"Careful sir, this is a very powerful car!"

[Hoofy]

Had that warning before climbing into a... Clio Dynamique 1.4. Had turned up in a skyline.

[Watchman]

Turned up at a Merc dealership in a 400+bhp Cerbera to buy a C-class Merc - a C200 which means it was a 4-cyl 1.8 petrol with a low pressure supercharger (in the early 2000s).


Actually my WIFE drove the Cerb that day, and the C-class purchase was for her. The salesman repeatedly kept looking at me, so I ignored him and looked at my wife, sort of forcing him to deal with her. But when they were discussing whether to go for the 180 or 200 (was probably 15bhp between them) he did ask a question along the lines of has she driven a powerful RWD car before.

We burst out laughing and pointed at the Cerb but he had a blank expression on his face. He couldn't have missed the damned thing when we turned up - it was as loud as Armageddon. Even when my wife explained it was RWD, over double the power of the C200, and a good half a ton lighter, he *still* couldn't acknowledge it so she refused to answer and just told him she wanted the C200 (over the C180). Then she negotiated the best money off deal ever. That's the Poles for you - they don't mind a bit of haggling.

[J4CKO]

I think it is down to people not caring that much and having limited experience of quick cars, their frame of reference for quick is Daves XR3i from 1986, coupled with not keeping abreast of developments, cars have got a lot faster and accesible.

I know we joke about the 135i but it does 0-100 in 11 sec ish, they perhaps had a 16 Valve Golf GTI back in the day that was a quick car, it did 100 in 27 seconds, more than twice the time.

most people dont have an encylopaedic knowledge of performance times, just probably five levels of definition

Very slow, slow, ok, fast, Oh My god.

Sometimes those definitions need recalibrating.


Guy at work had a standard Boxster, proper smoothy he was, nice guy but not a petrolhead, took a couple of peopel out in it and they came back going on about it, same bloke turned to jelly after a ride in a bloody Saab 9-3 with 250 bhp.

[Dracoro]

I remember testing a Caterham SV a good few years ago when thinking of buying that or a Westfield (which I eventually ended up with).

Anyway, I test drove the SV at Caterham as it was near-ish where I was living at the time. Anyway, dealer was nice etc. and as we went for a 10/20 mile test drive he asked what I had driven before etc. and said take it easy for the first few miles while it warms up and get used to it a bit. Anyway, all was going OK gradually getting more confident with the car and starting to enjoy it more and turned round to come back to Caterham. Anyway, there were some B roads going to a DC and I started to push it more, the dealer was obviously happy I wasn't a muppet so started saying "go on sir, give it some gas" which became "oh yes, sir that's it, go go go" as we flew off the roundabout and up the DC. Basically it went from "careful sir" to "give it some beans sir, go for it"

The more I look back at how he was encouraging me to give it some, the more he seemed to be like one of the menswear chaps in the fast show (suit you sir, ooh do you like it sir, go on sir, suit you)

Good salesmanship to an extent (despite not buying from them) as it convinced me to get a lotus 7 type car. After the test drive, I had to have one

[Captainawesome]

SpeckledJim said:

Captainawesome said:

^^^^^ This, taking people who have never been a properly quick car is absolutely hilarious. I think we on PH sometimes take it for granted.

I love hearing the screams when all you are doing is accelerating in a straight line......then the silence and occasional squeak in the corners....and then the shaking when they get out.

It's all about your fast car 'level'.

Reminds of the guy I met a few weeks ago who was telling me his 1.2 polo was a 'proper little rocket'. No mate, no, it's not.

This is exactly what I mean.

Believe it or not, a salesman who doesn't know you from Adam isn't going to be impressed with this on a test drive. He'll probably be scared.

Since there's a small but real chance you're about to kill him, that's understandable.

Sorry, you've misunderstood me.....I've never done this on a test drive unless the salesman has told me to try it out properly. I wouldn't just take a car for a test drive and drive mega fast. It would be inconsiderate.

I was talking about friends (sorry, I did veer off-topic a bit).

[Watchman]

Dracoro said:

I remember testing a Caterham SV a good few years ago when thinking of buying that or a Westfield (which I eventually ended up with).

Anyway, I test drove the SV at Caterham as it was near-ish where I was living at the time. Anyway, dealer was nice etc. and as we went for a 10/20 mile test drive he asked what I had driven before etc. and said take it easy for the first few miles while it warms up and get used to it a bit. Anyway, all was going OK gradually getting more confident with the car and starting to enjoy it more and turned round to come back to Caterham. Anyway, there were some B roads going to a DC and I started to push it more, the dealer was obviously happy I wasn't a muppet so started saying "go on sir, give it some gas" which became "oh yes, sir that's it, go go go" as we flew off the roundabout and up the DC. Basically it went from "careful sir" to "give it some beans sir, go for it"

The more I look back at how he was encouraging me to give it some, the more he seemed to be like one of the menswear chaps in the fast show (suit you sir, ooh do you like it sir, go on sir, suit you)

Good salesmanship to an extent (despite not buying from them) as it convinced me to get a lotus 7 type car. After the test drive, I had to have one

When I bought my first Caterham, I was accompanied by their salesman "Mike". Can't recall his surname, but exactly as described above, once he warmed to me he started complimenting my toe-and-heel changes, then advised me to "press on" a bit more.

