Getting test drives at dealers
Discussion
When me and the missus went to a premium car dealer for our Smart Roadster, phoned up in advance to book a viewing and a test drive. They were very welcoming and gave us the keys for a hoon. Loved it, and sat down to discuss finance options and part-ex etc, although never once said yes we'd definitely have it. Due to it being a friday evening the salesman couldn't get hold of the finance people to get a yes or no, so he said he'll ring in the morning to let her know (she's on contract work so hard to get credit).
Come Saturday morning, I was wary of buying the first thing we saw, so arranged a test drive of another somewhere else, she liked it for being a year newer than the the first one, slightly less miles too, but it wasn't as nice as the first sportier one we saw. Garage phoned us as we had just finished the second test drive, I let slip that we had tested another, and the salesman of the first one on the phone got seriously arsey saying that by us initially saying we liked it and sitting down for finance quotes meant that he had reserved it to us and had to therefore reject other interested parties. We bought the first one anyway, despite the bad mouthing from him, as the missus really wanted it but at least we got all of the 3 month warranties worth of work out of it, its had a new heater and exhaust repaired, both PITA jobs on a smart so it's sweet as a nut now.
Im hoping I don't have too much hassle trying to get a test drive for a Lotus Elise that im after.
Come Saturday morning, I was wary of buying the first thing we saw, so arranged a test drive of another somewhere else, she liked it for being a year newer than the the first one, slightly less miles too, but it wasn't as nice as the first sportier one we saw. Garage phoned us as we had just finished the second test drive, I let slip that we had tested another, and the salesman of the first one on the phone got seriously arsey saying that by us initially saying we liked it and sitting down for finance quotes meant that he had reserved it to us and had to therefore reject other interested parties. We bought the first one anyway, despite the bad mouthing from him, as the missus really wanted it but at least we got all of the 3 month warranties worth of work out of it, its had a new heater and exhaust repaired, both PITA jobs on a smart so it's sweet as a nut now.
Im hoping I don't have too much hassle trying to get a test drive for a Lotus Elise that im after.
Remember at 20 in 2000 blagging a test drive in the new E46 M3. Rolled up to main BMW dealer with £2k in pound notes & said I wanted to put a deposit down. He was happy to let me test drive the car accompanied. Very pushy when we got back.
Then two years ago tried to test drive an Audi R8 at Audi flagship dealer in Green Park dealer. The chap said simply we do not offer test drives. Our customers buys our cars with out driving them & then moved on to talking about option specs!
Advice
1) Call ahead
2) Talk about PX values & finance
3) Explain you are only prepared to buy subject to a test drive.
4) If poss avoid the busy weekend.
Then two years ago tried to test drive an Audi R8 at Audi flagship dealer in Green Park dealer. The chap said simply we do not offer test drives. Our customers buys our cars with out driving them & then moved on to talking about option specs!
Advice
1) Call ahead
2) Talk about PX values & finance
3) Explain you are only prepared to buy subject to a test drive.
4) If poss avoid the busy weekend.
The worst test drive I went on was with Honda in Wandsworth. Wanted to buy an S2000. The chap insisted on going through all the finance first & options. Spent over an hour before the actual drive. Finance approved 
He then get the keys & we finally ready for the test drive. The dealer he's all smug knowing the deal is in the bag. Drove the car & was very dissapointed by the lack of power & said I didn't like it & wanted to walk away! He spend another 45mins trying to convince me it was the car for me! I walked away, 30mins later he calls me saying "I will sell you a car today, no matter what it takes!"....Talk about pushy sales men!! After that it put me off test driving from dealers!!
