| The dedicated service area not only features the normal hydraulic lifts, but also a state of the art scissor lift in a bay with an external window, where clients can view the work in progress if so desired. This area comes under the control of Ian Barkaway, the After Sales Manager, who has Ferrari experienced technicians and a specialist automotive electronics technician to tend to clients needs. Add to this a large stores area, plus plans for further expansion in the not to distant future, and one can see this young operation very quickly becoming a strong element in the British Ferrari and Maserati dealer network. |
|
Keith Bluemel |
| London, March 7, 2001 For the first time in the forty years that Maranello Concessionaires have held the Ferrari concession in Great Britain, there is an official dealer in the county of Kent. The new dealership is Whitehouse Ferrari Maserati, located at 4 Bickley Road, Bromley, Kent BR1 2NH. |
| This philosophy was reinforced by Lee Fulford upon his return, emphasising that this was the core to the success of the Whitehouse group as a whole, that has made them the largest independent privately owned dealer groups in the south east of England. He also noted that ”We realise that these cars are something special to their owners, and do our utmost to respect this, and return them in pristine condition, probably better than when they arrived. We have already had complimentary telephone calls from clients, which makes us feel that we are definitely working to the right principles with product and customer care. One of our problems at the moment is that the dealership is still relatively unknown in an area where the marques have not previously been officially represented, thus we are constantly seeking high quality used models to replenish stock”. Part of the used car stock at the time of the visit included a 456 GT in silver with blue leather interior, chassis # 101513, and a fine F355 GTS in yellow with black leather, chassis # 113882. |
| As with any official dealership today, the corporate colours and cleanliness of the sales showroom are the first things to impress the visitor. Lee Fulford the dedicated Director of Ferrari and Maserati Operations for the Whitehouse Group was out on business, but I was greeted by the New and Used Car Sales Manager, Brent Smith, who introduced me to the facility. During the course of our conversation, it became apparent that although the business is in its infancy, they are a dedicated group of people whose primary aim, despite their newness to the world of Ferrari and Maserati, is in providing the highest standards to ensure customer satisfaction. |