Select Auto Imports

Reviews 3

PE

Pete Gulick

First, let me say I purchased a beautiful, well equipped car from Select Auto Imports. Price on vehicle purchased and offer on trade were both better than average. During my test drive, I informed my salesman, Mike Farzam that the vehicle seemed to have lots of interior rattles, compared to the same make and model I was trading (I went from an automatic to a manual transmission). I also mentioned the vehicle didnt seem as tight with the handling. Mike said "Thats impossible". I should have thanked him and left immediately, because either he was insinuating I was lying or crazy! He went on to explain that the owner is meticulous about cars he buys and sells, etc. When I invited Mike to drive with me and compare the vehicles, he wasnt interested. Knowing the car was still under factory warranty, I figured I could get the dealer to take care of the rattling issues. I made the deal with Select. By the time I was ready to make the appointment with the dealer, I noticed the clutch was slipping slightly. I should have driven the car more aggressively on the test drive, but my general nature is to be easy on a clutch. The dealers mechanic noticed the clutch slipping and recommended it be replaced soon, before it caused more problems. My service adviser stated it was unlikely this would be covered (unless there was a bad throw out bearing) and quoted $2,000 for a clutch replacement. They also said the vehicle was out of alignment and suggested I have that performed ($295.00) and they would take care of the rattles. I had them hold off on the clutch so I could shop around for a better price. They took care of most of the rattles, stating I should bring the car back in warmer weather prior to warranty expiration. The alignment was a huge improvement. It was very much out of the specification ranges. I then had the clutch replaced by a reputable BMW shop. Their quote was $1150.00, however they found the flywheel was worn as well. They checked with BMW and learned that it would not be covered unless there was 5mm of wear. I only had 3mm - enough to cause slippage, but not be covered. Though the warranty still had another 5 months remaining, it was VERY unlikely that the flywheel would wear another 2mm. I ended up paying $1850.00 for a new clutch and flywheel (still less expensive than the dealer for the clutch alone). So, $2,145.00 later, I now have the car that is generally in acceptable condition. The shop that performed the repairs also noticed the oil pan gasket has a small leak and the power steering pump is making loud noises. I will schedule another appointment with the dealer to hopefully have these taken care of under warranty along with the additional cabin rattles. Ive put less than a thousand miles on the car and have gone through many headaches and a couple thousand dollars. I couldnt help but think of asking Mike to explain what "Vehicle Certified" meant on the web page where I found the car. He confirmed its not a warranty, but the car goes through a major multi-point inspection to ensure it is in top notch condition. Thats what they call "Certified".

TH

Thomas McGuire

Where to start...I have been looking for a Porsche Cayman S (used) for months. I knew what color I preferred, what options I had to have, and what price I was willing to pay. I became fairly well informed about the market, and it was tough finding a car that met my expectations. Scanning the internet on a daily basis, I came across a newly posted car for sale in Alexandria, Virginia with Select Auto Imports. It was so new that no pictures had been posted, but the description was dead-on. I crossed my fingers and called. I spoke with an engaging gentleman, Michael Webb, who was very informative and most helpful. No high pressure, no stress, he simply answered my questions and then took some photos with his iphone so that I could match a picture with the description. Lo and behold, he sent pictures of MY car. The one I had dreamed of but gave up hope of finding. Natural Brown leather in a black metallic Cayman is gorgeous, but rare to find on the used car market. Well, this one was it. I live in Florida, but immediately called Michael back and arranged the deal. Michael worked the ins and outs for me, offering some suggestions so that I would know the car would still be there when I got off the plane. I booked the ticket and two days later was flying to Washington. Michael (who arranged to have me picked up at the airport) was waiting for me when I arrived. I was thinking, Am I insane for buying a car four states away on blind faith? Well, Michael put me right at ease with a warm and casual, but professional, personality. The car was magnificent! Absolutely stunning, and standing right in front of me with only 24,000 miles. Having priced literally at least 100 used Caymans, I knew what a good price was, and wasnt. This car was a deal. No doubt. In addition, I casually mentioned wanting an oil change before my long drive back to Florida, and when I got there, the oil change had been done, with the receipt from the Porsche dealer handed to me. Wow. Michael made me feel like a million bucks and will be my go-to-guy in the future when the need arises. The used car market can be a shark-pit. Not at Select Auto, and certainly not with Michael Webb. I KNOW I got a great deal due to my lengthy search, and I couldnt be happier. By the way; the 10.5 hour drive back to central Florida WAS A BLAST!!!! It ran perfectly. Thank you Select Auto, and a big thank you to Michael! You are the epitome of customer service, my friend. : )

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Maury DeFreitas

Its taken a while for me to write a review of my experience Select Auto Imports, but I want to acknowledge the folks who got me into my 2007 Porsche 911 Carrera. In particular, my Sales Consultant, Naser Ziarmal, was instrumental in getting me a terrific car and making the whole buying process smooth from start to finish. I had been looking for a Porsche for about 2 months before buying from Select. I had dealt with dealerships and private sellers. Non-Porsche dealers had very little knowledge of their cars or vehicle history. Private sellers often had emotional ties to their cars and were unwilling or unable to understand market pricing. From the beginning, dealing with Naser from Select was different. Select advertises that they sell only quality used cars, and they back up their claims during the buying process. Naser sent me vehicle history, including detailed maintenance records, almost immediately after my inquiry. The test drive and price discussions were low pressure, but he made sure I got my questions answered. Regarding price negotiations, a buyer should understand that the guys from Select know the market; they are pricing experts. There is room to negotiate, but they price their vehicles fairly. They know that people dont NEED luxury cars, so they price close to market. Do your homework, know the market for the car you are buying and enjoy the process. The point is to get a cool car, not to outsmart the experts. After the price was agreed upon, I got an independent pre-purchase inspection from a Porsche dealer. Select delivered and picked up the car from the inspection and put brand new floor mats in the car -- a nice touch. Once I was satisfied that everything was in order, it was time to buy. After the purchase, Select even assisted me in purchasing a battery maintainer at dealer cost. Select maintains a good reputation in the used luxury car market, and they lived up to their reputation with my purchase. I look forward to buying from them again and would gladly recommend them to friends and family.