Galpin Ford to become Lotus dealer ?

4374 Views 66 Replies 24 Participants Last post by mikester, Jul 22, 2004

Sownman

Discussion Starter · Jul 16, 2004

It's a familiar name to LA residents. My wife got a thing in the mail
to get paid to test drive a Miata. When they put the push on her to buy one she told them about the Lotus list and order and WAIT.

They told her they were going to become a Lotus Dealer. They said they were filling out the papers right now. Galpin in the San Fernando valley handles Miata,Saturn,Jag,Aston Martin in addition to the name sake Ford.

The Lotus would work well in the showroom that now houses Aston and Jag. They are a very big, well established dealer and would be a good choice for the dealer that Lotus hoped Symbolic would be. A major presence in Los Angeles.

If your in LA and way down on a list I'd talk to the GM at Galpin
and find out how serious this info given to my wife really is.

Steve

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Randy Chase

· #2 · Jul 16, 2004

Ohh... scoop!

That could be very cool. I always thought if I was down the list, I would pounce on any new dealer.

They may not get cars right away, but they have to get some at some point. Maybe September?? Maybe October?

Ancient Wedgie

· #3 · Jul 16, 2004

Scoop, eh?

At the Aston-Martin corral at the LA autoshow, MW was told in my presence this very same thing. It was left to me (because she was leaving for Central America for 2 weeks ) to call the guy on Monday to get on their list.

Since we already in line for 2 cars, I figured it was futile. He said that because Galpin was the largest blah blah blah in the US, they would certainly be the place to get the elise sooner.

I said: "cool."

I never bothered to make the call. Oh, my. What a fool I was!!!

zvezdah1

· #4 · Jul 17, 2004

Wow,
that'd be great, LA could use a dealer with a good established rep. it's such a big market.

Chris

Modern Wedgie

· #5 · Jul 17, 2004

It still hasnt happened, 7 months later, so I wouldnt get too excited yet.

heatmiser

· #6 · Jul 17, 2004

Wahoo!

Wahoo!
I just called and am #8 on their list. Put down a $500 deposit and they expect to start having cars shipped to them within the next few months...

jml1952

· #7 · Jul 17, 2004

Well, it would seem to me that Lotus is going to need to produce a certain number of cars for existing dealers before they could start providing them to any new dealers, so I would be surprised if any new dealers get significant allocations before next year. How could Lotus justify giving cars to a new dealer so that someone who just joined the list in July 2004 would end up getting a car much sooner than someone who has been on a list for 18 months??

Randy Chase

· #8 · Jul 17, 2004

jml1952 said:
Well, it would seem to me that Lotus is going to need to produce a certain number of cars for existing dealers before they could start providing them to any new dealers, so I would be surprised if any new dealers get significant allocations before next year. How could Lotus justify giving cars to a new dealer so that someone who just joined the list in July 2004 would end up getting a car much sooner than someone who has been on a list for 18 months??

I can understand your point, but on the other hand, I can't see Lotus USA signing up a dealer and saying "but you will not get any cars until after 2004."

Sucks for those far out on the list, but as I said, it is what I have been recommending to people... if a new dealer gets signed on, jump on it.

roadrunner

· #9 · Jul 17, 2004

Another slap in the face for list people and existing dealers

I see Randy's point, but I have to agree with jml1952 here. In the overall scheme of things, it would be grossly unfair not just to existing list people but also to the existing dealers if a new dealer can sign on and get an almost immediate allocation of these cars.

Nothing personal heatmiser, but I've already been on the list for 9 months, and I don't expect a car until next Spring. If you can waltz in to a non-dealer at this point and get a car before me, well - that's just wrong.:no:

How do you think my current dealer would feel if I went to them and said well, sorry, but I'd like my deposit back because an opportunistic dealer in another State with no history with the marque has been bribed by Lotus with an allocation of cars for this year and can promise me a car 3 months before you can because they are just starting their list from #1 today?

This problem really doesn't appear to have been completely thought through IMO.

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Vantage

· #10 · Jul 17, 2004

I'm guessing this is why their deposit amount is so little. It could be that they don't get too many cars this year, or at least, that would be the most fair thing to do. Imagine if #3 had signed up just a few months ago and takes delivery in October! Lucky dog.

mact3333

· #11 · Jul 17, 2004

Re: Wahoo!

heatmiser said:
Wahoo!
I just called and am #8 on their list. Put down a $500 deposit and they expect to start having cars shipped to them within the next few months...

HM, have a quick question for ya...check your PM box.

TheProton

· #12 · Jul 17, 2004

I put a deposit down as well, they feel that they will be getting cars very soon, and it should hopefully be within the year. However they wanted a 3k deposit (refundable) and MSRP +$595.00 for lojack, which I do not want or need.

