25 replies to this topic

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

The place is a goldmine for genuine very low milage rare Minis, some are on display but mot for sale, the owners are true enthusiasts. 15 mile RSPs, late coopers, other early Minis as well as a nice collection of 80s Minis, vans and on my last visit even an innocenti which had been under their ownership for many years and in need of a full resto. Almost entirely sourced locally without the use of the internet, hastling people for years until they agree to sell that super rare RSP or Cooper in the garage which is off the road and has been since the early 00s. Last time I was there they had just brought back a gorgeous surf blue Rover mini with full sunroof from scotland, they had been after it for years and finally made a deal, I like that. They are expensive but they do have customers in the likes of Japan and they do sell cars, 15k+ cars on a weekly basis. They are a proper company selling classic Minis in a proper way and if you really want it im sure they will have a deal with you. Would I buy from them? No, to me no mini is worth the prices they ask, on a moral and sentimental basis. but people do pay that money, and fair play to that :)

[Cheeky_Benito]

Avoid them at all costs. 

 

I bought a car off them - paid the top price as believed it would be in better condition and have been serviced etc and of course you get the 3 months warranty, 12 months MOT. 

 

How wrong I could be.  I did not get 12 months MOT, only got 9 which I have only just discovered when the MOT expired.  It failed the MOT, and the precise words from the garage were, it would make an ideal doner car!!  To date I have spent £1500 on the car, in 9 months.  When told, I would just need to put a bit of oil in it now and again.  

 

Now I also have to replace the sills, rear valance and a section on the front that is rusted out completely.   

 

When I complained to them, the guy literally screams in my face that I am not the sort of person who should buy a mini, as I can't do the works myself.  Would you expect to be doing works on a £6.5K car?  NO! And why, are there so many specialist mini garages, if everyone is doing the works themselves? 

 

I'm not naive enough to think I had bought a immaculate show car, I knew it was used and knew I would need to do work on it as the time when on... but so soon!  

 

I'm slowly rebuilding the car - as I love it, but its no thanks to them.   At least when I am finished, I'll know its 100%.  Just annoyed I went anywhere near these cowboys. 

Edited by Cheeky_Benito, 09 February 2014 - 12:51 PM.

[Cheeky_Benito]

The place is a goldmine for genuine very low milage rare Minis, some are on display but mot for sale, the owners are true enthusiasts. 15 mile RSPs, late coopers, other early Minis as well as a nice collection of 80s Minis, vans and on my last visit even an innocenti which had been under their ownership for many years and in need of a full resto. Almost entirely sourced locally without the use of the internet, hastling people for years until they agree to sell that super rare RSP or Cooper in the garage which is off the road and has been since the early 00s. Last time I was there they had just brought back a gorgeous surf blue Rover mini with full sunroof from scotland, they had been after it for years and finally made a deal, I like that. They are expensive but they do have customers in the likes of Japan and they do sell cars, 15k+ cars on a weekly basis. They are a proper company selling classic Minis in a proper way and if you really want it im sure they will have a deal with you. Would I buy from them? No, to me no mini is worth the prices they ask, on a moral and sentimental basis. but people do pay that money, and fair play to that :)

Sadly there is nothing genuine about this garage.  People see the high prices, and expect to be buying something genuine. You think that as paying a premium price you will get a genuine car that will not be falling apart.  Something that has been through a workshop and looked after.  Wrong on all counts. 

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Sorry to learn of your troubles with GC Motors. In all honesty it doesnt surprise me. They do come across as a well run professional dealership for classic Minis, especially being such a large one.

 

On my last visit it was way to easy to get offered the VIN and Log Books from rare cars like Innocentis and Paul Smiths, they seemed keen on the idea since they had a few rotters and crash victims.

 

I stand by my comment that they know what they're doing when it comes to Minis, it's just a shame that it seems that they're using this to con people rather than sell good cars to good people.

 

I hope you get your Mini fixed soon! 

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 09 February 2014 - 01:03 PM.

[Cheeky_Benito]

My mini is well on the way now to being in the condition it should have been when I bought it.  Sadly GC Motors saw me coming.  And I only saw a nice shiny blue mini!

I've found a great garage now who are helping me put the car together.   I doubt that any seasoned mini owner would touch them anyway.  But for the inexperienced who are not mechanically minded, GC Motors will love you  

[bigrob]

I bought a neon from them about 3 1/2 years ago for 750. I was told the only work needing doing was the drivers lower flitch by the floor, and the drivers side scuttle corner.
It was sold to me with "3 months mot" for me only to find out it had run out 3 weeks before i bought it.
There were no front subframe rear mounts. Apparantly the knocking was just 'the slightly loose exhaust'
So on stripping the car, lets just say the very fresh underseal was sprayed over poorly welded patches and alot of filler. It was clear they had looked around the car and masked the issues. The best bit, they rear quarter was held on by the sticky-when-set nature if blue gloss paint...
None of this was i told about when picking up the car. Seeing as i was 17 at the time, not knowing much about anything, my naivety was exploited.

He was the friendliest person you could meet before money was exchanged. As soon as it had done so, he hurried us out the shop.

I phoned a few weeks later to complain about the state of the car, only to receive abuse and unhelpful behaviour

[WMU 211G]

Four years ago I went down to GC Motors to view a Mk2 Cooper which promised to be a very nice car, at the time it'd been there for a while and on seeing it in the flesh I was very impressed. The restoration work on it looked great but my other half noticed a ding in the roof and there was a bubble in the paint on the passenger door. We started the engine but didn't get the chance to take it for a test drive, although it seemed pretty strong and idled well. 

 

I came close to buying it, the numbers looked right and everything that should have been present was there (bar the dry suspension conversion) -  it was up for £9,995 at the time and they wouldn't take my offer of £9k so I walked away and bought another Mk2 a short while afterwards. Since then it's been upped to £12,999 and four years on it's still there...!

 

http://www.carandcla....uk/car/C145061

[cooperdan]

Simply like Craig said...

i wouldnt pay dealer prices for a mini....not the slightest...

I was lucky to finf my 3rd and current mini which the guy bought from, was just perfect seller and mini just as much. showed me well over 100 photos of progress and work thats been done, gave me some spare parts,

real, genuine and great all round guy... and was worth every penny.

[Cheeky_Benito]

Yep, mine is a 1997 MPI. I'm getting married this year, but next year I shall start on the bodywork issues. When I have some cash. I am looking at £4k I think... (I may post in another topic rough ideas of costs!) intersting to read other buyers feedback. Surely the mini world is a fairly small one. GC have been trading for years! How?! I paid £6.5k. I don't this at this level I should now, less than a year after purchase, I basically am looking at spending what I paid for it, on restoring it!! Oh well. We live and learn!

[joey88]

I have been dealing with these guys recently as I've bought my first ever mini was so excited stalled as soon as I pulled out as it had no petrol at all in it. Secondly on the way back my partner driving behind me noticed my exhaust falling off. Took it back one of the brother (the nicer one) called the machanic in straight away to get it fixed. Since then had a few other issues and sadly had to deal with the nasty piece of work Kevin he has a nasty attitude and thinks it's okay to shout at customers who have problems with their new cars. He really let's the business down. Thankfully we live 5 mins away and can pop down and see Michael when we know he's in as he's great!