[MotorCade]

Well, several folks have asked me how my experience with Autostrada has been, so I figured I'd let everyone else know how well they've treated me.

In true Texan fashion, they were very friendly and courteous! Neil is the general manager, Drew is their salesman, and Patrick is their service tech. All three are very excited about the Elise, and Drew has quite a few pictures saved onto his computer there at work.

I'm number five on the list there, I've been on it since Nov '01, and have dealt with them since Oct. 01, when I first saw the car at the Austin Motorshow. I have had only good experiences, a no pressure environment, and a willingness to help. I have MSRP in writing. They never treated me like I wasn't worth their time, (which I've had happen in other dealerships) despite the fact that I'm young (26) and was wearing blue jeans, t-shirt, and beat-up cowboy boots the first time I walked in. I was treated the same as I would have expected if I'd gone in there wearing a suit. That means a lot to me right there.

They have gone out of their way to ensure my happiness, even letting my brother and I test drive a Mini Cooper just for fun, and my younger brother went in and test drove an Esprit later, and they recognized him and just handed him the keys.

When I put my finalized order in a couple days ago, I got no run-arounds, no BS about market value, no pushing me towards options, etc. It was simply me going in, getting the business out of the way in about three minutes, and then just shooting the bull with them about cars.

I have also noticed that they don't try to BS me about what the car will and will not have on it, or what it can do. They answer where they can, and they tell me if they don't know. However, Drew was very informed as to what the options entailed, and that was also impressive to me. Most dealers don't know as much as I do about a car when I go in to take a look.

Overall, this has been my best experience with any dealer, and I am very appreciative of that. It's nice to feel like I'm as valued as their 'high-end' customers who can afford the expensive stuff.

Their list was currently at 52 while I was there. Not the longest list, but not the shortest, either.

Based on my experience, I strongly recommend Autostrada. I hope it's been as positive for other people dealing with them.

Cade

 

[frayed]

Cade, I had a good experience with them on Saturday.

 

[ace3]

Couldn't agree more.


Andrew is an extremely cool guy, very easy to talk to. Patrick (although I haven't met him in person yet) talked me into placing my deposit down there. Great bunch of guys.

I'm somewhere between 15 and 20 on their list, so i'm definitely looking forward to placing my order with them SOON.

Going to be a fun roadtrip back to Omaha from there as well. If you're familiar with Austin at all, be sure to take the Elise down Lime Creek Road for a little excitement. I know quite a few guys in the (quite impressive) Austin car 'scene', and that's always a favorite road for a good-handling car. 2222 is a fun one, as well.

What options did you go for? I'm just hoping I can still get into an LSS car by then.

ac.

 

[ace3]

Cade,

just read your other thread, and it's obvious that you're rather familiar with Austin.

Great town, that's for sure.

ac.

 

[atyclb]

Cade,

just read your other thread, and it's obvious that you're rather familiar with Austin.

Great town, that's for sure.

I agree!

 

[MotorCade]

Ah... Lime Creek road... I'd forgotten to mention that one. Good call!

I keep wishing that Austin would get together something like Houston and some other cities have done... shut down some city roads for a day or two and hold a CART or ALMS race. It sure would be sweet with Austin scenery around it.

I could probably be persuaded to meet up with ya'll over dinner at Chuy's sometime, around May or so, when I get to pick up the car...

I had a great time back in town for the holidays, it was as good as I remember it, with the possible exception of the traffic being heavier on the freeways now. I am seriously considering moving back when I leave the Navy.

atyclb, great pic! Good location to show off a gorgeous car!

Cade

 

[ace3]

I believe they have shut Lime Creek down a handful of times to let motorcycle guys go balls-out .... but that's if I remember right.

 

[JeffersonRaley]

Wanted to mention my experience with Autostrada because it was a little different - not neccessarily bad.

* In 2002 I dropped by to add myself to their Elise contact list. At that time I wasn't ready to put down a deposit. Neil added me to his list and promised to contact me as information became availble. Apparently my contact information was lost. I was never contacted. When I came by in 2003 they didn't have the info.

* When I heard the demo car was coming in for the Austin Auto Show, I called to ask Andrew to let me know when it showed up. Andrew never contacted me.

* While I was at Autostrada looking over the demo car, Neil walked in and excitedly announce to Andrew that he had just gotten off the phone with Arnie, and the the Autostrada allocation was double that for Gonzaba (in San Antonio.) Now, it is possible that conversation really did happen. It seems more likely that Neil was speaking for my benefit, and that he was being less than completely honest.

Nothing they have done was overtly dishonest or objectionable. I'm glad to hear that others have had better experiences than I did. But Autostrada raised enough red flags in my mind that I went with Gonzaba instead. The fact that Gonzaba's wait list was half as long helped too

 

[Jacktorch]

I just placed my order with Andrew yesterday - last one in the first group! Went with the Bordeaux Red Pearl in a squeaker over the Storm Titanium - pulled my hair out over the decision.

Andrew seems like a great guy and I've been very pleasantly surprised with our dealings - not your typical car dealer. Great attitude, responsive and completely upfront about everything (at least as far as I can tell).

Can't wait for May! (wishful thinking)

 

[Adam P]

Wanted to mention my experience with Autostrada because it was a little different - not neccessarily bad.

* In 2002 I dropped by to add myself to their Elise contact list. At that time I wasn't ready to put down a deposit. Neil added me to his list and promised to contact me as information became availble. Apparently my contact information was lost. I was never contacted. When I came by in 2003 they didn't have the info.

* When I heard the demo car was coming in for the Austin Auto Show, I called to ask Andrew to let me know when it showed up. Andrew never contacted me.

* While I was at Autostrada looking over the demo car, Neil walked in and excitedly announce to Andrew that he had just gotten off the phone with Arnie, and the the Autostrada allocation was double that for Gonzaba (in San Antonio.) Now, it is possible that conversation really did happen. It seems more likely that Neil was speaking for my benefit, and that he was being less than completely honest.

Nothing they have done was overtly dishonest or objectionable. I'm glad to hear that others have had better experiences than I did. But Autostrada raised enough red flags in my mind that I went with Gonzaba instead. The fact that Gonzaba's wait list was half as long helped too

Thus far Gonzaba's service has been real good to me personally. I placed my order today with George Gonzaba (BRG/BLK int) and all seemed great. I peeped at his list and he had contacted 4 of the first 9 people to get the details of the first order. He said he thinks a truck is going to pull up sometime in May with 10 cars on it, one for me and 8 for others, and one demo!

Whoo hooo....

Adam P