La Jolla Village News just featured our main man Rick Ahumada in an article on the front page! " Luxury on wheels, High-end Car dealership flourishes despite a sputtering economy. " By Jenna Frazier @ Village News
"Americans love their cars. And for La Jolla's most elite luxury-automobile dealerships, life in the fast lane has yet to slow down." Rick Ahumada, salesmen and marketing director for Symbolic Motors Car Co. at 7440 La Jolla Blvd., said the dealership sells " literally hundreds of cars per year, " both locally and internationally. It's inventory includes an average of 80 automobiles in stock at any given time, with price tags that range from $60,000 to $20 million.
About 40 percent of sales are local and about 60 percent comes from other locations, Ahumada. Headquartered in La Jolla, Symbolic maintains one of the largest inventories in the nation for Bentley Bugatti, Lamborghini, Lotus and Rolls-Royce brands." Our clients are usually very well-educated about what they want, and they know what they'ere looking for. " Ahumada said. " But we can also educate people and provide support as they approach that goal of owning their dream car. That's part of our job."
The dealership reaches out to clients through events and online networking, in addition to fielding calls from assistants and other agents who represent potential buyers.
"When you're dealing with such high-end clientele, part of our business is knowing who the customer is, where they are, what their habits are and just understanding the demographics," Ahumada said. " We're really dealing with one person of the population whose lifestyle is very different from the rest.
Symbolic offers purchasing as well as financing and leasing for clients. Despite less-than-ideal economic conditions, Ahumada said the dealership has seen more cash purchases then leases lately.
"Maybe part of it is that banks aren't willing to lend as much right now., " he said. " People are in the market for these vehicles re industries that are recession-proof, or that they have other resources. "
While luxury vehicles always exude a certain allure, their acquisition often takes on new meaning in the face of economic instability.
"Everybody has a different motive, " Ahumada said. " Some of the classic and vintage cars are good investment, and some of the contemporary cars are not so much investments as they are rewards."
One couple, Ahumada said, recently visited Symbolic and bought a new Bentley for their 50th wedding anniversary after watching their retirement funds dwindle during the stock market decline.
"They reasoned that if they didn't do something with the money, it would be gone anyway," he said.
" So they decided they might as well enjoy some of it and have something to show for it. "
As a few more paragraphs go on, we want to say thank you to La Jolla Village News for giving us the great opportunity. Make sure to go grab a copy and check it out!