Westover Sportscars, Poole
West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1JF
Phone: 01202 677511
Fax: 01202 666271

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This is a semi long story so I apologise if you fall asleep during this but we have had
a very happy ending thanks to this dealership.
In July we placed an order for a Fiat Punto 1.4 T-Jet from Westover Fiat.
Promised in the beginning of September we were happy but then....
4 changes of delivery date, lies & general brush off of an aray of excuses including
the boat had been delayed, then our car wasn't on the boat & had to wait for the next one,
we always had called them, they never called us even though the sales manager said they
would call us once a week to keep us updated ect ect we decided enough was enough.

A few weeks previous we had passed Westover Sports Cars & seen a stunning
white Abarth just sitting there saying 'come & get me' in the front of the show room
just drawing everyone's attention to it so Malc decided to give Ben @ Westover Sports Cars
a call & he was told they had just taken delivery of a black one which was just about to be
put into the showroom so Malc darted down there. After drewling over it like a school boy
in a sweet shop he called me saying that for a little extra (but it was well worth it) we could
have this car on my Birthday which was less than a week away so I told him to do the deal.
We had just found out I was pregnant so it finally seemed everything was slotting into place
& I even looked on the internet to see if I could find an Abarth baby seat!
Ben bent over backwards to help us (well he would because it was his commision that was
at stake if we were mucked about yet again) & he even offered to help get our deposit back
from the other dealership but Malc didn't need help & I think after what he said infront of
EVERYONE at the Fiat dealership I doubt they have mucked their customer's about since!

Tragedy struck us when we lost our baby the day before my birthday & whilst Malc was
devistated he kept Ben informed & had arranged to collect the car at somepoint the following
week. As Ben had recently been through the same with his wife he was really there for Malc
much more than anyone could imagine & way beyond his job description, he was a real help.
I had my operation & just wanted to get home to try & salvage something of my birthday so
I asked to be discharged first thing on Saturday morning & Malc phoned Ben to say we would
be in to collect 'Jet' & at 3pm we arrived & she was sat in the showroom looking gorgeous
plus this was the first time I had set eyes on our new car so for a few moments I was like a
little girl with a new toy, pressing all the buttons & taking it all in. Ben gave me a bunch of
flowers (which I know you get with every new car anyway because I worked for the
Westover Group at the time but for Toyota) but I was greatful anyway as he said some very
kind things & didn't rush us at all.

All in all our care we have recieved from Ben at Westover Sports Cars has been brilliant
& beyond.  We have had to call him since because we have a problem with squeeky brakes
but thats another subject....

From start to finish it took 6 days to complete & I know the car was in stock but the service
has been great. I know a few of you might be wondering what Ben's knowledge was on the
Abarth because I have read a few other post's on this forum but I can't honestly comment
on that because Malc delt with that side of things so I will ask him to post up how he felt it
all went. 

Kelly

Well the day has finally come and I have picked up my A500  Hoooray 

My whole experience of dealing with Westover Sports Cars has been a very good one. I initially made an enquiry via their website and within a couple of hours Ben Aldington from Westover had given me a call to furnish me with some info and invite me along for a test drive.

As we all know, generally there is travel involved with a visit to your nearest Abarth dealership and for me and my girlfriend this was no expection. Despite having got lost several times we fianlly arrived after a 2.5 hour drive (now cut it down to a mere 1.5 hours) and were greeted warmly by Ben

We were offered all the tea and coffee we could drink and introduced to both the A500 & GPA. We were then let loose in both cars and encouraged to drive them spiritidly  .

Over the next week or so Ben answered all my questions and following a second visit to the dealership and a further test drive (this time unaccompanied  ) we started negiotiating. I feel I was offered a fair px on my BMW M Sport (considering the current market) and the deal was done.

I would certainly recommend Westover Sports Cars and Ben in particular, although the other staff were all very attentive and helpfull.

I am planning another visit to see Ben in a couple of months to have my Esseessee kit fitted, once I have decided on whell colour that is 

This is going to get a bit the same but yet another big  to Westover.

We had put a deposit down through Abarth months before the car came out & were assigned to Westover, something I was initially wary of as Ive always researched dealers in the past but my fears were unfounded.

We dealt mainly with Chris & several things initially struck me. The dealer knew the product & didnt flannel answers. The car was for Wendy & he talked to Wendy, many times before when I have been sourcing a car for her the dealer insists on talking to me even when shes next to me. There was no hard sell, on our first visit we had to hang around whilst he dealt with another customer but then we had 100% of his time, even when others were waiting.

We wanted the car for March 1 to take to Goodwood for the breakfast club & they were shut on the Sunday so they offered to deliver it a few days before & it duly turned up on a truck.

We have bought many cars over the years but this was genuinly the most pleasant purchase ever, I cant recomend them highly enough. I think it helps being a sports car specialist as they understand what sort of people Abarth purchasers are.

Stuart

I am very impressed with the way Westover, in Poole, as they have been rising to my demands to make my 500SS somewhat different to the rest! The car arrives next month, but it will heve Brembo 4 pot calipers on the front, Sabelt seats (a nice new pair of black leather seats anyone?). But, they have managed to source a set of the Assetto Corse wheels from Italy (not easy for anyone who is on this forum), the new Monza exhaust, the blue and me map with telemetry which is on back order at present. I never get the impression they are saying "oh not him again......!" when I ring up! Having bought a few Ferrari's and Maserati's, I get the same attention from interested enthusiasts!

Westover are not my closest garage but after putting together a great deal for us when we bought the first one, I have no problem in making the long journey back for number two!

Ben was great to deal with on deal number one - he kept us well informed, he stopped them sticking on dealer stickers and tax disc holder at my request, he respected my unusual decision to have the car supplied without number plates fitted and even picked me up from the train station on the day I had to collect it!

I can't wait for the drive back down there to pick up number two at the end of next month!

 

Big shout out and thumbs up to Chris at Westover.

Had my car Esseesse'd and Serviced at Westover last week and although we had an early hiccup (Crate hadn't arrived from Turin) the service I received was second to none. Always informed, updated and looked after.

Do not hesitate to get in contact with Chris regarding anything (I hope thats OK Chris?!?  ). Will definitely be making the 120 mile trip for any future work etc.

Craig

I had a BMW 123d M Sport which I really enjoyed driving, but I just wasn't doing the mileage any more.  So, I thought about trading it in for something a bit smaller but with a bit of poke.  After test driving so many other makes, one afternoon I was gardening and saw that my neighbour had some visitors and they were driving (what I later discovered) an A500.  I was smitten.
Westover Poole is only down the road from me, so I made an appointment with Ben to do a test drive. 
As I said, having test driven many other makes I always tended to find (as a young-ish, blond woman) that the showroom staff patronised me.  I was pleasantly surprised with Westover Sports Cars.  I loved the test drive, choosing the spec of my car and negotiating the trade in for my BMW.
Ben had a brand new A500 in Funk White with red leather interior and red wing mirrors (and all the usual extras).  Once I saw it, I loved it.  So, at 8am before heading to the office the next morning I was back at the showroom ready to pay my deposit.
That was 3 months ago, I drive 'Arbie' every day and I haven't missed my BMW once.
Ben at Westover Sports Cars made buying a new car easy and I can highly recommend.
I received my recall letter (for side airbags) the other day and promptly booked in with Westover Fiat.  I waited whilst they did the work and they even cleaned the car inside and out afterwards (simple things!).  Lets hope that the great service continues!