That was one of the best days of my life, and he was a lovely gent who acknowledged his job was easy as the cars practically sold themselves. I bought it on the spot..!!

[SpeckledJim]

Pepperami said:

I laughed and then test drove the st out of that thing.

Then, when the salesman could speak again, I bought it.

What a guy.

Anyone wondering why test drives in fruity cars can be hard to come by?

^^^ That's why.

[McWigglebum4th]

Watchman said:

When I bought my first Caterham, I was accompanied by their salesman "Mike". Can't recall his surname, but exactly as described above, once he warmed to me he started complimenting my toe-and-heel changes, then advised me to "press on" a bit more.

That was one of the best days of my life, and he was a lovely gent who acknowledged his job was easy as the cars practically sold themselves. I bought it on the spot..!!

I owned a caterham

An ex racing caterham

Turned up in said caterham with full roll cage and the general look of a slightly tired race car


The sales person came along on the test drive and sat in the back as the wife was with me

While toddling along on the test drive we heard the immortal line

"Think how exciting this car could make your life!"


the car

a 3 door Toyota aygo

[Pepperami]

SpeckledJim said:

Pepperami said:

I laughed and then test drove the st out of that thing.

Then, when the salesman could speak again, I bought it.

What a guy.

Anyone wondering why test drives in fruity cars can be hard to come by?

^^^ That's why.

Excellent of you to quote my post entirely out of context. I drove smoothly, progressively and entirely in keeping with the system of car control and roadcraft as per my advanced driver training. Somehow, despite obvious visual clues, the salesman thought I would be unable drive a car with any decent level of power. I test drove it hard and well. At no point did I drive like a tt. Thank you for your assumption.

[delboy735]

it's not confined to salesmen treating customers that way, although was once told at an Audi garage, that the RS5 was "the car for real men"...despite arriving in a 400bhp Impreza. My old boss at a Toyota garage ordered my new company car, and upon giving me the keys, said "be careful because this is a quick car"..........the car ???? A Toyota Yaris SR 1.3.......at the time, for the first few days I used my own personal car, a BMW 730 V8 !! Odd comment really.

[Impasse]

Pepperami said:

SpeckledJim said:

Pepperami said:

I laughed and then test drove the st out of that thing.

Then, when the salesman could speak again, I bought it.

What a guy.

Anyone wondering why test drives in fruity cars can be hard to come by?

^^^ That's why.

Excellent of you to quote my post entirely out of context. I drove smoothly, progressively and entirely in keeping with the system of car control and roadcraft as per my advanced driver training. Somehow, despite obvious visual clues, the salesman thought I would be unable drive a car with any decent level of power. I test drove it hard and well. At no point did I drive like a tt. Thank you for your assumption.

Was he in awe of your steering wheel shuffling technique? Is that why he couldn't speak afterwards?

[Pepperami]

Impasse said:

Pepperami said:

SpeckledJim said:

Pepperami said:

I laughed and then test drove the st out of that thing.

Then, when the salesman could speak again, I bought it.

What a guy.

Anyone wondering why test drives in fruity cars can be hard to come by?

^^^ That's why.

Excellent of you to quote my post entirely out of context. I drove smoothly, progressively and entirely in keeping with the system of car control and roadcraft as per my advanced driver training. Somehow, despite obvious visual clues, the salesman thought I would be unable drive a car with any decent level of power. I test drove it hard and well. At no point did I drive like a tt. Thank you for your assumption.

Was he in awe of your steering wheel shuffling technique? Is that why he couldn't speak afterwards?

Doubtful, does anyone really look in awe at a shuffling man? I think it was a mix of surprise and perhaps initially a bit of nervousness. Of course, the actual not speaking part of the story should be taken for what it is. I doubt even the most committed driver could leave a car salesman with an inability to form words. If you insist on remaining entirely factual he did speak after we got out of the car. Many words, a few compliments, but mostly sales patter.

There, is that better? I apologise for daring to embellish.

[jayemm89]

I also get quite entertained by some people equating engine capacity with potency.

I'd say my most recent relevant experience was finding a new car for my gran. She wanted a Vauxhall Mokka (don't ask), the petrol was pitifully slow, so I found a 1.7 Turbodiesel to try.

The sales lady said "it's pretty fast isn't it?" before asking "what are you driving?"