However I'm over #100 at another dealer, so this might get me my precious that much sooner, as I'm under #15. They hope to take orders "very soon".

Anyone else put down a deposit and get out of the LoJack requirement?

-The Proton

shinoo

· #13 · Jul 17, 2004

My friend just secured a spot around 10.

There is not much 'fair' about how the cars are being delivered. I placed my deposit in Jan03. There are a bunch of people who placed their $ down months after me yet they will receive their cars sooner than I. They happened to find a dealer with a shorter list than the one that I used. Tough luck for me. Was Lotus supposed to deliver cars to end customers based on when they placed their deposits? As much as I like the idea, it is just not feasible.

Lotus would be wise to provide Galpin with some cars in a reasonable amount of time. Hopefully at a discounted amount since they are late to the party.

macsuibhne

· #14 · Jul 18, 2004

Actually something that most don't realize about Galpin, is that they are the #1 Ford dealership in America. For Lotus this would indeed be a great relationship, this dealership is indeed huge! I lived in LA for 12 years and now in San Francisco for the past year, and have known this dealership well. I have been there numerous times, being a mustang cobra owner and have loved the way they specialize both Saleen and Rosche cars, hey my limitations have been limited in the past. As huge as this dealership is, Mr Galpin is still there, well he was a year ago when I last visited. As mentioned by others before, the more mainstream this car gets, the more development and better it shall be for all of us. This is not the typical Lotus dealership, exotics etc. but one that is truly massive, 2 blocks of dealerships each side of the road. I am expecting the arrival of my Elise next month in Arizona, so have been suffering the waiting pains like everybody else. As soon as I saw the name Galpin, I got excited. Yes they are a giant, but a friendly one... From what I know they took the only "Valley dealership" of Jaguar and turned it around, basically what I mean to say is that this is a great positive for Lotus and if this takes a few cars away from the other dealerships, I hope Lotus will pay a few more overtime hours at Hethnel!!!

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rtking

· #15 · Jul 19, 2004

I put down a deposit with Galpin...

Well... I decided to do it. I put down a deposit with Galpin and have position #15. David Gutierrez is my salesman and he assures me that I'll receive the vehicle before the end of the year. (I should be able to 'spec' my car in August/September.)

Why did I decide to do it? Well... Galpin (although requiring a $3,000 deposit), will sell the car at MSRP + LoJack ($495.) Also, their line is relatively short and they have a complete deposit refund policy where, if I decide to not buy the car, I will get my deposit back. In addition, I'm sure they can get ANYONE financed (I have already made provisions for this, but it's good to have a back-up.) Lastly, Christine was my contact at Newport European and now that she's gone, I'm getting a little nervous (though Newport European has assured me that I'll be in the next order group, but I won't receive the car until Feb/Mar '05)

I'm going to keep my deposit at Newport European until I know for-sure that my order with Galpin has gone through. And then, a that point, I'll relinquish my deposit with Newport European. (Or conversely, Galpin has any "snags" and Newport will get the car first, I'll stay with them... even though there's a $2,500 markup on their car...)

Bob

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GMorel1916

· #16 · Jul 19, 2004

I thought this model year was sold out. How are they getting cars so soon? Is this going to affect the people on other lists?

Randy Chase

· #17 · Jul 19, 2004

GMorel1916 said:
I thought this model year was sold out. How are they getting cars so soon? Is this going to affect the people on other lists?

It would have to affect to some small extent all lists.

Lotus USA has always said they intend on adding some dealers. Once the situation with Symbolic BH happened, there were rumors flying around that a new dealer would spring up in LA. Lotus USA HAS to be in the Los Angeles market (though Newport covers the Orange County and Desert covers the inland areas).

And as mentioned above, you just can't sign on a new dealer and tell them they will have cars as soon as you fill all existing orders. When Desert came on, they were no different, they started taking orders and promising deliveries.

One mght expect or hope they would not get as early deliveries, and maybe not as large of numbers. But Lotus USA needs the dealerships too, and you have to give them some reason for doing this. You just can't sign a new dealer with promises for middle 2005.

rtking

· #18 · Jul 19, 2004

Per David at Galpin Motors, Lotus would not grant them a Lotus dealership because they already had a presence in Los Angeles. (Symbolic Beverly Hills.) It appeared that Lotus was still honoring Symbolic's pseudo-presence.

How Galpin got around this was to use their dealership address at Santa Clarita to be their Lotus dealership. That's how they were able to capture a sales area without "stepping on Symbolic's toes..." At least, this was what I was told...

Bob

Randy Chase

· #19 · Jul 19, 2004

Curious to see of Symbolic then gets their LA store open (as I had heard) this summer.

Gromit

· #20 · Jul 19, 2004

"Curious to see of Symbolic then gets their LA store open (as I had heard) this summer."

Probably not. It's already THIS summer!

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