Just wanted to share w/everyone how happy and perfect my buying experience was w/Passport in MD. I took the delivery of 2010 X5d last Saturday, 11/21/2009. My sales rep was Stephen Ludwig and I have to say that it was just impossible to find fault/anything bad w/the way that man has conducted himself, provided me with amazing level of service and help and did it all with a genuine smile and complete lack of car salesiness (a term I coined up meant to be the equivalent of sleaziness but in a car sales line of business - in short the used car salesman syndrome).
This was my 3rd BMW, previous two I bought from BMW of Fairfax. This time I have also started w/Fairfax because I tried to be loyal and they are half the distance from me compared to Passport. However, the open/non pushy always there, straight manner in which Stephen has interacted w/me was just knocking my socks off. He gave me a super deal, has been straight and clean as a whistle and has addressed all questions I've had relating to how the sales tax is calculated (before or after the $4.5k rebate - which he did after the rebate saving $). On top of that, I drove the car off their lot 1 month and 2 days after placing an order! Not sure how much this was their doing so much as BMW NA's scheduling etc, but I have to say that there are a lot of folks, based on reports on this board, who are waiting several months and their delaers are not even sure where the car is when they call and ask. Or the story changes etc, etc. Stephen was always up to date and every time I'd call it seemed like there was another surprise and the car would arrive sooner!
Another person I dealt with was Jeff Steel, the finance manager - this is the man who accepts large checks. An extremely professional and efficient guy who was not only not pushing any rust protection crap, but actually was able to find a better deal on financing than the generally unbeatable Pentagon Federal Credit Union rates (now days) on car loans! We were in and out of there in a very short time and treated like royalty at all times.
I have to say that there is absolutely no reason I can see I would buy another car from any other dealer. They definitely have me for a client if/when I am in the market for another BMW, and I sure as hell hope the folks I dealt with this time are going to be there then so I can do business w them again.
Way to go Passport! Absolutely amazing experience!
spacey
