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The Garden’s finest
Under the expert supervision of founder Jimmy Sinnott, Wicklow town based
Volkswagen dealership Sinnott Autos Ltd. has made remarkable strides in
the two decades since its inception. Irish Trucker went to the Garden
County to glean further insight into a company with unstinting faith in
the VW brand. Commercial sales specialist Alan Clarke and sales manager
Tony Breslin afforded us a warm welcome…
Sinnott Autos Ltd. was established in Wicklow town 20 years ago by Jimmy
Sinnott, who now runs the family business alongside his sons Paul and
John. Jimmy brought a wealth of experience of the motor trade into the
new company (having previously co-owned Central Garage in Bray).
During this time, he accumulated a vast knowledge of Volkswagen and it
is no surprise that the Sinnott family business has evolved into a veritable
VW specialist. Though Sinnott Autos was set up originally as a Volkswagen,
Mazda and Audi dealer, it now concentrates on brand new VW cars and light
commercials as well as stocking a wide range of quality pre-owned vehicles.
The directors are supremely confident that Volkswagen offers the best
brand – in terms of volume, quality, reliability, reputation and
back-up. They in turn provide a one-stop shop for all motorist needs.
Services available at the Wicklow town dealership include sales, aftersales,
a full range of finance packages (hire purchase, contract hire, leasing
and lease purchase – all strictly regulated by the Irish financial
regulator), as well as car and van rental. A fully-equipped service department
caters for all servicing, tuning and maintenance requirements, with a
full range of parts available through the extensive parts department.
Customers can also avail of a parts delivery service as well as pre-NCT
checks, courtesy cars and a towing/recovery service.
Sinnotts Auto always endeavours to provide products and services that
are tailored to a customer’s individual needs, all of which is part
of a personal, friendly approach to customer care. A team of 22 employees
is on hand to look after the customer’s every need.
Alan Clarke joined Sinnott Autos last year as VW commercial sales specialist.
He notes: “In terms of commercials, Volkswagen is in a very strong
position. We have a full range of commercial vehicles, from small car
vans to large, long-wheel base 5-ton vans, all available in different
lengths and heights, and in a choice finishes.
“This is a growing area of our business and it’s an aspect of
the overall business that we place a major emphasis on. We don’t
have our commercial vehicles hidden away at the back of the showroom.
They are not an afterthought. Cars and commercial vehicles are treated
equally at Sinnott Autos and we feel that Volkswagen offers very strong
products in both sectors.”
Sales manager Tony Breslin echoes the sentiments expressed by his colleague:
“In my mind, we have the best product. Volkswagen sets the benchmark
for all others to follow. In the commercials end of the market, we retailed
just over 200 units last year. When I started here eleven years ago, we
were doing about 40. There has been massive growth in the commercial sales
market in Ireland, on the back of the building boom, and both Volkswagen
and Sinnotts Autos Ltd. have responded to that.”
The range of Volkswagen commercial vehicles comprises the Caddy (car van);
Caddy Life (MPV); California (van); Caravelle; Crafter (chassis cab, double
chassis cab, panel van); Golf van (car van); Shuttle (bus); Touareg Business
(van); and the Transporter (chassis cab, double cab, Kombi, panel van,
pick-up). Full details of all these are available at www.volkswagen.ie
and the vehicles themselves are all available for test drive at Sinnotts
Autos Ltd. in Wicklow town.
Sinnott Autos moved into brand new, state-of-the-art facilities four years
ago. The fantastic showroom concept is based on the blueprint developed
by Volkswagen Germany and Ireland was the first country where the celebrated
German manufacturer asked dealers to come up to the high specifications
enforced ‘back home’. Thus, Sinnotts and Ireland are trendsetters,
with the rest of Europe set to follow suit.
To say that both dealer and manufacturer are progressive would be a futile
exercise in understatement. The lifts and equipment installed at Sinnotts
Autos boast cutting-edge technology and design, while custom tooling arrives
in the workshop ahead of the actual models to ensure that technicians
are ready to begin their work immediately, and also to give them a chance
to familiarise themselves with the tools.
All mechanics are trained to the highest level (this training is continuous,
ensuring that the staff remain up to speed on latest developments). Workers
must achieve special accreditation to sell and work with VW, and separate
qualifications are required for commercial vehicle operations. “These
are phenomenal changes within the industry but it’s all for the good
of the consumer ultimately,” Alan points out.
Indeed, these are exciting and changing times within the Volkswagen universe.
The parent company in Germany has also bought back its distribution rights,
which means that as and of October of next year all VW dealers in Ireland
will deal directly with the German base. The result should be an even
more efficient, streamlined service, which should benefit the customer
first and foremost.
Tony Breslin, who has been with the Wicklow town dealership for eleven
years, concludes: “Our motto is ‘Our Reputation Is Your Guarantee’
and we stick rigidly to that.”
Contact Sinnott Autos Ltd.:
Tel: 0404 25200 Fax: 0404 25201 email: info@sinnottautos.ie
www.sinnottautos.ie
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