Customer letters at www.sportiva.co.uk

Hi Nicky & Colin, Thank you for sorting out my Volvo S80 which I am very pleased with. Newcastle upon Tyne to Tewksbury is a long haul based on some pictures and a telephone conversation but the car is everything promised. I was clear on the year and specification I wanted. There were three available online. The other two were with main dealers and several thousand pounds more than the one I bought from you. Your service was professional and friendly, from being collected at the station to driving away. I will not hesitate to recommend you to friends and I look forward to seeing you again in around three years. Best wishes, Paul. Newcastle upon Tyne Dear Colin and Nicky, Excellent customer service is the ability of an organization to constantly and consistently exceed the customer's expectations. There is no doubt in my mind that Sportiva has this ability, demonstrated by my recent purchase of the Honda Accord tourer. In particular, you start by only sourcing excellent cars. You prepare them well and price them reasonably. You were at all time honest in your dealings with me as a customer. You showed great flexibility in meeting my particular needs - for example storing my other car until I could collect it and then picking me up from the local train station. I am really glad that I found you and bought the Honda Accord tourer. Last week I drove around 1,000 miles through France, Belgium and Germany, the car performed faultlessly. You clearly recognise that every aspect of your business has an impact on customer service. Well done and best wishes for the future. With best regards, Richard T (Ipswich)

Hi Colin, I just had to email you to say thanks for selling me such a perfect 2007 model year Volvo S60 T5. The 120 miles drive back home wasn’t even noticeable in this fantastic car! It was lovely to meet you and it’s so reassuring in my line of work to meet an honest seller who quite obviously sells genuine cars. Best Regards Mark D (CAE Eng Tech AMIMI). London Hi Colin & Nicky, Hope you are both well. I just wanted to contact you to let you know how pleased I am with the Toyota Celica T Sport I recently bought from you. Having always wanted a Celica in Chilli Red, I couldn't believe my luck to find the T Sport model on your website – in Chilli Red!! It drives beautifully – and it now feels like I've been driving it for years. It was a pleasure to receive such a professional and friendly service from you both – no stress, no hassle. The customer service and hospitality was 10/10, and any issues dealt with immediately. The cars were immaculate – that was my first impression and first impressions go a long way. The full HPI checks you do on all your cars is very reassuring, your advice gratefully received – thanks for answering my 101 questions!! It's the little touches that make the difference too – the well presented customer pack, the complimentary Autoglym pack and the Sportiva key-ring (very stylish!) I would recommend Sportiva to anyone wishing to purchase a car. If my husband had not already purchased his new car, he would have definitely considered checking out your stock himself! Remember to give me a wave and a toot if you see me in or around Tewkesbury! Thanks again. Regards, Annmarie A (Gloucestershire)

Hi Colin and Nicky, Just to let you know, the drive back yesterday was fantastic. The drive up to Birdlip was....Exciting!! Much to the surprise of many of the drivers I passed. Thanks again for a memorable car buying experience, you have gained a customer for the future and you will simply be my first port of call from now on. All the very best to you both, and I'll keep in mind the set of wheels when selling the 166. Dave & Jan (Swindon)

Hi Colin & Nicky I bought a dark green Saab from you about 6 months ago. If you remember I rang after I bought it to say that the battery was totally flat and you said buy a new one and you will pay for it. Well I have to admit that the battey was ok, it was me leaving the boot open for a couple of days running down the battery. I charged it and it has been fine since. The car is still great, love driving it and I still have a look at your website now and again to see what you have. Thanks David D (Oxon)

Dear Colin and Nicky We just wanted to drop you a note to say that we love the MX5 you sold to us in March! It has been great fun to drive and our dog Dodger loves sitting in the passenger seat with the top down. You were a pleasure to deal with. We wish you great success for the future. Karen & Carl M (Devon)

