Garages we won't miss

Anan1

Early last year, I bought a 2001 Subaru Forester 2.0 turbo privately. It was a one-owner car, and had always been serviced in Finnegans Subaru, Ballymahon. Thing is, the owner had never had the book stamped. I rang the garage, they confirmed that they had indeed looked after the car. I dropped by on my way home to get the book stamped, and they told me that they would only stamp the book for the previous services if I had the next (90k) major service done with them. The car was subsequently written off, and I forgot all about them until I came across this: http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1016235 I mean, look at it! The price, the filth, the complete lack of effort - and this is a Subaru main dealer. Will anyone really feel bad when outfits like this go to the wall?

ergonomics

I was looking at cars during the summer and went to view in one garage, who I won't name. The car was 01 but had a lot of rust on the front pilllar which was strange. I got the distinct feeling the car had been crashed even though they denied it so I left it. Anyway, I checked on carzone and viewed their other cars and a very large majority of them had been visibly crashed. All the cars were disgustingly filthy on the inside and the whole place just smelled dodgy. I'd be glad to see them go.

pburns

Anan1 wrote: »

Early last year, I bought a 2001 Subaru Forester 2.0 turbo privately. It was a one-owner car, and had always been serviced in Finnegans Subaru, Ballymahon. Thing is, the owner had never had the book stamped. I rang the garage, they confirmed that they had indeed looked after the car. I dropped by on my way home to get the book stamped, and they told me that they would only stamp the book for the previous services if I had the next (90k) major service done with them. The car was subsequently written off, and I forgot all about them until I came across this: http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1016235 I mean, look at it! The price, the filth, the complete lack of effort - and this is a Subaru main dealer. Will anyone really feel bad when outfits like this go to the wall?

TBH I don't notice anything terribly woeful about the state of the car other than photo was taken during the awful, pissy weather.

But yeah, price is absurd and their ransom demand on the service history is mind boggling. My local Subaru dealer has a beautiful premises but proved to completely useless when trying to fix/diagnose a few issues I had. If you know of a REALLY good Subaru dealer pm me! By-and-large I hear good things about Carroll & Roche...

Zube

Anan1 wrote: »

Finnegans Subaru, Ballymahon...
this is a Subaru main dealer.

Back in 2000, they were a Fiat dealer, and I bought a Multipla off them. When I went back some time later they had changed to Subaru, because Fiat had told them that to keep the franchise they would have to move to Athlone, build a big glass palace, and owe the banks money for 20 years to pay for it all, and they refused.

I reckon it's guys like that, with a bit more sense than the distributors had, who'll ride out the bad times.

lifer_sean

Anan1 wrote: »

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1016235 I mean, look at it! The price, the filth, the complete lack of effort - and this is a Subaru main dealer.

You have lost me here ... why the OTT reaction to the advert ? Granted the price is on the "optimistic" side but they are inviting "reasonable offers". The filth ??? - doesn't look dirty to me. Per other posters comments, other than taking the pics on a dry day I don't see any problem.

Zube wrote: »

Fiat had told them that to keep the franchise they would have to move to Athlone, build a big glass palace, and owe the banks money for 20 years to pay for it all, and they refused.

Werent they right ???? I'd say there are a lot more guys who wish they had not built new fancy showrooms ...

DonJose

I'm with Anan on this, the car is manky dirty, the carpets are filthy, the seats need a clean. The car has 141k kilometers on the clock and is going for €20k. You can a similar car with less miles and leather seats for nearly half the price at €11k

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1299576

lifer_sean

DonJose wrote: »

I'm with Anan on this, the car is manky dirty, the carpets are filthy, the seats need a clean. The car has 141k kilometers on the clock and is going for €20k. You can a similar car with less miles and leather seats for nearly half the price at €11k

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1299576

Let's be fair here. The title of the thread implies that we wish these guys would go out of business. Why ????

You say the carpets are filthy ... ? There is a mat in the driver's footwell which should have been replaced, and it looks like there is some wear in the carpet (well it has 87k miles), so it's not pristine, but filthy ???? Seats need a clean ? I don't agree ... it's not a new car. To say the car is manky is way over the top.

Vs the alternative car shown, yes it's cheaper. However the mileage is only 10% lower, and it's a private sale. And the dealer has invited offers.

So the second car may be better value. But why wish that Finnegan's should "go to the wall" and why name-and-shame in a very public forum over such relatively trivial issues ? Have they done anything illegal / dangerous etc here ?

There are a lot lot worse operations around that this dealer.

And no, I don't work for them ... I'm in Limerick, they are in Longford. I have done business with them in the past when they sold Fiats and found them very knowledgable and good to deal with.

Big Nasty

Fair play Sean!

This is a Motors forum and everyone is entitled to their opinion but a thread on a 'wishlist' of dealers that may go out of business on a public forum is not a good idea. Chinese whispers like this can very possibly send existing yet struggling dealers out of business.

mickey mac

Anan1 wrote: »

Finnegans Subaru, Ballymahon. they would only stamp the book for the previous services if I had the next (90k) major service done with them.

