I visited this dealership with my fiance to see a Maserati Gt MC, after speaking to a salesman named Neal who I made appointment with. Besides the fact that he had 0 motivation to sell me the car, to my extreme shock, he had insulted us by asking if we could afford the car.
As I laughed, I mentioned to him that I currently have a Maserati Gt and I'm looking to purchase another one without a trade in. He proceeded to say that he sees people like us all the time who visit the dealership that can't afford an exotic car.
He also inquired about our credit score, then my fiance pulled up his credit on his phone to show him, which reflected an 807 credit score which is tier one credit.
Neil continued to repeatedly state "I don't think I can sell you the vehicle". I was very put off by the insults. I started to negotiate the price and he wasn't having it. I asked if he could talk to the owner about pricing but he refused, stating the owner wouldn't agree. He then proceeded to state that we wouldn't be qualified without putting a 20% down payment. He also kept making distasteful comments asking if we just wanted to buy a piece of metal.
A few days later, I decided to call the dealership and speak to the owner Alex. He was very polite and said we only have to put 5% down with our credit and to fill out an online application and he happily lowered the price by $1,000.
I completed the application and called to inquire. Neil answered & stated that he received the application, but that we needed to put 20% down and then said we needed to put $20k down! Is he insane?
I can do the math in my head, 20% of $58K is $11,600, not $20k buddy. Where did you come up with this figure of almost 40%, by adding another $9,400? Very contradictory.
If you can't calculate it in your head, by all means, use your calculator. And with an 807 credit score and the salary, it's obvious we can afford it and not have to put a large down payment. Im not sure what his motive is.
I repeatedly asked him what the issue was and why we couldn't qualify, while inquiring which bank he submitted the info to. Only to find out that he never submitted it to any bank! He said he was basing off his own expertise and didn't think he should submit to any bank without $20k down. Ok Neil, you shouldn't run our credit if your making the rules. And what is your expertise exactly?
First of all, my fiance and I are very educated people. I have an MBA and graduated with honors. I'm no dummy! My fiance works for an Oil and Gas company. I was in the car business for a long time and I'm now in a different profession.
For a car salesman to repeatedly insult me and call me back while he's absolutely unprepared, in addition to not submitting anything to a bank and then telling me that my fiance has never paid off a car in his life, while in fact he's paid off 3 cars and bought another car last week, paying $5k down and a first payment of $12,100 a week later... total $17,100 in a matter of 7 days, I dont need Neil's 2 cents of bs. It's insulting to say the least.
Not to mention that he can't perform any math skills. $20k is 20% of $100k, not of $58k! So telling me 20% down is $20k, is absolutely ridiculous. Then, after I asked if he saw our credit score, he said, yes it's phenomenol but this is an exotic car.
Ok Neil, I've told you a thousand times, I currently own a Maserati Gt, which is financed, I'm well aware of it being an exotic. I get it, you don't want to sell us the car for whatever reason.
I also told him that his boss had told us that we could even put 5% down and that it's not a house where we need to put 20%. He said his boss doesn't know what he's talking about.
Not to mention, that I've already been preapproved from 2 banks with $0 down and a 1.9% interest rate from an actual Maserati dealership. But the only reason I wanted this car is for the red interior, which I have on mine.
I'll do these people a favor and let the car sit in their lot and purchase from a place who doesn't repeatedly insult my fiance and I and who appreciates our business.
I had taken a few pics while taking a little video which I'm trying to upload on here, where Neil is asking in the background if we can afford the car, and after me telling him I already own a Maserati granturismo, he said people frequent this dealership who simply can't afford the car. Alex was not there. However, as a courtesy when I called and asked for the owner, Alex said "I'm the owner". I told him what happened and he thanked me for letting him know.
Initially I didn't think it was a huge deal until after Neil ran the credit after I submitted the application a few days later and he said putting $20k down was required, and we couldn't get approved without that.
Furthermore, if Alex wasn't in the office, why would he say that never happened?
How did we get approved at a Maserati dealership for $0 and 1.9% finance rate for 60 months with a $65k Maserati, if our credit wasn't 807? read more