He then get the keys & we finally ready for the test drive. The dealer he's all smug knowing the deal is in the bag. Drove the car & was very dissapointed by the lack of power & said I didn't like it & wanted to walk away! He spend another 45mins trying to convince me it was the car for me! I walked away, 30mins later he calls me saying "I will sell you a car today, no matter what it takes!"....Talk about pushy sales men!! After that it put me off test driving from dealers!!Edited by Wayney on Thursday 6th January 23:40
Wayney said:
The worst test drive I went on was with Honda in Wandsworth. Wanted to buy an S2000. The chap insisted on going through all the finance first & options. Spent over an hour before the actual drive. Finance approved He then get the keys & we finally ready for the test drive. The dealer he's all smug knowing the deal is in the bag. Drove the car & was very dissapointed by the lack of power & said I didn't like it & wanted to walk away! He spend another 45mins trying to convince me it was the car for me! I walked away, 30mins later he calls me saying "I will sell you a car today, no matter what it takes!"....Talk about pushy sales men!! After that it put me off test driving from dealers!!
Blimey, in 30yrs of buying new and used cars at all sorts of levels I don't think I've ever come across a salesman who actually seemed keen to sell me a car. I dream of finding a pushy salesman! He then get the keys & we finally ready for the test drive. The dealer he's all smug knowing the deal is in the bag. Drove the car & was very dissapointed by the lack of power & said I didn't like it & wanted to walk away! He spend another 45mins trying to convince me it was the car for me! I walked away, 30mins later he calls me saying "I will sell you a car today, no matter what it takes!"....Talk about pushy sales men!! After that it put me off test driving from dealers!!As it happens, a salesman at Two Mills Honda on the Wirral has come about the nearest to it, and we've bought two new cars off him, but even he was pretty laid back. No issue with test drives though - last time we couldn't decide between 2 models and he left us with the keys for both and walked away. Another time he lent us an FRV for a weekend after a simple request, didn't grill me about it at all.
I don't seem to have a problem getting test drives - my problem at the moment is trying to get dealers to phone me back with details of a certain car.
It's been nearly 48 hrs since a BMW salesman was going to 'phone me back.
My £40k obviously isn't important to him, so another BMW dealer in the next city, who seems to actually want to sell me one, may well be getting a bonus soon.
It's been nearly 48 hrs since a BMW salesman was going to 'phone me back.
My £40k obviously isn't important to him, so another BMW dealer in the next city, who seems to actually want to sell me one, may well be getting a bonus soon.
PaulG40 said:
I've got to admit that when I was young (21) and as a big rally fan, I'd always wanted to go into a Subaru garage to 'test' an impreza turbo but I never had the balls to ever go in for fear the salesmen would chase me out of there. Wish I had now, would of probably had one by now. 
I'm 19 and got a half hour test drive of the 2011 WRX STi saloon a couple of months back. 
Based mainly on the fact that we've bought 2 cars from them before and they thought they might be able to sell one to my mum...
It's never been a problem. (Except the time I mistakenly thought I might buy an XR2, the Ford dealer said point blank no way he would give me a test drive.)
Of the dealerships I've dealt with Mercedes, BMW, Land Rover, Porsche, Lotus. Not a problem at all. Mercedes were happy to let me have a car for the weekend. Porsche offered me a drive in a 911 Turbo, without even asking after a couple of minute chatting. Lotus salesman put me in an Exige, even though I said I wasn't interested in buying one.
The common pattern however, with the exception of Lotus, was that I'd turned up in the showroom chatted with the sales guys & made arrangements to come back at another time for the test drive in the actual model I was interested in. If I'd demanded the drive on the spot I'm sure the answer would have been no.
Of the dealerships I've dealt with Mercedes, BMW, Land Rover, Porsche, Lotus. Not a problem at all. Mercedes were happy to let me have a car for the weekend. Porsche offered me a drive in a 911 Turbo, without even asking after a couple of minute chatting. Lotus salesman put me in an Exige, even though I said I wasn't interested in buying one.
The common pattern however, with the exception of Lotus, was that I'd turned up in the showroom chatted with the sales guys & made arrangements to come back at another time for the test drive in the actual model I was interested in. If I'd demanded the drive on the spot I'm sure the answer would have been no.
CraigyMc said:
Lucas North said:
VW woman told me they had no demonstrators, even though there was one sat outside, put a brochure in my hand and told me she'd ring me when one came in. Never did get called back.
