas grey with black leather), if a little over priced compared to the rest of the dealers out there. I saw they had an Exige in at the same time as a 911 I wanted, I was about to fly over as I would 99% be driving away with one of them. Surely in that case somebody would have let me decide. I'm not up for thrashing the thing, I just want to know how they behave on the road.
I friend took me out in his 997 C4S tip & I wasn't overly impressed. (My last car was a 360bhp e46 m3).
I am sure if you were ready to drive away in one they would let you. Just call them and ask. Just bare in mind they might not be ready to drive away on the day though. Again. Call them. From your op it seemed you wanted to test drive several cars to make your mind up not that you wanted a final drive before you buy. Hence I recommended opc. I friend took me out in his 997 C4S tip & I wasn't overly impressed. (My last car was a 360bhp e46 m3).
Ps I wouldn't call RSJ overpriced. I have been there and seen their cars. I have also seen cars at other dealers. You certainly get what you pay for. Coupled with a decent warranty. You are paying for piece if mind. Best of luck. Keep us posted.
Barry, closer to home have you tried hollybrook sports cars? I've found them to be extremely professional and very much stand up to their responsibilities as a dealer. May save you a trip, tho rsj is a superb outfit, and I also can recommend them.
http://www.hollybrooksportscars.com/showroom/perfo...
http://www.hollybrooksportscars.com/showroom/perfo...
BarryPort said:
Lotus Exige S, BMW e46 CSL, e90 M3, Audi RS4, 997 C2S
That's quite an odd selection - two pumped up saloons, a pretty raw track weapon, a two seater raw track weapon and what some might think a cooking if pretty Porsche. If you don't mind me asking, how have you settled on those for your short list?
irish boy said:
Barry, closer to home have you tried hollybrook sports cars? I've found them to be extremely professional and very much stand up to their responsibilities as a dealer. May save you a trip, tho rsj is a superb outfit, and I also can recommend them.
http://www.hollybrooksportscars.com/showroom/perfo...
I've heard of them, must keep an eye on their site- they seem to stock tags sort of thing I'm after!http://www.hollybrooksportscars.com/showroom/perfo...
Greg66 said:
That's quite an odd selection - two pumped up saloons, a pretty raw track weapon, a two seater raw track weapon and what some might think a cooking if pretty Porsche.
If you don't mind me asking, how have you settled on those for your short list?
I'm pretty sure it's the C2S I'm going for but for piece of mind would like to at least have a look at what else is to offer.If you don't mind me asking, how have you settled on those for your short list?
The selection is because I'm an offshore worker who any spends approx 4 months of the year in the country. It has to be a usable yet fun experience. I was willing to up the ante to £35-£40k for a 355 but in all reality I doubt it would leave my garage with our weather.
That was just a rough guide Greg. Something with a bit of quality, performance & practicality for a single 25 year old.
xftdr said:
madala said:
I can recommend Virgin 911 at Uxbridge....very close to Heathrow as well.
Good luck in your search.
although trying to get a test drive out of them for a 964 I was seriously interested in buying a few years back was more of a drama than I had expected. Good luck in your search.
Ive bought a 996 C4S off RSJ. Didnt test drive it or even start it. As i said to Joel, im buying on the back of his reputation so putting my faith in him and his warranty!
Also the history of the car (Porsche engine warranty with over 12 months to go) gives me peace of mind.
But i also understand why he would be reluctant to let cars out on a test drive. They are up to OPC dealer standard, in fact i would say after seeing some of Bournemouth OPC Caymans out the front of the showroom, his are better. Im sure if he had to he would allow a test drive, but i suspect there are enough buyers like me to not need to provide the facility.
Also the history of the car (Porsche engine warranty with over 12 months to go) gives me peace of mind.
But i also understand why he would be reluctant to let cars out on a test drive. They are up to OPC dealer standard, in fact i would say after seeing some of Bournemouth OPC Caymans out the front of the showroom, his are better. Im sure if he had to he would allow a test drive, but i suspect there are enough buyers like me to not need to provide the facility.
I don't mean RSJ in particular. I'm just wondering what's the best way a man can see what suits him best without having to search for a track day with the model he's after or waisting some private sellers time or renting one for a day. None of my mates have anything special so I'm not fortune enough to 'borrow' an example.
Il try a few local dealers in NI & see what they say.
Il try a few local dealers in NI & see what they say.
BarryPort said:
I'm pretty sure it's the C2S I'm going for but for piece of mind would like to at least have a look at what else is to offer.
The selection is because I'm an offshore worker who any spends approx 4 months of the year in the country. It has to be a usable yet fun experience. I was willing to up the ante to £35-£40k for a 355 but in all reality I doubt it would leave my garage with our weather.
That was just a rough guide Greg. Something with a bit of quality, performance & practicality for a single 25 year old.
That's cool. If you're 25, single, don't need back seats and aren't going to be lugging stuff around in it, get the Exige. Every time. A few years ago a mate and I spent a weekend in the Brecons with an Elise and an S2000. Closest thing to a kart I've driven on the road. And you can have a lot of fun in it without risking your licence being shredded. If I had the luxury of being able to run a third car and a garage, that would be my choice. The selection is because I'm an offshore worker who any spends approx 4 months of the year in the country. It has to be a usable yet fun experience. I was willing to up the ante to £35-£40k for a 355 but in all reality I doubt it would leave my garage with our weather.
That was just a rough guide Greg. Something with a bit of quality, performance & practicality for a single 25 year old.
OTOH if you *need* practicality, scratch the Exige off the list. Of the other four, if you like driving, it's the 997 vs the CSL. The appeal (to me) of the RS4 is its tractability in the wet and marginal conditions, so if you're likely to leave it in the garage then or be out of the country, you'd be paying for capabilities that you're not likely to use.
RSJ do do test drives, contrary to what you might read on here. You need to plan ahead (if you go there you'll realise why it's not very easy to get a car from the showroom onto the road in a hurry) and persuade Joel that you're a serious buyer and not some dreamy test pilot.
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