Hartwell of Abingdon. Opinions please?

[daveyonthemove]

Hi guys, i'm new to the forum and new to Oxford, so i was looking for anyones opinions on the Hartwell Fiat dealers in Abingdon?
I took a trip down there on wednesday to have a look at a Bravo sport Multijet 165 after seeing their discount prices online.
The salesman i spoke to (nameless for now) didn't seem to take me seriously at first and when i asked him what deals they had on the Bravo in question, i was basicaly told that "but it today and its £13k+, or buy it after Xmas and its £18k+..."
Not overly impressed with this reply, i continued to press for a price on the car i wanted with a few options boxes ticked, and he decided i'd be better off with the lower model due to have it having the electric windows in the rear and dual zone as standard (both options ticked for the sport). I asked if it came with sports suspensio and trim (knowing it didn't) and was told it did.
I was also informed the Sport didn't have Cruise as standard but the other model did....
So eventually i get a test drive.. well the salesman drove me in it for a few mins before pulling into a layby to let me take over.
I spotted the cruise control and he seemed flustered by this. odd
After the drive i let him know that i like the car and would be prepared to buy one IF the deal was right. Armed with an online quote that he was convinced he could better or match, i showed him the price of £14441.64 and he immediatly checked this.
In between tales of previous customers who 'wanted discounts' and were described as 'knobs' (not a great thing to say to a customer looking for discounts) he got his list price down to £15109.63, but promised to match my price.
Still not convinced i'm being taken seriously, i leave the showroom having given him my number, a monthly budget for either HP or PCP finance, and a 'preffered' APR rate should he be able to get some good figures.
I was promised a call Today (friday) but never got one.
Have i just been unlucky, or is this typical practice for this dealership?
I'm going to wait untill monday for the call before i consider other dealers.

 

[PuntoSS]

Hiya, don't know too much about them to be honest. Hartwell aren't that good in other departments, i.e. my dad's Ford from Hartwell Ford broke, and they claimed there was nothing wrong with it when there blatantly was...

If you're prepared to travel a little further, I'd recommend going north of the county into Warwickshire, to Grays Garage. Much friendlier, family business, Fiat approved and therefore sell new Fiat's and are usually really good at matching prices etc. J14 off the M40... A452 Leamington

 

[daveyonthemove]

Hiya, don't know too much about them to be honest. Hartwell aren't that good in other departments, i.e. my dad's Ford from Hartwell Ford broke, and they claimed there was nothing wrong with it when there blatantly was...

If you're prepared to travel a little further, I'd recommend going north of the county into Warwickshire, to Grays Garage. Much friendlier, family business, Fiat approved and therefore sell new Fiat's and are usually really good at matching prices etc. J14 off the M40... A452 Leamington

Thanks for the reply.
Its been 8 days since i made my enquiry with them, and i've had exactly ZERO
contact from them. If i was an 18 year old in a clapped out Corsa, i could expect the cynical view of me not being able to afford it etc, but i'm 30 and the dealer didn't see the car i pulled up in, so there was no reason to beleive i was another day dreamer.
For now i'm holding on to my current car as its never let me down, and i 'Fancy' something newer, but i don't 'Need' something newer.
When i've got a bit more faith in FIAT taking me seriously, i'll take a trip to the dealer you suggest.
Thanks again
Dave

 

[SurreyAlan]

it is quite curious, I sent an enquiry to Wilsons of Epsom using their web site - answer none. I have been thinking about buying a Fiat as a Sunday afternoon car, I don't need one but I have the money and quite fancy one, I have a certain reluctance to splash out on something I don't need but all I need is a salesperson to push a little and I'd sign. Been into Wilsons twice now, opened doors, bonnets, boots, sat in, played with everything. do I ever see any one remotely interested, no. Maybe selling cars is so easy at the moment they can't be bothered.
Prices do seem to be moving up but I wonder after Christmas, scrappage has ended, VAT has gone back up, maybe then it won't be so easy for them to shift the metal so perhaps they'll be a bit more interested.

 

[daveyonthemove]

it is quite curious, I sent an enquiry to Wilsons of Epsom using their web site - answer none. I have been thinking about buying a Fiat as a Sunday afternoon car, I don't need one but I have the money and quite fancy one, I have a certain reluctance to splash out on something I don't need but all I need is a salesperson to push a little and I'd sign. Been into Wilsons twice now, opened doors, bonnets, boots, sat in, played with everything. do I ever see any one remotely interested, no. Maybe selling cars is so easy at the moment they can't be bothered.
Prices do seem to be moving up but I wonder after Christmas, scrappage has ended, VAT has gone back up, maybe then it won't be so easy for them to shift the metal so perhaps they'll be a bit more interested.

Totally agree. It seems that they aren't too bothered right now.
I know the 500 is rolling off the forecourt as fast as they can get them in, but when someone is looking to buy a £15k motor, you'd think they would show more interest. But i found a deal that they promised to try and match, so if they weren't willing to try...
Maybe they are happy to let sales go to an internet sales team so they have someone/something to blame when they go under in a few years.

 

[Ninja59]

i know the one near us in chester is good but as for others i couldnt say...

 

[SurreyAlan]

well I was about to buy from Perrys but on the day I rang they'd hiked their prices so decided against it. This afternoon called the other cheapest suppliers, had a chat, said give me a few minutes to mull it over, but I have to do it today as I'm off on holiday. Called back, answerphone. Called back, spoke to a person, left message, "I want to buy a car", was told I'd be called back within 15 minutes, no call. Starting to think the gods are telling me not to buy. I do find the lack of interest in selling astonishing, I must be in the wrong business.

 

[daveyonthemove]

well I was about to buy from Perrys but on the day I rang they'd hiked their prices so decided against it. This afternoon called the other cheapest suppliers, had a chat, said give me a few minutes to mull it over, but I have to do it today as I'm off on holiday. Called back, answerphone. Called back, spoke to a person, left message, "I want to buy a car", was told I'd be called back within 15 minutes, no call. Starting to think the gods are telling me not to buy. I do find the lack of interest in selling astonishing, I must be in the wrong business.

Thats SHOCKING treatment from a dealer who has a buyer!
How much interest would they show if they sold the car and you had to take it back with a problem?
I'm beggening to think that FIAT may not be the brand for me, and i might start looking around the VAG stable again.

 

[T14086]

Prices do go up, not alot you can do about it except VAG cars, they stay at the same price forever.

 

[daveyonthemove]

Prices do go up, not alot you can do about it except VAG cars, they stay at the same price forever.

Prices rise and fall for every brand, i don't see why you think VAG are any different?
As for the comment i made above yours, when i said it was 'shocking' i was reffering to the fact that a dealer was told that someone wanted to buy a car, yet never called back. Not that prices went up.

 

[PuntoSS]

Did you ever try out Grays Garage in Warwick?

 

[daveyonthemove]

Did you ever try out Grays Garage in Warwick?

I haven't done yet.
Had a lot on recently with various bits and bobs, and with my current car due an MOT on wednesday, i'm holding off for a bit.