Test Driving a 3.5iS
- Thread starter Stuart Truman
- Start date
Update #2. Got a call from the dealer today. The car is having a new roof control unit fitted today and they'll call as soon as its done. Looks like the earlier drivers were scared off!
Interesting to see where this goes...
Interesting to see where this goes...
By the seaside...
PerryGunn said:
Guilty as charged m'lud
Stuart Truman said:
Still thinking this, but it's soooo shiiiiny
I want to test drive it anyway now. Stark offered me a drive in his on the Cotswold run, but I declined. Should have taken him up on it I guess.
Stuart Truman said:... it's soooo shiiiiny
Didn't you get enough prezzies at Christmas then?
Just remember in your calcs that you've had the expensive jobs, such as steering column, done on #69 under warranty so you could do as Ade does and bank the warranty cost against any minor repairs - be surprised if you get through 1k in a year
Maniac said:First thing to do Stuart, is test the roof, press the button to take it down while watching the salesmans face
and then put it up again....
and down again...
and up again...
and down again...
and up again...
and down again...
and up again...
and down again...
and up again...
and down again...
and up again...
PerryGunn said:Didn't you get enough prezzies at Christmas then?
No!
PerryGunn said:
Yep, it's just the roof motor as the one outstanding expensive thing and that's reasonably affordable at an indie, plus I have access to a garage now, just too lazy to put her away and walk home!
If I stick with what I have, I'm seriously thinking about that Quaiffe LSD that Wobblewing was looking at (quiet at the back there PVR!) otherwise she's as I want her. Maybe a hardtop for the winter months
PerryGunn said:Maniac said:First thing to do Stuart, is test the roof, press the button to take it down while watching the salesmans face
and then put it up again....
and down again...
and up again...
and down again...
and up again...
and down again...
and up again...
and down again...
and up again...
and down again...
and up again...
If it failed on test, I wonder how much they'd knock off the price :? :lol:
You could always ride a pushbike to-and-fro between the garage and home... your neighbours would think you were getting really fit and cycling to work :lol:Stuart Truman said:
If you stuck the 1k warranty money towards the LSD you'd cover 3/4 of the cost... and the 35is doesn't have an LSD eitherStuart Truman said:
Stark said:Stuart, you can have it for the day this Saturday if you want...jus sort your insurance out to cover it....
Thanks, but I'll get to drive the one I'm looking at this week. Kind offer though!
Update the third...
Test drove it. Computer indicating an indicator failure despite all bulbs working.
Usual rigmarole when they came to research mine. They told me it was an import from Belgium until I showed them the printout they had was for a 320d! That's the issue with Alpinas having two VINs
Cutting to the chase they opened the bidding at 9k (someone guessed that). I got them up to 11500 and then walked. I've left them with an offer of 10k plus mine. Lets see if I get the phone call...
Incidentally they showed me what Sytner paid for that Roadster S...
(greedy feckers)
As to the car. Similar out and out performance. Bags of torque. Handling not as precise but very very solidly built compared to an E85. This one had no cruise control. Who specs a car to that level including all the Nav etc and leaves off cruise!?!
Long and the short of it is if they accept my offer I'll be swapping. If they don't I won't.
Test drove it. Computer indicating an indicator failure despite all bulbs working.
Usual rigmarole when they came to research mine. They told me it was an import from Belgium until I showed them the printout they had was for a 320d! That's the issue with Alpinas having two VINs
Cutting to the chase they opened the bidding at 9k (someone guessed that). I got them up to 11500 and then walked. I've left them with an offer of 10k plus mine. Lets see if I get the phone call...
Incidentally they showed me what Sytner paid for that Roadster S...
(greedy feckers)As to the car. Similar out and out performance. Bags of torque. Handling not as precise but very very solidly built compared to an E85. This one had no cruise control. Who specs a car to that level including all the Nav etc and leaves off cruise!?!
Long and the short of it is if they accept my offer I'll be swapping. If they don't I won't.
So ... 24 is the asking, 11.5 is the offering so the shortfall is 12.5.
If they offer 9 to start with, and you want 14 - you will never meet.
This import business nonsense is illegal to mention by them by the way, as a car is not classed an import if it is from the EC. Only an import if from outside of Europe and if they tried to lower the price because of it, they would be treading on illegal grounds. All irrelevant of course as it was purchased here, but nevertheless it really gets my back up.
If they offer 9 to start with, and you want 14 - you will never meet.
This import business nonsense is illegal to mention by them by the way, as a car is not classed an import if it is from the EC. Only an import if from outside of Europe and if they tried to lower the price because of it, they would be treading on illegal grounds. All irrelevant of course as it was purchased here, but nevertheless it really gets my back up.
Stuart Truman said:
The indicator issue could be a faulty tail light (LED indicators), they fill with water... I (and a few on here) have already had mine replaced and sealed.
The cruise... Mine doesn't have it either... all that money, and on an auto, and no cruise... Just gives me an excuse to slow down and speed up quickly again
I drove the Abarth to Brighton the other day and no cruise was an absolute nightmare, they have 20 zones, 30 zones and I was getting cramp in my foot trying to drive at those speeds and even then I was usually at least 50% over (at the 20 limit).
I would not want a car without cruise if I could help it (not available for Abarths though).
I would not want a car without cruise if I could help it (not available for Abarths though).
Stuart Truman said:Update the third...
Test drove it. Computer indicating an indicator failure despite all bulbs working.
Usual rigmarole when they came to research mine. They told me it was an import from Belgium until I showed them the printout they had was for a 320d! That's the issue with Alpinas having two VINs
Cutting to the chase they opened the bidding at 9k (someone guessed that). I got them up to 11500 and then walked. I've left them with an offer of 10k plus mine. Lets see if I get the phone call...
Incidentally they showed me what Sytner paid for that Roadster S...
As to the car. Similar out and out performance. Bags of torque. Handling not as precise but very very solidly built compared to an E85. This one had no cruise control. Who specs a car to that level including all the Nav etc and leaves off cruise!?!
Long and the short of it is if they accept my offer I'll be swapping. If they don't I won't.
So that leaves you about £2k5 apart on your respective valuations then - that's an additional 10% of the sticker price so they'll need to be 'motivated' to get rid of the car, and you've just missed the end-of-month/quarter/year kick-up-the-arse that the salesmen get
But, as they've got a car that's already had two faults during your two viewings, and an unknown number prior to that, perhaps it's a lemon that they'd be happy to squeeze out the door...
I've left them a firm offer and they have my number. They clearly still use that tired old "wheel out the smiling sales manager". He got a verbal kick in the nuts and told to try harder