I didn't want to break her heart so just said "Oh a BMW"

She pressed, asking what the capacity of the engine was. She went a bit quiet when I told her 4.4 litres.

To give her her due, she pretty quickly retracted her statement about the Mokka being fast.

[SpeckledJim]

Pepperami said:

SpeckledJim said:

Pepperami said:

I laughed and then test drove the st out of that thing.

Then, when the salesman could speak again, I bought it.

What a guy.

Anyone wondering why test drives in fruity cars can be hard to come by?

^^^ That's why.

Excellent of you to quote my post entirely out of context. I drove smoothly, progressively and entirely in keeping with the system of car control and roadcraft as per my advanced driver training. Somehow, despite obvious visual clues, the salesman thought I would be unable drive a car with any decent level of power. I test drove it hard and well. At no point did I drive like a tt. Thank you for your assumption.

If you're a good driver, it's rude to drive in a manner that leaves someone speechless. Especially someone who hasn't really volunteered to be there, and even more so in someone else's car.

If you're a poor driver, then the above still applies. Doubly so.

Everyone thinks they're a good driver. I'm sure your high opinion of your driving is correct, and the salesman who has seen al manner of drivers from the passenger seat, but whom you left speechless would agree that your driving is of a high standard.

[budfox]

Had none of this nonsense when I px'd my Z4 3.0 for a Nissan Leaf.

[celicawrc]

StottyEvo said:

I recall reading a story on here or somebody who was trying for a test drive in a GTR. He was repeatedly told by different salesman that it was too fast to handle and I believe they declined a test drive.

He had turned up in an Aventador

To be fair, the GTR would blow the Lambo into the weeds.

[Pepperami]

SpeckledJim said:

Pepperami said:

SpeckledJim said:

Pepperami said:

I laughed and then test drove the st out of that thing.

Then, when the salesman could speak again, I bought it.

What a guy.

Anyone wondering why test drives in fruity cars can be hard to come by?

^^^ That's why.

Excellent of you to quote my post entirely out of context. I drove smoothly, progressively and entirely in keeping with the system of car control and roadcraft as per my advanced driver training. Somehow, despite obvious visual clues, the salesman thought I would be unable drive a car with any decent level of power. I test drove it hard and well. At no point did I drive like a tt. Thank you for your assumption.

If you're a good driver, it's rude to drive in a manner that leaves someone speechless. Especially someone who hasn't really volunteered to be there, and even more so in someone else's car.

If you're a poor driver, then the above still applies. Doubly so.

Everyone thinks they're a good driver. I'm sure your high opinion of your driving is correct, and the salesman who has seen al manner of drivers from the passenger seat, but whom you left speechless would agree that your driving is of a high standard.

You once again failed to quote everything I have said and obviously take things far too literally and seriously. Do you starch your underpants too? To continue your theme, instead of taking your last post as the sarcastic comment it was undoubtedly supposed to be, I'll take it completely literally. As such I'll say this:- Thankyou. I am awesome, aren't I

[TorqueVR]

Yes, we had the "powerful car warning" but with long term unintended consequences.

15 years ago (long before I'd even heard of Pistonheads) my wife and I had always had pretty standard family cars. She had a Rover 416 and I at the time had a Mazda Xedos 9 (told you!). I went to the dealer to collect mine from a service and fell in love with a used red RX7 in the showroom. I knew nothing about sports cars, and absolutely bugger all about rotary engines but I knew a good looking car when I saw one. I told SWMBO and we ended up going to look at it, god knows why it was useless as her car with 2 kids still at school and at £20,000 it was £15,000 more than anything she'd ever had before. It really was barking mad. The salesman eyed us up, gave us the keys and told us to come back in an hour - and be careful its a very powerful car! For those of you who know Bristol she pulled on the the M32 at J2, stuck her foot down and screamed all the way up the slip road as the turbos cut it. A 3 year finance deal and it was on our drive two days later. She had that, a Celica and an RX8 over the 12 years and for the lat 7 I've had a TVR and then 2 M3s as weekend cars. All because of the Mazda salesman's attitude.

[mrtwisty]

celicawrc said:

StottyEvo said:

I recall reading a story on here or somebody who was trying for a test drive in a GTR. He was repeatedly told by different salesman that it was too fast to handle and I believe they declined a test drive.

He had turned up in an Aventador

To be fair, the GTR would blow the Lambo into the weeds.

<insert incredulous owl meme here>

[Mark-C]

mrtwisty said:

celicawrc said:

StottyEvo said:

I recall reading a story on here or somebody who was trying for a test drive in a GTR. He was repeatedly told by different salesman that it was too fast to handle and I believe they declined a test drive.

He had turned up in an Aventador

To be fair, the GTR would blow the Lambo into the weeds.

<insert incredulous owl meme here>