Dealer's car prep
Discussion
Been to a couple of dealers recently and must admit the sales guys have been so laid back it's as if they don't really care if they sell the cars!
Anyway, the point of this thread is I was quite shocked at the condition of a two-year old Vantage I looked at a week or two ago. Curbed alloys, loose trim, scruffy leather, even some rusty bits! This was in a main dealer, and I think it had been in their stock for a while (not surprising really!). The guy said they usually prep cars after making the sale so the new owner can be sure everything's sorted, but surely they should correct the obvious things first?
No ones going to spend £70K on a car like that, surely?
I'm also struggling to understand how it could be that bad anyway - mileage wasn't particularly high, but it seemed well "used". Do various bits in the engine bay really rust that much if the car's aren't loved?
Anyway, the point of this thread is I was quite shocked at the condition of a two-year old Vantage I looked at a week or two ago. Curbed alloys, loose trim, scruffy leather, even some rusty bits! This was in a main dealer, and I think it had been in their stock for a while (not surprising really!). The guy said they usually prep cars after making the sale so the new owner can be sure everything's sorted, but surely they should correct the obvious things first?
No ones going to spend £70K on a car like that, surely?
I'm also struggling to understand how it could be that bad anyway - mileage wasn't particularly high, but it seemed well "used". Do various bits in the engine bay really rust that much if the car's aren't loved?
Was a recent thread on exactly the same topic over on the Lamborghini section of the forums..
Basically I totally agree. Last year I was looking for an F430 and saw several which if they had been fully prepared I would have bought one. But the dealers excuse everytime was that they would fix this, that and the other things as soon as they sold the car. I would only buy a car once I saw it in perfect condition. This is where I think main dealers are WORSE than specialists. Most specialists I visit keep there cars in tip top condition whereas main dealers give you blerb about it going in for 150 point check and such once the car is sold...
I am sure I am not the only person that opted NOT to spend my £90k with a main dealer because of the condition of the car, and went and bought an immaculate car from a specialist instead.
Basically I totally agree. Last year I was looking for an F430 and saw several which if they had been fully prepared I would have bought one. But the dealers excuse everytime was that they would fix this, that and the other things as soon as they sold the car. I would only buy a car once I saw it in perfect condition. This is where I think main dealers are WORSE than specialists. Most specialists I visit keep there cars in tip top condition whereas main dealers give you blerb about it going in for 150 point check and such once the car is sold...
I am sure I am not the only person that opted NOT to spend my £90k with a main dealer because of the condition of the car, and went and bought an immaculate car from a specialist instead.
The problem is the lure of the main dealer with that manufacturer backed warranty...
I had a similar experience when buying mine - I drove nearly 200 miles to see the car just before Christmas (by appointment) and found that the car had been left outside the night before and had a couple of inches of snow on it (which they didn't bother to clear).
It had also not been prep'ed and made problems with the exterior difficult to detect.
It was the exact spec and price that I wanted so I ended up buying it, but that was in no part due to any positive experience with the dealer. It ended up going back in a couple of times as I wasn't satisfied when delivered - luckily sorted now, but put me off the dealer experience !
I had a similar experience when buying mine - I drove nearly 200 miles to see the car just before Christmas (by appointment) and found that the car had been left outside the night before and had a couple of inches of snow on it (which they didn't bother to clear).
It had also not been prep'ed and made problems with the exterior difficult to detect.
It was the exact spec and price that I wanted so I ended up buying it, but that was in no part due to any positive experience with the dealer. It ended up going back in a couple of times as I wasn't satisfied when delivered - luckily sorted now, but put me off the dealer experience !
Edited by marcelg on Sunday 13th March 00:08
I guess in a way it's better they do it like this from a buyers point of view.
The car I looked at, if immaculate, would probably be sitting on my drive now! However, if it has been that badly looked after, who knows what hidden problems it may have had? Bear in mind I'm not just talking about the odd mark. And strangely the bodywork seemed fine. It was just everything else that was poor! The interior and engine bay both looked like what you might expect on an unloved early 06 V8V with 50K on the clock and a hard life behind it, not a 2 year old car with 10K!
The rust was the most surprising aspect, I guess. Several bits in the engine bay were rusty, including various fixings. And there was even rust inside the car - the magnetic bits under the arm rest lid. Is this a common problem?
The car I looked at, if immaculate, would probably be sitting on my drive now! However, if it has been that badly looked after, who knows what hidden problems it may have had? Bear in mind I'm not just talking about the odd mark. And strangely the bodywork seemed fine. It was just everything else that was poor! The interior and engine bay both looked like what you might expect on an unloved early 06 V8V with 50K on the clock and a hard life behind it, not a 2 year old car with 10K!
The rust was the most surprising aspect, I guess. Several bits in the engine bay were rusty, including various fixings. And there was even rust inside the car - the magnetic bits under the arm rest lid. Is this a common problem?
I have usually found that if a car has not been preparred then it's probably not owned by the dealer at that point but is on sale or return for a client, I.e. If the dealer sells the car, they'll buy it from th client and then prep it, hence the dealer doesn't nt to prep a car they dont own.
