Bonkers said:
Well, after cancelling my order due to Brexit jitters I am starting to think maybe I was a bit hasty and am considering re-instating my order (you only live once!).
So - straight to the back of the queue for you my lad!
Thing is - I wasn't very impressed with my local dealer. They had my order for 3 months and I never even got a sniff of a build date. Given that none of them are offering any discounts, the only thing left to shop around for is lead time and customer service. So:
Anyone recommend a particular dealer? Was yours keeping in touch during the waiting time, pushing for updates from Solihull? If so it would be great to know who - as I don't mind travelling further afield (just means an excuse for a longer drive when picking it up).
Likewise - are there any I should steer clear of?
Cheers.
Here's my recommendation...
Peter Tubekke, Jaguar UK rep of the year at Clelands Jaguar in Galashiels. The dealer is a Jaguar award winner for 2013. They run the joint Volvo Jaguar franchise here and I have dine business with them since 2006. Best service I have ever experienced from any car dealership. The business is owned by John Cleland, of rally driver fame and he runs a tight ship, takes a personal interest in the operation and ensures that all his customers get first class service.
Peter was a delight to do business with and I am a very, very demanding customer. When I send an email to Peter he almost always responds the same day with a proper, personal reply and not some corporate gobbledygook jargon. The one occasion he forgot to respond he apologised and explained why there had been a delay of a couple of days, I mean how good is that!
They offer a flight refund promise if you fly to them and buy a car and here is their site:
http://www.clelandjaguar.co.uk/
I am not on commission and, other than being a customer, I have no association with them whatsoever. But I hate poor service from car dealers when folk are spending so, so much money that they have saved up. And when one finds a good dealer then you stick with them.
They ain't cheap, that service means they don't do heavy discounting. But since there are zero discounts on any F-Pace cars right now anyway it makes no difference and so you might as well enjoy top service as compensation for the full price!
Anyway, I am glad that you have decided not to deprive yourself of access to what seems to be a great car just because of a dreadful dealer experience. Whether it's Clelands or someone else...... I hope you enjoy the rest of the buying experience, it should be fun.
BTW, they let us test drive their 3.0d V6 S for almost the whole morning on our own and then, when we got back, invited us to try their 2.0 Ingenium R-sport demonstrator just so that we were sure of which one we wanted to buy. A further 30mins later we had decided and we placed the order. I think they sometimes are able to skip the queue for orders as they called me and offered me an IRR S car that they had managed to secure from Jaguar but we want ours in March 2017. Within two days it had been sold but I still popped down to take a look before it left the compound.
Best wishes.
Arianne
