My local fiat dealer is run by morons.

It's true.

In aberdeen we have 1 fiat dealer, then no more untill fraserburgh/dundee.

This dealer is (an arnold clark based dealer) hidden behind a load of other dealers, it is the only one on the lang stracht motor mile that is hidden (not very fair).

Now, you would assume that because fiats sell because of their style and looks that the forecourt would be full of grande punto's, stilo's etc. Not so, for some reason, you go through the main gates to be greeted with the site of, All their trade in's. Loads of rovers and fords, All th crap that should be at the back. it is only when you get beyond the wall of crap that you see all the fiats lined up. A see of brand new 1.2 8v's. No, let's not push the models people want, let's just fill the forecourt with base model crap.

It is infuriating and the number 1 reason there are so few fiats for sale (autotrader lists 10 within a 40 mile radious of where i live, and there are not HGT's or sportings for sale in the north/north east or central scotland AT ALL).

I really want to become the manager of that dealer, then it would be transformed into something worthy of the fiat/alfa romeo name.

Maybe i should open my own fiat dealer

their not morons, their trying to make money.

because its owned by arnold clark not a spa run dealer (not sure if there are any), they will try to sell as many cars as they want, not nesscerily fiats.

the fact there is nothing but base models is pretty standard nationwide. People in this country aren't bothered with buying high end models and options. I mean how many BMW M5's and Merc Brabus's and AMG's do you see knocking about, and how many Audi S6 and S8's do you see.
I bet you've maybe seen 10 in the last year anywhere!!!

ON the continent they like to buy highspec models, and buy all the options they can afford (and then some ) and drive them properly, i.e use them, not hide it in a garage.

Scotland is even worse than england as people are even LESS bothered about it. except in cities, but even then, mainly base models with no kit on them.

The other reason dealers mainly get base models is down to the people that use the dealer network frequently,
An old couple wanting a car to last em till they chuff it, aren't usually bothered what the car has or how quick it is, all their bothered about is the fact its new and going to loose lots of money very quickly, hence wiping out their son's/daughters inheritance (family , grandad keeps buying golf gti's every few years, just got a new one @ £23k fecking ashole, yet he can't drive it!). sorry, got off topic there.
no the people that use dealers, buy a new car, a base model cos its cheap, and usually hold their value better than high spec models, after a few years, they trade it in to get, wait for it, EXACTLY the same car, in the same colour, just 2years newer, feckwits or what, costs them a fortune and they get no car whatsoever for their money

hence why dealers are inandated with base models.
Also the higher spec models tend to be kept for alonger period of time, as htey have more toys and usually drive better, look better, so the owner considers it more of THEIR car rather than just a random new car they get every 24months.
Also when you modify a car, a dealer won't sell it, and they'll give you bottom book for a trade in

every dealership is run my morons. in the car industry there's a saying "if it all goes wrong just join a dealership". they say that because any monkey can work there. to keep a job at an independant you need to be quick and consistent, if you aren't up to the standard you just join a dealership and drink coffee for the rest of your days. anyone who disagrees obvioulsy works at a dealership because they cant/wont do a decent days work.

but if you go to a dealer its always your fault, you have the choice.

thats not fair, if they was all lazy there wouldn't be any here giving out free advice in their spare time

notice their spare time is during work time and it suddenly makes sense.

Jug, what about T104658253... He spends his evenings here helping people

I would love an independend fiat dealer around here.

I don't think my local has heard of customer service, It is like they don't even want sales. I come in last year looking for a punto sporting, i saw a speedgear on the forecourt but i thought i would ask the salesman inside if he had anything else.

me: Hello, do you have any punto sportings in stock.
Salesman: No.
.....
.....
.....
Me: well, do you know if any will be coming in soon?
Salesman: I don't know.......
......

Seriously, he was useless. No Offer "we have this one" or "we can source one from another branch" or anything. I just left.

How hard would it be to open an independant fiat dealer?

I hate to say it but i love my Local fiat dealer, she's brilliant, little ditzy blonde, but we always have a chat and a giggle whilst i'm waiting for the fiat guys to pretend to sort out the problems in my car and charge me £40 for the pleasure...

Fiat, the conversation prostitute...

ive seen them on here in the early hours of the morning, i also know for a fact that at least one of them goes through all the posts with no replies just to see if they can help

ok guys your right, they are helpful. and not everyone who works at a dealer is lazy or an independant reject, but most of them are

Shall we just put it down to arnold clark being crap then?

Still pisses me off the way they line the forecourts with every car but the fiats.

Well I work at Arnold Clark Fiat in Kirkcaldy Fife. The Sales team there are pretty good. The forcourt is arranged well too With all the puntos and pandas up one side of an internal road, the stilos up the other and everything else behind them with the trade ins tucked round the back of the service department. It's not all good tho the service department is run by a complete fool. Who isn't happy unless when you get your car back it's in a worse state than when they took it. Just so he can take pleasure in telling you to get bent it's not thier problem.

I'm a valeter by the way incase you thought i was sticking up for sales because i'm one of them!

its often the service department head honcho thats a fool, the mech's I would hazard a guess know what to do, they are just told to waste time and scratch and deface your car.

yeah I can vouch for AC sales being a complete load of tossers, the sunderland branch is anyway.

Me- I would like to look at a 1.2 16v, or a 1.4 16 or a diesel, punto or possibly stilo in the diesel.

AC sales tosspot- sorry we don't have any performance models, just these 20puntos here.

me- you sure that one there isn't a sporting or something, its got the wheels and bumpers.

AC- no its an active sport
I go to look.
me- it is a sporting look, its got that that that, them, that, lift bonnet, that etc
AC-oh, didn't realise.

me-can I have the keys to look around it, look at history etc,
AC- of course
look thru it all, 3years old, mint body work, wheels badly kerbed, interior needs cleaned, service FFSH and had a new clutch and water pump already

me- would it be possible to take it for a test drive to see if its significant improvement on what I have?

AC- No, if you take it for a test drive you would be obligated to buy it as there is nothing wrong with it.

WTF!!! I am asking if its worth looking at one of these models as I am after 'upgrading' my car to a decent mk2, and he's not interested, even when I'd be a cash buyer at the screen price.

stupid mofo, lost my custom

Now that's a bad salesman.

if you were over 25 and wore a suit they'd let you take a test drive by yourself, but its policy at most places to refuse a test drive for young people, or anywho who doesn't look or act like they will be buying the car (poor and scruffy, pess taking time waster, chav, crash test dummy etc)

go back well dressed, clean shaven, speaking confidently, maintianing eye contact, and showing real interest, and i bet you'll get a test drive no problem.