Dear Nicky and Colin, Thank you so much for sending the amended cambelt sticker. We hope you didn't have too much trouble getting it for us. Thank you also for making the purchase of our first (but definitely not our last) car from you such an enjoyable experience. We are absolutely delighted with the Sportwagon. It's just what we wanted, and have had some very complimentary (and envious) comments from neighbours, not that many in this part of the world! Thank you too for picking us up from the station (and the conducted tour). You were also kind enough to share the cost of a service that wasn't due, and pay for two new tyres. The road atlas that you provided helped us find the relatives that we'd never visited before, and the Autoglym has also been used to good effect. All in all, a thoroughly satisfactory transaction, and one we both look forward to repeating soon!   With our very best wishes, David and Alex S (Lake District)

Colin and Nicky, Just a short note to thank you for your honesty about the car and the excellent service I received both before and during my purchase of my car. You clearly take pride in your business and have a level of customer service it is nice to expect but rarely experienced. The car has proved to be all I expected and I have not been disappointed. I will be sure to check your website when I next might plan to change or add another vehicle. I will also be sure to direct friends and colleagues to you when they are in search of cars at fair prices, prepared to excellent standards with no pressure to buy. Kind Regards Andy (Essex)

Colin and Nicky It's been about 4 months since I bought my 156 from you. Wanted to just add my own note of thanks to the others on your testimonials page. 4 months on and I am still desperately in love with this car. The entire buying experience was devoid of stress of any kind and I can't recommend your service highly enough. In an industry whose reputation is less than squeaky clean you stand out a country mile for friendliness, professionalism, honesty and integrity. I hope your business continues to thrive and that I see you again some time in the future when I am ready for my next Alfa. Regards Grant (Buckinghamshire)

Dear Colin and Nicky, Just a quick message to thank you both for your help and patience on Friday. I am over the moon with the car you sold me; it was everything that I wanted and it drives as good as it looks. Your friendly and honest approach was a real breath of fresh air compared to the many Arthur Daley's of the motoring world! I will not hesitate to recommend you to any friends and family that need a new car! Thanks again Mark H

Hi Nicky & Colin A belated message to thank you for the excellent service we received from Sportiva. You have both been very helpful & welcoming. The S60 is great and we're enjoying driving it. Having never heard of Sportiva prior to buying this car from you, we can honestly say that we will be recommending you to our friends & family from now on. The service you have given is exemplary - from the initial contact through to collection of the car. It is so refreshing to view a used car in an immaculate state, rather than someone telling you that they don't clean the cars until they're sold! We'll be keeping an eye on your stocklist should anything else catch our eye! Hope you're both keeping well. Kind regards, Neil & Hayley (Herefordshire) PS I've just realised that you may have been affected by the flooding (either at work or at home)- I sincerely hope not, but if so you have my greatest sympathy - I've been there and done the whole soul destroying routine. Thanks for your concern - yes the floods did affect us at home but thankfully not the cars or the unit. N & C

Hello Colin, Nicky I feel as though I should send you this email. The car you have sold us is a beautiful car and is just as you described it on your website. Your friendly and honest approach to selling cars is a pleasure when you compare your methods with a typical car salesperson. You were honest and truthful, and if ever you would like my wife and I in the future to pass on this information to a potential customer then it would be a pleasure. Once again, thank you. Simon and Jenny. (West Midlands)

Colin & Nicky, Many thanks for a faultless "buying experience". The car feels like it has done six rather than sixty thousand, and is an absolute joy to drive. Best regards, Ian H (Kent) (Thanks Ian, for the Champers, it was much appreciated. C & N)

Good evening Nicky & Colin, A quick note to let you know that we arrived home safe and sound and delighted with the car. I have put the log book in the post tonight and you should get it Tuesday, many thanks for taking care of that little problem it all added to the pleasure that we experienced in buying the car from you. We would have no hesitation in recommending SPORTIVA to our friends and whenever we need another car you will be the first people we will contact. Many thanks, Best regards Howard and Claire (Surrey)

