Lambo, Bentley, etc for my kids 16th Bday?

TerryBPP · 06-04-2010, 08:15 AM

Just pondering the strange calls I get at our dealership and one is consistently mind bottling (like my minds in a bottle). Once a week someone calls up and says:

"Hey, do you guys have a (insert color) Lamborghini/Ferrari/Bentley in stock, its my daughters/sons 16th Birthday this weekend and I want to get it for him."

The callers range from Ghetto, Super Guido, Mr. High Energy, Low Talker, and 16 yr old kid.

In the event we have it in stock they always say they will be here in 20 mins & NEVER show up. If we don't have it but another dealer does, I ask them to come put a deposit down, NEVER happens.

I can tell they are bull******** me from the get go, I just don't understand the point from their end? If you are here in the dealership at least you could drive some nice cars, but on the phone? I don't get it.

....vent completed.

sc_rufctr · 06-04-2010, 08:24 AM

People do what people do... Who knows why?

Probably just dreaming and passing time. I wouldn't worry about it.

TechnoViking · TechnoViking's Garage

Sounds like they're feeling you out for a test drive.

TerryBPP · 06-04-2010, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

People do what people do... Who knows why?

Probably just dreaming and passing time. I wouldn't worry about it.

No worried about it just love the eccentricities of man.

Exotic118 · 06-04-2010, 08:56 AM

Poor kid is going to be very disappointed on this b-day.....Dad: "I called, honest, but they didn't have any in stock"

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

I think a Bentley is a great gift for a kid's 16th birthday.

scotricker · 06-04-2010, 09:47 AM

There was an exotic car rental place in business when my son turned 17. so I rented a Ferrari 308 and we went for a drive for the day. Of course I signed all kinds of papers that said he would not drive... (guess if I let him.. we' can't say)

Jagshund · 06-04-2010, 09:49 AM

Some people want to feel important, so if they can get you to believe for a moment that they're able to buy such a gift in a moment's notice . . . it's likely just helping them towards that end.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I knew a kid in high school who got a Ferrari 308 for graduation. Another guy in my class got a new 944. Two others got VW Cabriolets that day. I had my 1970 BMW 2002 and two other buddies had a TR-4 and a Stingray. We had some cool cars on campus that day.

Exotic118 · 06-04-2010, 10:56 AM

I think it's crazy to hand the keys to a high performance sports car over to a kid of that age. I understand that some kids might be responsible enough to have such a car but most aren't. I remember a kid from my town, on his 18th birthday his boss threw him the key to his Porsche 930 and told him to enjoy himself. Well, to make a long story short, it was his last ride. He ended up wrecking the Porsche killing himself and another driver in a senseless wreck.

Christien · Christien's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerryBPP

If you are here in the dealership at least you could drive some nice cars, but on the phone? I don't get it.

Do you actually let people test drive cars like that? No way I'd let anyone test drive a $100K + car, unless they were really serious about buying it, in which case they'd have no problem putting a deposit down.

Les Paul · Les Paul's Garage

How did the guys with the VW cabs turn out Rick?

Embraer · Embraer's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Les Paul

How did the guys with the VW cabs turn out Rick?

they upgraded later in life....

TerryBPP · 06-05-2010, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christien

Do you actually let people test drive cars like that? No way I'd let anyone test drive a $100K + car, unless they were really serious about buying it, in which case they'd have no problem putting a deposit down.

If you told every millionaire that walked in the door they had to lay down $ to drive a Ferrari, Lambo, Bentley, you would sell very few. 1st they would definitely take offense and 2nd they likely haven't driven one so they are not at that level of commitment.

My rule is if you pull up in a $100k car you can drive any of ours. We have insurance so I don't worry about the car, I worry about the capability of the customer to handle the power and possible injure themselves.

Repeat customers can drive whatever they want.

Christien · Christien's Garage

How do you deal with tire-kickers and joy riders?

David · David's Garage

A friend in high school in the early '80s bought a used 924 from the local Porsche dealership. He took it in for service and a salesman asked if he wanted to take a new 911 out for a drive. He asked the salesman if he was serious. The salesman said sure, you already bought a car from us. And off went a 17yo kid in a new 911. The salesman may not have realized his age, but he brought it back in one piece.

Tervuren · Tervuren's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerryBPP

If you told every millionaire that walked in the door they had to lay down $ to drive a Ferrari, Lambo, Bentley, you would sell very few. 1st they would definitely take offense and 2nd they likely haven't driven one so they are not at that level of commitment.

My rule is if you pull up in a $100k car you can drive any of ours. We have insurance so I don't worry about the car, I worry about the capability of the customer to handle the power and possible injure themselves.

Repeat customers can drive whatever they want.

I was out of town, and happened to know from F-chat that the Ferrari's California test/show car was staying at the local Ferrari dealership. I stopped by to check it out, salesman asked if I wanted to drive it. I was a bit dumbfounded, but as I wasn't a potential buyer I said no. I sometimes kick myself for saying that.

I've found the salespeople at Ferrari dealers to be some of the nicest car guys in any new car dealership I've been to. Fact is, they've seen someone poorly dressed drive out in an Aston, Porsche, Ferrari, whatever... they know rich people do not always look rich, so they won't make biased judgments like a lot of people tend to do.

scottmandue · 06-05-2010, 08:09 AM

Lambo Bently for 16th birthday NO WAY... I would hold out for the 18th

David · David's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tervuren

I've found the salespeople at Ferrari dealers to be some of the nicest car guys in any new car dealership I've been to. Fact is, they've seen someone poorly dressed drive out in an Aston, Porsche, Ferrari, whatever... they know rich people do not always look rich, so they won't make biased judgments like a lot of people tend to do.

+1. When I was kid, Ferrari of Houston was within walking distance of my house so I stopped by a couple times a year. Even talking to a kid, all the salesman were very courteous and took time to talk to me. The Porsche dealership was just the opposite.

TerryBPP · 06-05-2010, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tervuren

I was out of town, and happened to know from F-chat that the Ferrari's California test/show car was staying at the local Ferrari dealership. I stopped by to check it out, salesman asked if I wanted to drive it. I was a bit dumbfounded, but as I wasn't a potential buyer I said no. I sometimes kick myself for saying that.

I've found the salespeople at Ferrari dealers to be some of the nicest car guys in any new car dealership I've been to. Fact is, they've seen someone poorly dressed drive out in an Aston, Porsche, Ferrari, whatever... they know rich people do not always look rich, so they won't make biased judgments like a lot of people tend to do.

The reason we get so much biz is our laid back, very knowledgeable, always happy sales team. I will spend an hour discussing cars with some that pulls up in a 97 accord. Not only to increase reputation but because I truly enjoy it.