I hope you recorded your conversation! have you ever heard the word "slander"

bikki

Carroll and Rouche do all my work on my car, ive never had any problems with them.

U may also want to avoid Eddie Garrys in Waterford. He's actaully lost his Subaru Dealership rights but still displays the signs.

Anan1

bikki wrote: »

Carroll and Rouche do all my work on my car, ive never had any problems with them.

U may also want to avoid Eddie Garrys in Waterford. He's actaully lost his Subaru Dealership rights but still displays the signs.

That's the second good report i've heard of Carroll & Roche. I nearly bought mine there, but the sales man was a day late calling me back and so missed the deal. A salesman in Eddie Garry dragged me down from Dublin to look at a supposedly pristine Forester which in reality looked much like Finnegans €20k offering. I wasn't too sad when they shut shop. Castle Subaru in Bray are ok, hope they make it.

biggus

couldn't believe this thread only a day old when i read the first post.... anybody want to buy an 03 forester for late 3's
and no it's not mine and
no vested interested on my part. !!

biggus

sorry not a turbo but still late 3's

Seth Brundle

In all fairness, whilst they could have prepared the car much better for the photoshoot, this should not be a reason to wish they were gone.
TBH I'm fairly nervous about threads like this as like already mentioned there can be a lot of Chinese whispers and all it takes is for one person to come out and boards are up on a libel charge.
I'll let this go for abother bit but don't be surprised to see it go at any point. I hope that people will understand.

bikki

Anan1 wrote: »

That's the second good report i've heard of Carroll & Roche. I nearly bought mine there, but the sales man was a day late calling me back and so missed the deal. A salesman in Eddie Garry dragged me down from Dublin to look at a supposedly pristine Forester which in reality looked much like Finnegans €20k offering. I wasn't too sad when they shut shop. Castle Subaru in Bray are ok, hope they make it.

Sure one of the lads out of the club bought a 08 hatchback sti out of Eddie Garrys, 2 weeks later there was a picture of his car on there web site saying it was for sale. The lad that bought it was actually in the pictures excepting ownership of it.

Anan1

No problem, kbannon. Just so we're clear, I don't 'wish they were gone'. I do think that the ad shows a complete and utter lack of effort and therefore of respect for their customers. This does tie in with my personal experience of their service department. If this were some bunch of transients on the Naas Rd you wouldn't be surprised, but this is a main Subaru agent. Which brings me to my point:

Some of the woes of the motor industry stem from the economy in general, but many are self-inflicted. And every time a good & professional sales person (and we have a few here) is met with derision & distrust from a potential customer, we know that this is because either they or someone close to them have had dealings with an outfit who have given them good reason to feel that way. These businesses are trampling on the image of the motor industry, and making the jobs of the professionals that much harder. The current economic climate is pulling the plug on some, and this is no cause for tears either on our part or on the part of the professionals.

jimbobjones40

Anan1 wrote: »

If this were some bunch of transients on the Naas Rd you wouldn't be surprised, but this is a main Subaru agent.

I know exactly what you mean had a run in with one of these dodge traders (don't worry moderators I wont name names). Just want to say if this particular dodgy trader lasts another year I'll eat my hat! :pac:

L1011

Zube wrote: »

Back in 2000, they were a Fiat dealer, and I bought a Multipla off them. When I went back some time later they had changed to Subaru, because Fiat had told them that to keep the franchise they would have to move to Athlone, build a big glass palace, and owe the banks money for 20 years to pay for it all, and they refused.

I reckon it's guys like that, with a bit more sense than the distributors had, who'll ride out the bad times.

Most Fiat dealerships are far from glass palaces and some of them are in places that make Ballymahon look like a metropolis (Rathnew, Kilmeaden, Millstreet); have you considered that may have been a made up story to explain a franchise change?

Zube

MYOB wrote: »

Most Fiat dealerships are far from glass palaces and some of them are in places that make Ballymahon look like a metropolis (Rathnew, Kilmeaden, Millstreet); have you considered that may have been a made up story to explain a franchise change?

Ehhhhh, no.

I couldn't have cared less about the dealership change, I was admiring a Forester in the showroom when one of the lads recognized me and came over for a chat.

The nearest Fiat dealer to Athlone is indeed now a big glass palace up in Mullingar, and their service department is the worst I have dealt with in 20 years driving. I'd take Finnegans any day.

Paulw

Interesting read in today's Independent.

Drummerboy08

Paulw wrote: »

Interesting read in today's Independent.

I'd like to see the SIMI burn in hell to be honest. As far as i can see, they have not done a single thing to help the trade this year. They seem to be more interested in looking out for themselves. This bullsh*t of the illegal import? Its almost like being too lazy to get out of the bed to turn on the TV, so you do it the half-ar*ed way and try to turn it on with your toe.

Something does need to be done regarding VRT and VAT on new and used vehicles. To try and at least stimulate the market. Dealers also have to pull up their socks and improve on a lot of aspects of their businesses if the want to survive. Customers also have to adjust their attitudes - if the price of a new car has come down by X amount, the price of your car will also have come down.