Hi, I bought a 156 off you a couple of years ago (fantastic car, thanks!). I've managed to scratch the drivers side leather with a metal popper on a pair of trousers (D'oh!). I was impressed with the way you presented your vehicles and was wondering if you could suggest a way of repairing the scratch. I've been looking at leather settee repair kits, but I'm a little twitchy about using them! Having to resist buying a newer car after looking at your website again! Very well presented, well done! Colin C

Hi Colin Just a note to say how impressed and pleased I was with the service I received at Sportiva. You guys really looked after me and were incredibly patient whilst the finance clearing was going on....It was far from easy, but thanks to you we got there in the end. It was refreshing to find that service like that still exists in business today, in fact I have already recommended Sportiva to two of my friends who asked about where I got the car! I would not hesitate to deal with Sportiva again and wish you all the best in the future. Please feel free to use this message in any of your literature as you see fit. Thanks once again, Craig F (Hemel Hempstead)

Hi Guys, Just a note of thanks for the high level of service I received from your company yesterday. The Alfa 156 is awesome, drives like a dream and I very much appreciated you going out of your way and delivering to Porthcawl. Congratulations Sportiva, ten out of ten. Many thanks, Leighton L (South Wales)

Hi Colin The 155 V6 you sold me back in 1998 is still going strong but after 7 and a bit years and 100,000 miles I think it is time for a change! Are you coming across any GT JTDs yet as that looks like my next dream Alfa and you are my number 1 choice of dealer. Cheers David T (Derbyshire)

Dear Colin and Nicky Just writing to say a big thank you for your prompt and efficient service. The car, so far, has met all my expectations and was an excellent drive to Hereford and back. The children's faces were a picture when they saw that I was driving it! Thank you Jane J (Herefordshire)

Dear Colin & Nicky Hope all is well with the both of you and that business is thriving. Just thought I'd drop you a line to say how pleased I still am with the 9-5 estate I bought from you. I have now put over 70,000 miles on it and apart from a few routine repairs and servicing, it has been a perfect car. I had converted it to LPG last October due to the miles I am driving and that has proved successful and cost effective without ruining the driving enjoyment. I am still working towards saving for its replacement, which I hope will be later this year, hopefully an aero estate (from yourselves of course - that will make car number 5 from you I think? Its becoming habit forming!) Anyway just wanted to say Hi and thanks for such a good car. Regards Ashley G

Guys Once again I want to thank you for the truly excellent service and the way you treated me everytime I visited you. Being in the retail trade I understand and appreciate "excellent service". The car is great and I will never have to think about recommending you to prospective buyers, I would do it at a drop of a hat. You probably don't get much feed back, all I can say what a great service and I will definitely be back. Mick and Claire B

Dear Colin and Nicky Gained: Mazda MX5 Lost: 20 years off my age Car: Priceless Cannot put into words how happy I am that we bought the car from you. Thank you so much for your help, friendliness & professionalism. Wishing you every success in everything you do Suzanne W

Dear Colin + Nicky Thank you for making the whole car-buying experience so pleasant and relaxed. I'm really pleased with my new Alfa 147... Best wishes Marian S

Dear Colin & Nicky I'm writing to thank you for your help and assistance in my recent purchase of an Alfa Romeo 156. It has been a fantastic car to drive over the last month or so and I wish I'd bought one years ago!! Yours sincerely Kristian P

Hello, I just wanted to drop you a line to say how pleased I am with the Alfa Romeo I bought from you last weekend, moreover I wanted to thank you for making the whole experience most pleasurable. For once, it was actually a pleasure to purchase a new car, which is not always the case. I have what maybe an odd question, but hopefully very simple to answer. can you tell me what polish you have used when preparing the car? It seems to make it so easy to keep the car clean so if possible I would like to get hold of some myself. Many thanks Martin

