Why do Guzzi dealers have to be jackasses?

So two weeks ago I went and checked out the two bikes advertised at La Moto in Arlington, VA. At that time they were listed at $11,699 for the new one and $10,650 for the demo.

Dude told me there's absolutely, positively no way he was going to come down any more, and Piaggio never does anything for the dealers to help move old stock. He threw me a bunch of other BS when I asked him questions I already knew the answers to.

So that really pushed me to start considering other bikes for the many reasons people are turned off by Guzzi here in the 'states (at least). There's a Triumph dealer a few miles from my place, and they have a leftover '14 Speed Triple that they'll let me steal for $9K. They're prepping it for me and I'll give it a ride on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Jackass at La Moto has lowered his prices to $10,650 on the new '15 and $9450 on the demo.

After La Moto left a sour taste in my mouth two weeks ago, I called Europa Macchina in PA. Walter told me he could go $11,600 on his '15. I wonder what he could do now...? I guess maybe I'll ask Wednesday if I don't like the Speedy.

Nobody gets rich selling Guzzis.

When they can't pay their employees, then they drop the brand.

Yea... this same dealership wants $44 for a t-shirt. Tell me again how nobody's getting rich?

muzhik wrote:

Yea... this same dealership wants $44 for a t-shirt.  Tell me again how nobody's getting rich?

How does it fit?

Seriously, I have only known one "multi-line" dealer that did well with Guzzis ... and Guzzisti.

The sales folks in such places often fit the stereotype of "What monthly payment did you have in mind," etc.

Often ignorant of anything except financing tables, continued interest causes them to lock at latest price, not sweeten a potential deal.

You might consider seeing if you can talk to the service manager. See how that person feels about warranty work on a Guzzi purchased elsewhere.  Might even find service guy can get sales guy to move a bit.  Sales/service dynamic can be "interesting."

Still, as have discussed, nothing wrong with a Speed Triple or Triumphs generally.

Buon fortuna!

Bill

10650 for a new GRiSO is a pretty sweet deal. Worth every penny.

I guess you have to figure out what value the bike actually has to you though. Guzzi is never going to be the cheapest or fastest. If you're looking for them to price them like other brands, you'll be sorely disappointed.

muzhik wrote:

Yea... this same dealership wants $44 for a t-shirt.  Tell me again how nobody's getting rich?

Quitchabitchin, that t-shirt would cost closer to $100 in Oz

WCB wrote:

10650 for a new GRiSO is a pretty sweet deal. Worth every penny.

I guess you have to figure out what value the bike actually has to you though. Guzzi is never going to be the cheapest or fastest. If you're looking for them to price them like other brands, you'll be sorely disappointed.

Not to mention that the resale value will be horrendous to some...

GRiSOs, and Guzzis in general, are bikes of passion. These bikes need to be wanted to be enjoyed.

I got my 2013 used, 4K miles $8K. The throttle cable had so much slack that it looked like I was checking the time when I pulled away from a stop. The throttle body screws were untouched, coated in yellow paint, so dealer "prep" consisted of filling the tank with gas. Tappets were not horribly out and the TBs were quickly synched and the appropriate stock map uploaded. The bike is now smooth and sneaky fast.

Imagine if I had paid the sticker price and rode it as delivered! I would never buy another Guzzi with that dealer's product as an example.

WCB wrote:

I guess you have to figure out what value the bike actually has to you though. Guzzi is never going to be the cheapest......

I think that Guzzis are pretty cheap, I mean affordable.
In the case of the GRiSO, I don't think there is a bike in its class (1200cc and all) with driveshaft, Brembo brakes and a decent fully adjustable suspension for much cheaper than it on the market so if you can get a new one for 10.000 or so, it's a steal IMO.

muzhik wrote:

I called Europa Macchina in PA.  Walter told me he could go $11,600 on his '15.  I wonder what he could do now...?  I guess maybe I'll ask Wednesday if I don't like the Speedy.

That's where I bought mine. Good experience.

I wound up doing the unthinkable and looked at other bikes. Eventually I'd like to add a GRiSO to my "stable," for all the reasons noted above.

However, my local Triumph dealer (much more local than any Guzzi dealer) woo'd me with a leftover stock '14 Speed Triple. They had it marked at $10K and Triumph threw $1,500 in vouchers on the deal. The $9K figure I mentioned in my OP was with the cash value of that voucher (65% - it would be leaving money on the table if I DIDN'T throw on the exhaust and bar end mirrors)

Nope, it's not as beautiful, comfortable or unique as a GRiSO, but what a ride!

I'll miss the community here in the Ghetto, but will still lurk and check in from time-to-time. For an online vehicle/motorcycle forum this truly is the best group of guys (and gals?) I've encountered.

Thank you for all the advice, honesty and patience. I hope to be back one day and lose my Don Abbondio status once and for all!

Congrats.

Come visit Cross Junction sometime. Brit bikes are welcome, too.

Bill

Bill Hagan wrote:

Congrats.

Come visit Cross Junction sometime.  Brit bikes are welcome, too.

Bill

You know I will, Bill! I need to put some break-in miles on it anyway...

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beetle wrote:

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Here she be. It'll get the other bar end mirror and an arrow dual high-mount exhaust next week.

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Enjoying getting to know her so far. Break-in is frustrating, but I'm over 100 miles now, so I can wind it all the way to 5,000 RPM today

Nice, my mate has one, I would not have put that in the same bracket as a GRiSO though. Missus and I considered a 1050 sport along with the GRiSO. We liked the 1050 sport for it`s two up/ luggage potential and ergonomics but in our opinion it does not have the "Cool" of the GRiSO

FWIW not all Guzzi dealers are Tools and they are put under the Kosh by Piaggio

Enjoy your new bike, Exciting.

Humpy!

boxerscott wrote:

Nice, my mate has one,  I would not have put that in the same bracket  as a GRiSO though. Missus and I considered a 1050 sport along with the GRiSO. We liked the 1050 sport for it`s two up/ luggage potential and ergonomics but in our opinion it does not have the "Cool" of the GRiSO

FWIW not all Guzzi dealers are Tools and they are put under the Kosh by Piaggio

Enjoy your new bike, Exciting.

Concur that it's both not in the same bracket as a GRiSO, nor as "Cool." My thinking all along was that I came from sport bikes all those years ago (haven't owned a bike in 18 years) - and I was ready for something more "grown-up."

It turns out, though, I'm still quite juvenile at heart

when I worked at moto Italiano in 2000 they would never discount bike prices. They only made money in the service dept.