13 replies to this topic

[M@r]{]

Just thought I would share my experience of buying a car from Pure Lotus.  I went to see the car on a Saturday.  I was running late as I had been to see another car but Jay kindly hung on for me to get there.  When I did I was given plenty of time to look around the car, then sat down and went through the documents.  I was there late on a Saturday for 2 hrs and at no point did I feel under pressure to buy or to leave them to go home.  Jay was also fully aware that I had another car firmly in my sights so at no point was this a confirmed sale.

At that point I was looking at p/x ing my M3.  Jay offered me a fair trade price for the car and even offered to purchase the hardtop for the private going rate.  They even said they would take my Z3 as well if it helped?  (at the time I was struggling to get the funds together)

Before I bought the car I sold the M3

After I agreed to buy the car Jay worked hard to get me the best finance deal.  The first company he went with come back with a price and I was pre=approved, Jay was completely honest with me and said he was sure he could better the price and to leave it with him.  He then got a better rate and went about submitting all the paperwork.  Now none of this sounds a big deal but in both cases the finance company were being really picky with the documents they wanted from me so there was plenty of tooing and froing, so Jay really had to put the time in.   But all of this took longer than expected and the finance company were dragging their heels.  I told Jay I needed to collect the car no later than Friday as after that it was going to be a right pain for me to get to him.  So he said to me just head up their Friday and no matter what I could take the car.

So Friday I head up there.  Heart sinks as Jay tells me the funds are still not through.  But I needn't of worried.  Jay said I could still take the car!  The finance only made up a % of the car, so I was paying a large amount in cash, but still, Jay was fine with me taking the car even though it wasn't paid for!  All he asked was that he could keep hold of the paperwork until the funds come through.  Sounds fair enough to me.

Anyway I ended up spending the day with Jay and the guys, chatting cars etc.  Jay even bought me a Subways for lunch  J   And while I was sat there he asked one of his guys to give the car another going over, another clean.  The car was already cleaner than any other car I had bought!  By the time I drove the car home it looked like new, that's no exaggeration!  He also put a new MOT on it and serviced it.  Neither of which was due for a good few months.  The car even come with a couple of months Tax.

To summarise I had an absolutely great experience buying from them.  I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them again or recommend them.  In fact when I next come to buy they'll be the first place I call to see what they have in.  Jay was a pleasure to deal with, he is a straight talking, doesn't suffer fools type guy.  Because of this I can see why some felt he may be rude, but I really believe he just says it how it is so if someone tries to take the piss he'll tell them as such, none of this fake salesman to potential customer melarky.  You know where you stand.  He obviously has a great passion for cars and specifically Lotus and that has been the drive behind the business.  In my opinion these are the types of businesses I prefer to deal with, particularly when it comes to my passion, my pride and joy.

[scatty]

Sounds great service, good to hear.

[MrSimba]

Amazing service levels there!

Enjoy!

[FlyingExige]

Did they pay you to write that - others would not be so complementary.

[daz-man]

I would not go there.tried for my first lotus elise off them some 5 years ago.got messed about with the finance .allways having to ring them .after a week I bought one from a local garge to me and never looked back .not saying there cars are no good , but service was rubbish.

[fentuz]

Got mine 6 yrs ago from there when they moved to new trade name "Pure Lotus" and I can say i was not impressed. I drove there to peak up the car and Jay run late (1.5hrs) because he decided he wanted to go to the pool with his kid. I started to have problem with the car less than a month after purchase and he would not do anything although there was a warranty and hidden defaults...
Anyway, I decided to check about Jay's story (previous owner was pregnant), well, it was not the case; the previous owner sold the car the after a toe link failure according to Formula1 (Lotus dealer in Newcastle)...

Seems customer service has improved through the last 6 years...

[daz-man]

Well my problem was getting finance with them . My credit rating at the time was very good .but he tried it about 6 times in 3 days with different company's and hence spoilt my good rating.dont no what he was up to cos is place is near York I think and everything was done over the phone after initial test drive and visit to there showroom. .about 2weeks after I took out finance with another garage local to me and it went through first thing.at the time I was furious with them .and would never use them again.

[Jonathan E]

Good to hear you had a nice transaction with them. I spoke to them a couple of years ago when looking for my latest Elise and I got the impression rightly or wrongly that they were advertising cars that had been sold a long time ago?. Do they still hog the classifieds on PH?
As long as your happy thats all that matters, personally like a lot of others I wouldn't rush to deal with them.
One mans meat and all that!

[flibberflops]

Jonathan E, on 16 January 2013 - 05:11 PM, said:

....I got the impression rightly or wrongly that they were advertising cars that had been sold a long time ago?.

Naaaa, they don't do that. In fact I might give them a call about this little beauty on their website...

http://www.purelotus...ge.html?p=9&l=9

[IGYW]

Good call M@rK, praise where praise due!

[John FISH Curtis]

What IGYW says!!!



Although, Simon gave the best sales experience a couple of weeks ago for a friend of mine.

[IGYW]

John FISH Curtis, on 17 January 2013 - 08:59 AM, said:

What IGYW says!!!



Although, Simon gave the best sales experience a couple of weeks ago for a friend of mine.

That's very kind Fish, thank you!

[John FISH Curtis]

Credit where credit due.









(put the cheque in the post)

[Mutley00]

Totally agree with Mark. Jay offerred me £4k for my Excel about 5 years ago without even seeing the car. We traded it in against the Blue & White Type 49 S1 and STMBO was so pleased with the car she hugged him when the deal was complete. Pure Lotus do get some bad press on SELOC, but if I had to deal with Essex (& surrounding areas) boys alot, I would probably appear just as rude.

I'm not sure that getting finance from a car dealer no matter how good they are, is the smartest thing you could do anyway. Why dont people prepare themselves by researching good loan deals through Money Supermarket etc

Edited by Mutley00, 17 January 2013 - 10:58 PM.