Previously, I wrote an article titled, ‘Is it better to make a phone reservation before visiting a luxury car dealer for the first time?‘ It turned out to be quite popular, so this time I want to dig a little deeper and share some insights about the purchasing stage.

高級車ディーラーに初めて行く時は、電話で予約していった方がいいの？

Simulate What Specifications You Want in Advance

Nowadays, even domestic cars allow you to simulate options and packages online, but luxury imported cars are much more complex with a wide range of options to choose from. By selecting different patterns, you can create an almost one-of-a-kind specification that’s practically unique in the world.

My husband often uses the configurator(a tool to select model specs and options, simulate your preferred exterior and interior, and even get a price estimate) online. When I recently said, “I get that it’s fun, but why do you spend so much time configuring cars? lol” he replied,

Sure, imagining it is fun, but I think regularly using the configurator to simulate specs is actually quite important.
In my case, when it came to the GT3 Touring, one day the dealer suddenly called and said, “If you come to the store now and decide quickly, we can place the order immediately.” So I decided on the specs in about 30 minutes. But I could do that because I had been regularly simulating with the configurator. Without that, I don’t think I could have decided so quickly.

Indeed, for the GT3 Touring,

– Body color: Crayon
– Add PCCB (Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes)
– Black package with black logos, window trims, and taillights
– To match the interior stitching with the exterior Crayon color, I had to select the Leather Package and Adaptive Sports Seat Plus together(mandatory choice)
– Added automatic wipers to get the auto-dimming function
– Seat belts in Silver Grey
– Wheels in Satin Platinum

He had decided on these very detailed specs. When I said, “Wow, you managed to decide all that in just 30 minutes?” he said, as mentioned earlier, “That’s thanks to regularly using the configurator.”

That makes sense, but I asked him again why “it’s better to use the configurator before your first visit to a Porsche dealer…” and he said,

When I bought my first Porsche (Boxster), I also did some configurator work before my first visit. It speeds up the conversation, lets you ask precise questions, and reduces the chance of regretting your specs later. That said, I still have some regrets like, “I should have added that!” even now lol.

I see…

Test Drive Reservations

What else should you be careful about when visiting a luxury car dealer like Porsche for the first time? My husband said,

Hmm, probably test drive reservations. For typical domestic cars, there are usually many test drive models available, but with Porsche, it’s quite common that the model you want to test drive isn’t available. Not every model is always ready for test drives, so if you want to try a specific one, it’s best to make a reservation or check availability beforehand to be sure.

That makes sense. I once heard a dealer staff member on the phone saying, “About the test drive for model XX… unfortunately, we don’t have a test drive car available right now…” while I was waiting at the table.

There Are Always Customers Even More Important Than You

When I asked if there was anything else to watch out for, my husband said,

Sometimes when I’m negotiating at a luxury import dealer, I see people acting arrogantly toward the staff. But that’s not right. It might be a big purchase for you, but demanding excessive service or special treatment is tough to get.
There are customers even more important than you. Dealer staff deal with those kinds of clients every day. If you act arrogantly on your first visit, it will be hard to build a good relationship later.
Sometimes people say to me, “With how many Porsches you’ve bought, it’s no wonder you get priority for the GT3 Touring.” But I’m still a newcomer and haven’t bought that many cars.
By the way, my younger brother is a big Ferrari fan, and from what I hear, Ferrari has a very clear customer ranking system. You can’t just walk into the store and say, ‘I want a 488’ and expect to buy one. You usually start by buying used cars and gradually move up the ranks.

I see… Indeed, some of my husband’s acquaintances have bought seven or eight cars just this year, but it really puts things in perspective. Those people tend to be very approachable and kind, too.

Consider Financing Options

When I asked, “Anything else?” (Still asking lol) he said,

Well, as I mentioned in a previous article, there’s the question of “paying cash or financing.” Many people imagine that buying a luxury car like a Porsche means paying in full with cash. I thought so too.
So if you haven’t saved enough to pay in full, you might think you can’t buy one yet, but I actually think financing is a good option.
Of course, everyone has their own views, so I can’t say it’s the only way.

Our dealer contact, Mr. H, also once surprised me by saying, “Many customers actually buy with financing.”
I asked before, “Isn’t financing more expensive because of interest, so you end up paying more overall?” and my husband said,

From my perspective, considering cash flow and liquidity, it’s better to keep cash on hand even if you pay interest. That’s partly because Porsches don’t depreciate as quickly as other brands. So I think it’s best to take a longer loan term to keep monthly cash outflow low.
Having cash on hand lets you invest or have peace of mind in case of emergencies.

That makes sense. I used to think, “Buying a Porsche means saving over 10 million yen first—what a daunting goal!” but hearing about financing made it feel like a more realistic target.

My husband also added,

That said, there are differences between brands like Mercedes-Benz or BMW and Porsche or Ferrari, so it might be interesting to write an article exploring those differences.

I’m looking forward to exploring that topic as well.