Getting test drives at dealers

[NLB]

I have definitely had the "no test drive unless you commit to buy" routine (and commit, formally, with money attached, not just give a verbal intent). As a serious potential buyer (I have more and better things to do than test drive cars for fun), this does have one quick result - I go elsewhere.

[daemon]

Splats said:

"Indeed. Dealers are there to facilitate the purchase of a car, not to provide joy rides."

I agree with that, they are not simply for people to get random shots of vehicles in. But, by the same token, I don't think you need to be 100% ready to buy that exact car at that exact time. As I said in my first post in this subject I took a number of test drives when I was younger when I was nowhere near read to buy the car I was driving. However, in nearly every occasion I eventually did buy that car and serviced it at the dealership in question.

For example, right now I couldn't/wouldn't buy a 535d. I've never driven one and would quite like to - I suppose if I was so inclined I might make arrangements to drive one today. You might think I'm a d*ck for doing so, but I'd say there is about a 60-70% chance I'll buy and own a 535d at some point in the next 5 years. I'd say there is a 95%+ chance I'll buy a BMW. [b]In either case, whichever garage scratches my back today can count on my future business.

Food for thought for the sales people reading thing thread...[/b]

Edited by Splats on Friday 7th January 14:17

I dont think thats the case at all - are you really saying based on a test drive of a 535d today, you *will* deal with that dealer on a 320d in five years time? Really? Or will it depend on the price and suitability of the prospective car at that time?

Basically you're saying to the dealer 'let me test drive your 535d now and in five years time i will buy a car off you'. I think you'd be laughed off the forecourt.

Edited by daemon on Saturday 8th January 09:30

[anonymous-user]

chance of me buying a used car without at least 30 minute test drive in it - nil

chance of me buying a new car - nil

I always say to the Dealer / Seller that I expect to drive the car and that, after 5 minutes, I will have a very clear idea that I am going to buy it or not - subject to how it performs on a longer and more involved test drive: I want to do 70mph in it for a while and I want it from cold to fully warmed up and I want it through a wide range of the rev band and to try all the gears and brakes many times.

If its a private sale, I offer to cover the fuel costs, say a £10 and the insurance is my responsibility. For a Dealer, its a cost of doing business to be able to offer proper test drives imo.

Never had a problem.

But then again, I have better things to do with my time than trail round on test drives of cars that I have no intention of buying and maybe that shows when I phone and then roll up.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 8th January 09:46

[POORCARDEALER]

Try selling Ferrari Aston and Bentley, you will get every man and his dog wanting test drives.

You develop a sixth sense regarding who is a buyer and who wants a blat.....

[daemon]

POORCARDEALER said:

Try selling Ferrari Aston and Bentley, you will get every man and his dog wanting test drives.

You develop a sixth sense regarding who is a buyer and who wants a blat.....

I think most dealers develop that sixth sense early on and qualify people.

I would say that 95% of the time its right. The 5% that its wrong is more than offset by the amount of time saved humouring people who really cant afford / arent going to buy, which gives you a lot more time to find the right buyers.

[thenortherner]

Most of the time I won't ask or suggest a test drive, unless they do, until I've got a cost to change figure. If this figure is a million miles from where I need to be and the dealer won't negotiate, then a test drive is a waste of both of our times.

[Splats]

quoting fail...will try again!

Edited by Splats on Saturday 8th January 12:18

[Splats]

daemon said:

Splats said:

"Indeed. Dealers are there to facilitate the purchase of a car, not to provide joy rides."

I agree with that, they are not simply for people to get random shots of vehicles in. But, by the same token, I don't think you need to be 100% ready to buy that exact car at that exact time. As I said in my first post in this subject I took a number of test drives when I was younger when I was nowhere near read to buy the car I was driving. However, in nearly every occasion I eventually did buy that car and serviced it at the dealership in question.

For example, right now I couldn't/wouldn't buy a 535d. I've never driven one and would quite like to - I suppose if I was so inclined I might make arrangements to drive one today. You might think I'm a d*ck for doing so, but I'd say there is about a 60-70% chance I'll buy and own a 535d at some point in the next 5 years. I'd say there is a 95%+ chance I'll buy a BMW. [b]In either case, whichever garage scratches my back today can count on my future business.

Food for thought for the sales people reading thing thread...[/b]

Edited by Splats on Friday 7th January 14:17

I dont think thats the case at all - are you really saying based on a test drive of a 535d today, you *will* deal with that dealer on a 320d in five years time? Really? Or will it depend on the price and suitability of the prospective car at that time?

Basically you're saying to the dealer 'let me test drive your 535d now and in five years time i will buy a car off you'. I think you'd be laughed off the forecourt.

Edited by daemon on Saturday 8th January 09:30

Not saying it's a given, but past experience has shown that I have gravitated back to garages that have been helpful to me in the past and I blankly refuse to set foot in garages where I get ignored.

I don't expect to walk in and say, "give me a shot, I might reward you one day".... as you say, you'd be laughed off the forecourt. But I do believe it is a dealerships interest not to be rude and deliberately obstructive as some appear to be these days. Bottom line is this isn't my problem, if I decide I want to drive a car I'll find a way to do so. My point is that I think some garages are shooting themselves in the foot with their attitude to people that grace their forecourts.

It's quite simple with me. If you are nice to me and treat me with respect then I'm likely to use your company again. Do the opposite and I won't. Your choice.

Edited by Splats on Saturday 8th January 12:19

[volvoforlife]

Its difficult to tell nowadays who has money and who doesn't. I have been very surprised by the amount of young student-type people spending £20k+ on a car in a dealership.

[POORCARDEALER]

Splats said:

"Indeed. Dealers are there to facilitate the purchase of a car, not to provide joy rides."

However, in nearly every occasion I eventually did buy that car and serviced it at the dealership in question.

Edited by Splats on Friday 7th January 14:17

Most people do not unfortunatly.


I worked at a huge BMW dealers in a big city....the biggest employer in the city had several BMW's on their company car lists...as a dealer we couldnt supply them as they were lease cars and the leasing company had a tie in with a dealer 200 miles away.

I could have wasted every saturday test driving Mr & Mrs Smith in BMW 316's with no hope of selling them a car.

Does that fall under your remit of the dealer too?

[Deva Link]

marcosgt said:

Deva Link said:

Splats said:

I'd say there is a 95%+ chance I'll buy a BMW. In either case, whichever garage scratches my back today can count on my future business.

Food for thought for the sales people reading thing thread...

The average BMW salesperson stays in his or her job for 3 years.

93% of all facts about BMW salespeople are made up on the spot?

M

OK, the article is a few years old, but I wonder if things have changed: http://archive.carkeys.co.uk/features/industry/200...

[littlebasher]

I've been handed the old 'commit to buy' before test drive line, Specifically by Direct Cars in Sheffield and Eddie Wrights in Shorpe.

Cost Direct cars a sale - why would i shell out on a car i've never driven, it's not just a case of deciding whether i like a car but whether the car is a pile o' shyte. Eddie Wrights backed down & they got a sale (as they were the only dealer in 100 miles with the exact car i wanted!)

On one of the routes i take around Sheffield, you see mugs being taken out for test drives from Carcraft. Their route appears to be half a mile down the road and then back again, over before the car is even warm.

[Zod]

POORCARDEALER said:

Try selling Ferrari Aston and Bentley, you will get every man and his dog wanting test drives.

You develop a sixth sense regarding who is a buyer and who wants a blat.....

Stratstone Aston on Park Lane gets loads of hopefuls, but they're very good at picking out the right ones. They opened up the cars for my three year old boy to sit in the first time I went in.