Hi Colin & Nicky Tom M**** from Solihull - we purchased the Alfa 146 and then the Saab 9000 from you last year. Unfortunately the Alfa was written off just before Xmas - no major injuries fortunately - it was a very strong car. She doesn't want another Alfa (bad memories) but would consider other cars to your normal high standards and with decent spec/history. Mileage isn't overly important. I don't know whether you purchase to order - but we have the money waiting- so if you find something suitable and she is interested, we would trust your judgement. You haven't let us down yet! Look forward to hearing from you. Regards Tom

Just thought I'd drop a line after having the Aero for a couple of weeks or so now. The car's running really, really well and I'm extremely pleased with the service you both provided during the sales transaction. I can honestly say I enjoyed the experience, not something that generally happens whilst buying a car... Kind regards Andy S

Hi Colin The car is absolutely gorgeous, and lovely to drive. It's nice not watching the fuel gauge drop as the revs rise! Many thanks to you both, for staying open for us, and for the Autoglym, which was very kind of you. It was a pleasure to buy a car from such a friendly and enthusiastic company as yours, and I will recommend you to anyone who may be in the market for a new car. Thanks again, and best wishes to you both. Martin T

Dear Colin and Nicky Re: thank you We would like to thank you for the excellent service we received when we bought the Fiat Coupe from you. Although we were an hour late, you made us very welcome. I don't know if you remember that I was a little nervous about taking it for a test drive. I don't know why because it is a lovely car to drive and any chance I get I am in it. Everyone we show the car to loves it and anyone looking for a sports car we will give them your web site. Kind regards Debbie and Paul R

We are writing in connection with the black Fiat Punto GT we purchased from your organisation two months ago. May we firstly congratulate you on the level of customer service you displayed towards us throughout the time we were purchasing the car from you, we both agreed that we had never experienced such a pleasant car purchase anywhere not even at a main dealer. It was hard to believe that two people we had just met could be so friendly and helpful even to the extent of trying to find us a place to eat before we drove back home and even offering to pick us up from the train station on our return to pick the vehicle up. In this day and age this old fashioned attitude towards customers is sadly lacking, but not in your case so just to say thankyou. Yours sincerely Adam & Sally   Dear Colin & Nicky I would like to thank you for your genuine and helpful service. The Alfa is a fantastic car and a real pleasure to drive. I can safely say that I haven't had so much fun in a long time! Wishing you every sucess with your business for the future. Regards Michael C

Colin I am very happy with the car and intend to write into the Lancia magazine with my comments regarding the service I have received and the general presentation of the car. Hopefully this may bring you some additional sales! Tony L After many years as a company car driver the economics of ownership are such that I have taken the decision to hand it back. This left me with the dilemma of what to replace it with. After long deliberation I decided that it had to be a Thema as I had fancided one for years, and this would probably be the last time I would be able to own a modern Lancia. Finding a good example has however proved a little difficult with many phone calls and even a wanted advertisement in Viva Lancia which resulted in a zero response. Seems that those of you with good cars intend to hold onto them! After viewing many examples, some with quite dubious history my search ended at Sportiva. Colin's initial description of the car was sufficient for me to make the 100 mile round trip to make a viewing. As it turned out his description was entirely accurate which was more than I could say for some! What immediately struck me about the car was the way it was presented. It was very clean, serviced (including the all important belt change) and many of the small details had already been attended to. A test run of some 20 miles confirmed that it drove superbly and by the time I had returned to Colins house the car was already sold. Several glasses of wine then helped to sell the idea to my wife! Colin agreed to deliver the car to my house a few days later as I still had to sort out the insurance. Again it was the details that impressed me, the documented HPI check, the already filled in forms for taxation provided, everything presented in a stylish folder. Very professional. As with any car problems can develop, and after a week of ownership a small blow developed on the exhaust. A phone call to Colin resulted in a no quibble replacement which was quickly sorted out. So often we are quick to condemn dealers when things go wrong, but on this occasion I have nothing but praise for the service I received from Sportiva. Needless to say I have no interest in the company other than that of a very satisfied customer. Tony L