She's wrong. They are supplied by VW UK. The GTI they lent me had VW Milton Keynes (this is where they are based, I think) plates on it.3 day unaccompanied test drive. I've photos of it kicking about somewhere - it had the nice wheels.
Audi let me have a v6 TT, 2.0TFSI TT, and am A4 with a DSG box (because their 2.0 TT had a manual). All unaccompanied and 4, 3 and 1 day respectively.
ETA: I ended up buying the 2.0 TT.
C
h wasn't interested.For those that have mentioned using manufacturers website, and calling ahead. I did so with Renault also a few years after my bad experiences, thinking it can't be all that bad. The salesman told me over the phone I would have to provide my own insurance if I wanted to drive one of their cars. I was 22 at the time. Told him it wasn't worth the time, effort and money to insure their car for 30mins just because of their laziness.
A different Renault dealership was perfect. Left my cars keys with them to make sure I wasn't just going to bugger off in it and not come back, told me a good route with a mixed bag of roads.
Seems as though some salespeople/dealers just have s
t attitudes, whilst others are great. 
jaydogsmith said:
This might be a bit of a random question but I see people quite regularly saying to test drive many cars before you choose.
I'm currently in the market for a new car (330ci, Mk5 R32 DSG/Manual, A3 3.2) and I'm forever being told to try them out as I can't make up my mind. The problem is, not once have I been offered a test drive in any dealers. This seems to happen whether I turn up in an expensive car wearing a suit or just pop along on a weekend. Whenever I hint and trying one out by either saying I can't make up my mind or if I'm genuinely interested, I get asked to prove I'm willing to buy! Lunacy if you ask me.
So how do you guys do it? What's the inside trick to getting all these test drives?
Hinting you want a test drive, what on earth? Do you goto a restaurant and hint at the waiter you might want some food? Whats wrong with just asking.I'm currently in the market for a new car (330ci, Mk5 R32 DSG/Manual, A3 3.2) and I'm forever being told to try them out as I can't make up my mind. The problem is, not once have I been offered a test drive in any dealers. This seems to happen whether I turn up in an expensive car wearing a suit or just pop along on a weekend. Whenever I hint and trying one out by either saying I can't make up my mind or if I'm genuinely interested, I get asked to prove I'm willing to buy! Lunacy if you ask me.
So how do you guys do it? What's the inside trick to getting all these test drives?
Most garages are happy to give you a test drive if you appear positive about buying the car.
If you're young or a bit scruffy(like me) call ahead tell them which car you're interested in and book.
Lucas North said:
Seems as though some salespeople/dealers just have st attitudes, whilst others are great.
Ha, Im sure it's a sales technique, they treat you as if theres no way you could afford the machinery they're selling hopingto provoke some sort of "ft attitudes, whilst others are great. k you, I'll buy it" response.Jem0911 said:
Soovy said:
Call an make an appointment.
This. I phone up, ask if the car is available and still for sale.
I book an appointment to drive it.
On another occasion a local BMW dealer had a 3 series compact that we were interested in. Drove up in our new A4 Avant to ask for a test drive to see if the children fitted in the back, the pushchair fitted in the boot and Kate liked driving it. Snotty YTS salesboy asks "Are you going to buy it?" I explained that I was hardly going to commit to buying a car we hadn't even sat in, "Well, if you're not going to buy it, you can't have a testdrive". Suffice to say, they will never get my business and I am now predisposed to exclude BMW from my future vehicle choices. I understand that they may well get lots of test pilots, but is a test pilot likely to choose the 318 Compact over an M5?
Some years ago, I gave a friend a lift to collect her morgan. Whilst killing time the salesman asked what I though of the aero 8, I was looking at. I explained I was about 30k short of the asking price. "never mind" he comes back with, "fancy a spin anyway?"
I had a good 30 min drive, including some gentle powerslides on a couple of roundabouts. still not bought one, but the impression of that lovely v8 hauling that little car and the brilliant 'feel' of the whole thing is still with me. (shame bout the cross-eyes of course).
