Tweet
Looked promising at first, after a couple of weeks of e-mails (up to a week for a reply) I actually spoke to Milan (had to
phone a few times before I was called back) who was very pleasant and said they had all the bits I wanted. He said he'd get
back to me with info on a gearbox cross-member... 3 days later an e-mail to say:
"I will come back to you later today as I need to find out the time scales from our chassis manufacturer for the manufacturing
of the members"
That was on 28th April and nothing since. I even sent an e-mail on 29th to say 'no hurry' on most of the parts but could I
please order some engine mounts right away - no response whatsoever.
Milan seems like a nice guy and maybe he has problems, but with this sort service I'd be very wary about sending cheques off
etc. (they don't take credit cards which at least afford you some protection). Maybe parts/support for old cars just isn't
profitable and Aquila are only interested in new sales, which is fair enough as they are running a business (I think). That
said, from my experience I would never consider buying a car from them.
If Aquila are not interested, perhaps they'd consider selling old molds & drawings to someone who can make them available to
those who need them - such as the MOC! I can see Aquila disappearing with everything.
What a contrast when I called Quantum Sports Cars ; not knowing exactly what I needed, I asked for everything required to use
my bare Type 9 bellhousing with a Zetec R - lots of helpful, knowledgeable advice, credit card over the phone and all the
required parts delivered in a few days. If only Aquila could be the same.
I also spoke to MJ Steptoe (listed as a dealer on the Aquila web site), he has the same trouble contacting Aquila and told me
he's been asking them for months to take their demonstrator away as there has been no interest in it. So apparently it is
not just MOC members that get ignored.
The Aquila telephone number is call answering service with a script. For fun I called and asked for the Parts Department -
they actually put me on hold for few seconds before saying no-one in Parts was available! Said they'd get someone to call me
back (which no-one did of course).
It is very disappointing that Aquila are still the same as they have been from the very beginning.
phone a few times before I was called back) who was very pleasant and said they had all the bits I wanted. He said he'd get
back to me with info on a gearbox cross-member... 3 days later an e-mail to say:
"I will come back to you later today as I need to find out the time scales from our chassis manufacturer for the manufacturing
of the members"
That was on 28th April and nothing since. I even sent an e-mail on 29th to say 'no hurry' on most of the parts but could I
please order some engine mounts right away - no response whatsoever.
Milan seems like a nice guy and maybe he has problems, but with this sort service I'd be very wary about sending cheques off
etc. (they don't take credit cards which at least afford you some protection). Maybe parts/support for old cars just isn't
profitable and Aquila are only interested in new sales, which is fair enough as they are running a business (I think). That
said, from my experience I would never consider buying a car from them.
If Aquila are not interested, perhaps they'd consider selling old molds & drawings to someone who can make them available to
those who need them - such as the MOC! I can see Aquila disappearing with everything.
What a contrast when I called Quantum Sports Cars ; not knowing exactly what I needed, I asked for everything required to use
my bare Type 9 bellhousing with a Zetec R - lots of helpful, knowledgeable advice, credit card over the phone and all the
required parts delivered in a few days. If only Aquila could be the same.
I also spoke to MJ Steptoe (listed as a dealer on the Aquila web site), he has the same trouble contacting Aquila and told me
he's been asking them for months to take their demonstrator away as there has been no interest in it. So apparently it is
not just MOC members that get ignored.
The Aquila telephone number is call answering service with a script. For fun I called and asked for the Parts Department -
they actually put me on hold for few seconds before saying no-one in Parts was available! Said they'd get someone to call me
back (which no-one did of course).
It is very disappointing that Aquila are still the same as they have been from the very beginning.
Comment