I went to look at a Vsnquish S a while ago and it was tatty and the dealer explained the above.
I went to look at a Vsnquish S a while ago and it was tatty and the dealer explained the above.
mikey k said:
It is quite common because people like me come along haggle £6k off then give them a list of 17 points to sort before I collect it 
It is lazy but it means they only do the remedial work they agree with the buyer, saving them time and money.
That's fair enough, to a point, but this car was so bad I doubt anyone would buy it anyway. It may as well have had a sign on it saying "one careless owner - winter use only - always kept on Brighton seafront with the windows open"! Obvious things like badly curbed alloys, rust and loose trim I would expect to be sorted before the car was put up for sale, even if other stuff like trim scuffs and paint blemishes were left for a pre-purchase prep.It is lazy but it means they only do the remedial work they agree with the buyer, saving them time and money.
A couple of other cars I looked at at the same dealer were fine, so I tend to think dwooten may be right - it was a sale or return car. But I don't think it's doing the dealer any favours having it on their forecourt!
Its all about time and money. The dealer isnt going to spend money on making the car look the best it can as they bank on people not knowing any different. However, when someone points out issues, they say they will get it sorted when the car is sold.
They are hardly going get someone like me in to prep a car if the person that buys it wont see any differnce. They would just be wasting a few hundred quid.
Some are lazy and dont have a clue, but to most, its all about profit.
Francis
They are hardly going get someone like me in to prep a car if the person that buys it wont see any differnce. They would just be wasting a few hundred quid.
Some are lazy and dont have a clue, but to most, its all about profit.
Francis
paddy328 said:
Its all about time and money. The dealer isnt going to spend money on making the car look the best it can as they bank on people not knowing any different. However, when someone points out issues, they say they will get it sorted when the car is sold.
They are hardly going get someone like me in to prep a car if the person that buys it wont see any differnce. They would just be wasting a few hundred quid.
Some are lazy and dont have a clue, but to most, its all about profit.
Francis
No one spending £70K on a car is "not going to notice" rust, trim hanging off, knackered wheels etc though! I'm not talking about minor things. They are hardly going get someone like me in to prep a car if the person that buys it wont see any differnce. They would just be wasting a few hundred quid.
Some are lazy and dont have a clue, but to most, its all about profit.
Francis
It's not a question of making it look it's best. It's a question of making it look not tatty. Two very different things!
Not what I'd expect at a local car lot selling 5 year old Mondeos, let alone an Aston main dealer!
My MD experience was looking at a car with similar damage, including seats that looked like they have been attacked with sandpaper.
The dealer didnt seem in the least bothered by this, explaining "it would be sorted".
I eventually bought from a specialist who knew the history of the car (MD car was bought at auction) and was able to tell me what had been done, not "tell us what needs doing and we'll sort it".
paddy328 said:
Its all about time and money. The dealer isnt going to spend money on making the car look the best it can as they bank on people not knowing any different. However, when someone points out issues, they say they will get it sorted when the car is sold.
They are hardly going get someone like me in to prep a car if the person that buys it wont see any differnce. They would just be wasting a few hundred quid.
Some are lazy and dont have a clue, but to most, its all about profit.
Francis
But they will have to sell the car anyway, so they may as well get the work over with to start with. Then it will sell faster and for more money - which equals more profit and better cashflow.They are hardly going get someone like me in to prep a car if the person that buys it wont see any differnce. They would just be wasting a few hundred quid.
Some are lazy and dont have a clue, but to most, its all about profit.
Francis
So it's not profit, it must be laziness. Or stupidity.
If you can find my thread when I was looking for a V12 Vantage, I had exactly the same issue. Poor paintwork, rear light trim hanging off, ragged tyre, chipped front grill.
All I got was "we will sort" but I was not impressed and walked away.
I was distinctly unimpressed and went elsewhere. So I guess in their case not prepping lost them a sale.
All I got was "we will sort" but I was not impressed and walked away.
I was distinctly unimpressed and went elsewhere. So I guess in their case not prepping lost them a sale.
My experience was very different, I was looking at one of the cars, thinking it was new unregistered, but it was actually 18 months old, they had detailed it to an amazing level.
Why aren't we naming the dealers here? I'm a great believer in evolution, if we want the bad ones to die off, why don't we try to accelerate the process a little?
Why aren't we naming the dealers here? I'm a great believer in evolution, if we want the bad ones to die off, why don't we try to accelerate the process a little?
MichaelV8V said:
My experience was very different, I was looking at one of the cars, thinking it was new unregistered, but it was actually 18 months old, they had detailed it to an amazing level.
Why aren't we naming the dealers here? I'm a great believer in evolution, if we want the bad ones to die off, why don't we try to accelerate the process a little?
I would like to name and shame, but these are the rules unfortunately :Why aren't we naming the dealers here? I'm a great believer in evolution, if we want the bad ones to die off, why don't we try to accelerate the process a little?
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