I had a good 30 min drive, including some gentle powerslides on a couple of roundabouts. still not bought one, but the impression of that lovely v8 hauling that little car and the brilliant 'feel' of the whole thing is still with me. (shame bout the cross-eyes of course).
I have to say very dealer dependant. Audi are almost always the biggest twots in my experience even when you rack up in a new CLS.
My mate always buys his toys (ferraris etc) in tatty jeans and sees what response he gets (trouble is he is getting known now so that fun is gone).
I'm looking at a Gallardo and lets just say that even Lamborghini get it wrong.......
My mate always buys his toys (ferraris etc) in tatty jeans and sees what response he gets (trouble is he is getting known now so that fun is gone).
I'm looking at a Gallardo and lets just say that even Lamborghini get it wrong.......
I haven't had a problem getting a test drive but I have rang in advance to make sure its available to go out in.
You must tell them that you're looking at different cars so they don't assume that you're signing up there and then. That way the salesperson won't be dissapointed/annoyed.
You must tell them that you're looking at different cars so they don't assume that you're signing up there and then. That way the salesperson won't be dissapointed/annoyed.
Just thought of the only time I've ever had an issue, and that was the one of the only times I was actually interested in buying a 500. Saw one one on the fiat website, rang the dealer, arranged a test drive, drove down to guildford.... no sign of the car. We waited for about half an hour to see a salesman then:
'Sorry the manager has taken it home, you can test drive this *completely different spec 500* and leave a deposit if you want?'
I thought my dad was going to punch the guy. He wouldn't even admit that a mistake was made and managed to somehow imply that we had turned up at the wrong time. Cue lecture on customer service with a response that implied 'we cant get enough 500s to sell so we're not losing out'.
Compare that to the Fiat dealership in Reading where we were forcibly detained in the showroom until we agreed to take one for a test drive... no wonder they're the dealership that had none left to sell!
'Sorry the manager has taken it home, you can test drive this *completely different spec 500* and leave a deposit if you want?'
I thought my dad was going to punch the guy. He wouldn't even admit that a mistake was made and managed to somehow imply that we had turned up at the wrong time. Cue lecture on customer service with a response that implied 'we cant get enough 500s to sell so we're not losing out'.
Compare that to the Fiat dealership in Reading where we were forcibly detained in the showroom until we agreed to take one for a test drive... no wonder they're the dealership that had none left to sell!
I really can't understand dealers getting arsey about test drives or those on here with the view that it is somehow wrong to expect to be able to drive a car.
Ask yourself what is the point of a dealer network? Servicing aside, which could be facilitated in a number of other ways, the point of a dealership is to present and demonstrate the product to customers. It is similar to the shelves/cabinets in a department store. The customer can see and handle the product in the flesh and ask a member of staff questions about it. Could you imagine if you went into John Lewis and asked to poke around a particular camera and were told, "only if you are going to buy it?!" How absurd! My response would be, "ok, I will....the moment I get home (online)".
Which brings me to my point.... if dealerships cannot perform their function (i.e viewing/poking around/testing/answering questions) then they have no purpose and should not exist. If I cannot enjoy these services from a dealer then I'd rather just save 10% on the cost of the car by ordering directly from the factory and having my vehicle turn up on a flat bed.
Ask yourself what is the point of a dealer network? Servicing aside, which could be facilitated in a number of other ways, the point of a dealership is to present and demonstrate the product to customers. It is similar to the shelves/cabinets in a department store. The customer can see and handle the product in the flesh and ask a member of staff questions about it. Could you imagine if you went into John Lewis and asked to poke around a particular camera and were told, "only if you are going to buy it?!" How absurd! My response would be, "ok, I will....the moment I get home (online)".
Which brings me to my point.... if dealerships cannot perform their function (i.e viewing/poking around/testing/answering questions) then they have no purpose and should not exist. If I cannot enjoy these services from a dealer then I'd rather just save 10% on the cost of the car by ordering directly from the factory and having my vehicle turn up on a flat bed.
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