Ta - Did you order from the one with the lowest price? It's funny how everyone *****es about salespeople but when you find a good one who will take care of you and answers all your questions you'll stab them in the back to save $500. My advice is find someone you like working with, it's ok to shop price (i'm not advocating you don't) but give your local place or the nice, knowledgeable guy the last shot to earn your business. Once you've established a relationship with a dealership you'd be surprised at how great they treat you.

 

Bre,

Thanks for the advice - price is always important, and I do understand the value of dealer-client relationships. But if the salesman is a dummy, then what is the point? I never have dealt with a salesman AFTER I picked up the car - its always at point of sale for them - their chance to make or break it is not on future service. That's the SERVICE and PARTS for long term reputation (and if I bought from the dummy, I'd be bringing the car that I hated because it has the wrong options on it to the dealership that stabbed me with bad advice - talk about resentment)!

In fact, I even went so far as to tell the guy who didn't get it why he didn't get it (he was car salesmen vet but new to Porsche) - in a very nice, objective way which he appreciated. Basically he didn't have the training on all of the options and the way they work (I loaded up on options and being a first time buyer I wanted a pro).

The GM of the dealer was even trying to help him assist me - but didn't realize that even though I was ready to drop $120k (another $50 if I include the Cayenne for my wife), that perhaps he should have ushered me to the more experienced guy (13 year vet) at the next desk who was surfing the internet.

Basically, I got the feeling they thought I was a rube and could just give me something without explaining all the possibilities. Maybe that is what most of their clientele expects - I don't know?!?! Perhaps since the new guy started talking to me "first" there are commission issues so I couldn't get a good salesman.

The other dealer had awesome service and kicked butt on the prices of both cars ($4,000 difference between them AFTER they quoted discounts - not $500) - I bought both from him - even though I have to fly to Arlington to get them - but what a great drive home!

The local dealer will have a shot at service and parts - we'll see..... no stabbing here.

 

I'll add that BH seems to be very hit or miss. I walked in there inquiring about a CaymanS and was told in so many words that if I'm not the one dropping the money, I should get lost. "Why don't you come back with your dad" were the exact words. I was simply asking to look at their inventory of black or silver 6-speed cars for a friend who was interested, and later purchased one at a different dealer.

Another time I accompanied a female friend to go look at an A6 and was treated absolutely fantastic. She enlisted my help in finding a car that's to her spec, wasn't sure if she wanted an A4 or A6. We ended up test-driving the A4, S4, A6 6-cyl, A6 V8 (one with S-line, one w/out) and she finally chose the A6 V8 non-S-line. the salesman allowed me to test-drive all the cars, was knowledgable and encouraged me to lay on the gas wherever I felt comfortable. I forget the name of the salesman, but I believe he was the owner's younger brother and had recently moved to SoCal from the east coast and had an A6 on order for himself. He had light skin, and dark, fairly short hair. I wouldn't hesitate to do business with this guy again.

 

If you have an idiot salesmen that sucks. Just don't typecast all of us as idiots because of one bad experience or one particular moron. Some of us are very knowledgable and great to work with and will not only take care of you during the sale but well after. I know people that hate our service and parts department but will keep coming back because of me. Sounds like your guy just wasn't trained well and didn't ask questions when he clearly had no idea what he was doing.

 

If the service and parts department sucks you wont see me at the dealership for a 2nd helping regardless of purchase experience. From my perspective its the after the sale treatment and experience that matters most for my repeat business.

When your paying MSRP or damn close its a no brainer, Im more worried about curbed wheels during an oil change or dusty interior occuring due to service leaving the windows down all day etc. type of things. A good experience there makes me go back.

 

My sales guy was decent, the sales manager was also decent.

I showed up with shorts and T shirt and we talked hard numbers, and got a deal.

And yes, this is in Southern Cal. Let me know if you need a referral...

 

I added an inexpensive vehicle to my fleet(a used X-Terra) for running my dogs around, Home Dept runs etc... Ill tel ya for a $13.4K deal I was treated like a king by the salesman/staff. I even had one of their staff run an interior piece down to me at my home a 45 mile roind trip the next day. Again this was a fricken Nissan PO lot here is S Fla amazing.

I bought 4 BMW's from Braman and if I had a heart attack in their showrooom after signing the papers, they would not even notice me.

 

I had a very good sales experience at HBL Porsche-Audi in Tysons Corner, VA. My salesman Robert Schefer was very knowledgable and stayed very late (almost midnight) to deliver my car. I couldn't wait until the next day...

 

Not every salesman sucks. Not every salesman is awesome. However, every salesmen should be able to tell the difference. Porsche is not selling Saturns.

 

I was treated like that when I went to buy my Boxster S in St. Louis by both dealers so I flew to Chicago and bought it from an individual. I have always thought about getting out of the flooring industry and selling Porsches. ( I am in-between careers now) I enjoy being around the cars and I know more then most salesman I have met. It seems a natural fit BUT on the other hand do I want to be that car salesman type of guy???

EDIT::

Just from my Porsche buying experience the sales reps were ******! I do not want to say ALL Porsche sales reps are bad…..***Quit with the neg rep OK***

 

be a sales rep for us. board sponsor agent.

 

My wife and I bought 2 Porsches from the same sales person (Michelle Larson) at Circle in the past year. The deals were pretty good, below list, and were very smooth. For the test drives, she handed us the keys and said be back in 15 minutes. Another sales person did the typical ride along, it's just not the same. The service people greet me by name whenever I stop by although I'm only in there every three months or so. They're opening a new Porsche sale/service location across the street, most of the old location was VW/Audi. I started looking for a Porsche at McKenna after having a very good purchase experience with Nick with an Audi TT. The Porsche sales people there did not appear too interested my business, although one of them did call me two weeks later to tell me about a used 996 they had. By then we had already bought a new Targa from Circle. I suppose cars like these draw in a lot of people that could never afford them, that just want to look/touch/drive one once. Thats the chance sales people have to take, I went elsewhere and paid cash.

 

Do a fly in to Oklahoma or somewhere like that. They'll deal, pick you up at the airport, get you into a hotel and buy you corn dogs as well. Plus you'll save a ton..

 

That's what I did when every dealer in LA wanted 10 to 15K over MSRP for the E46 M3 in 2001.

I custom ordered a 12/01 build E46 M3 from a small dealer in Indiana. They picked me up from the airport, arranged for the clearbra install, helped me tagged the car, gave me some oil and a full tank of gas, gave me some maps, and sent me on my way.

You don't even get this kind of service buying a 200K GT2 in LA.

 

I ordered my 997S cabrio from Porsche of Huntington, my salesman was Jason Terrence. He was very knowledgable about the car and had extensive experience with older Porsches and other marques. No nonsense, good advice and a very positive buying experience. Apparently, this dealership sends its sales personnel to PCNA training.

I have been treated just as well after purchase, both by my salesman and the service manager, Barry Rush. I would not hesitate to buy another car from these folks.