Oh, and i just found out i have a meeting this evening with my employer to look forward to. I'd appreciate less of the "i hope this dealer or that dealer go out of business, they're sh*te" comments too.

Anan1

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Oh, and i just found out i have a meeting this evening with my employer to look forward to. I'd appreciate less of the "i hope this dealer or that dealer go out of business, they're sh*te" comments too.

My comments apply to dealers who make no effort to provide a professional service to customers - how could you possibly have a problem with that? Hope this evening goes ok.

Drummerboy08

Anan1 wrote: »

My comments apply to dealers who make no effort to provide a professional service to customers - how could you possibly have a problem with that? Hope this evening goes ok.

I know, sorry Anan1. Cheers too. When i first read the email i was like "whohoo, RAISE!" But then i thought about it a bit more.....:( I wonder how easy it is to sell cars in OZ.....:o

ltdslipdiff

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

I know, sorry Anan1. Cheers too. When i first read the email i was like "whohoo, RAISE!" But then i thought about it a bit more.....:( I wonder how easy it is to sell cars in OZ.....:o

Can I come too? Do you mind if I bring the family???

Anan1

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

I know, sorry Anan1. Cheers too. When i first read the email i was like "whohoo, RAISE!" But then i thought about it a bit more.....:( I wonder how easy it is to sell cars in OZ.....:o

Look at it this way - the more bad outfits leave the business, the larger the share of the few remaining customers left for you. It will also help to make the average customer better-disposed towards the motor trade in general. Sometimes hardship can make you stronger.;)

Drummerboy08

ltdslipdiff wrote: »

Can I come too? Do you mind if I bring the family???

The more the merrier....:D Anyone else? Last call for Flight 007 to Ozzy land?:P

mowgli-mcnob

You never know who to trust these days. You want to buy at a dealer so you can have peace of mind but is this really the case? Dealers are just as likely to sell a crashed car to you without mentioning it.
I know a dealer who were selling some cars at what looked like a very competitive price. A friend of a friend ended up buying 1 of the Golf's and was delighted with it. One day some guy asks him how the car was going and he said it's going fine. The car had previously been written off and then sold off by the dealer. Needless to say, the friend went back and got his money back. And will not be buying a car from that dealer again.
Moral of the story: You get what you pay for.
Also, private sellers are just as good as dealers if you find an honest 1.

thebman

Personally I think a Garages we would miss if they went thread might be more appreciated especially by motors people themselves when thinking of who to go to and who to do business with.

Of course, you would probably end up with dealers posting themselves. The problem with this thread I guess is their competitors could post horror stories about them :eek:

EPM

mowgli-mcnob wrote: »

You never know who to trust these days. You want to buy at a dealer so you can have peace of mind but is this really the case? Dealers are just as likely to sell a crashed car to you without mentioning it.
I know a dealer who were selling some cars at what looked like a very competitive price. A friend of a friend ended up buying 1 of the Golf's and was delighted with it. One day some guy asks him how the car was going and he said it's going fine. The car had previously been written off and then sold off by the dealer. Needless to say, the friend went back and got his money back. And will not be buying a car from that dealer again.
Moral of the story: You get what you pay for.
Also, private sellers are just as good as dealers if you find an honest 1.

I seriously doubt any reputable dealer would expose themselves to knowingly sell such a car. It would be suicide and definitely cost them their franchise if they were found out. With the costs involved with obtaining/maintaining one it's utter madness.

Hope you reported the dealer selling written off cars to the SIMI. Was it a Franchised dealer?

Agree with you on private sales if you can check everything over properly

whiterebel

Glad to see the back of Turner's Cross Motors. How they existed the way they used to treat customers was beyond belief.

MercMad

When I was in the trade, over 10 years ago, there was literally nothing we wouldn't do to prepare a used car for sale. Paintwork corrected, trim repaired, new screen, tyres, full service and the most comprehensive valet the likes of which I havent seen since.

We stood by our used cars and did things by the book and if a car was shown to anyone looking like the one in Anan's post somebody would get their a55 kicked.

The trade has had it too easy in recent years and am lot of places need to buck up to regain business. The thing is I will possibly change my car, or buy another in the next 8-12 months but someone will need to work hard, I dont even know what end of the spectrum i will be buying so literally any decent salesman that I encounter has the chance to land a sale....................if they care enough about it.

Hopefully the good guys stay around, I dont like to see any business closing, especially due to our Governments lack of forsight and the resulting crunch we see before us.

VolvoMan

I can never understand how Ambrose Glass in Kilternan ever got away with the state of their showrooms. Even their stock on carzone is overpriced and never well described or presented.

ltdslipdiff

I'm in the trade and can tell you that without exception, every car we take in gets a full service (including timing belt if its due in the next 12 months/12,000 klms) an expensive valet, tyres if there's any doubt about them and a decent comprehensive in-house warranty. In fact, if anything we spend too much on preparing our cars ! Ultimately this means that a car ends up costing us quite a bit on the forecourt and makes us uncompetitive against our competitiors who simply wash cars and put them on line. Its a fine balance ! It is nice when people notice how pristine our cars are, it sucks when people don't care about anything but how inexpensively they can get the car from you for!