Test drive etiquette
Discussion
This thread will not end well. Everyone with a gripe against car sales staff will pile in. Everyone in car sales will become ultra defensive and start mumbling about "qualifying" people for sales.
My basis on whether to test drive a car is if a test drive is offered. Of course, if you don't offer one, you'll not see me or my money again...
My basis on whether to test drive a car is if a test drive is offered. Of course, if you don't offer one, you'll not see me or my money again...
With regards buying a used car I feel you should only be requesting a test drive having already decided if the car is for you and you are ready to buy.
I see very little point in looking at a car picking out multiple things you dislike about it and then driving it just to confirm you don't want it.
By all means if everything else is positive and you are happy with what you have seen then get in it and drive it and if you like it and it drives right buy it before someone else does.
I see very little point in looking at a car picking out multiple things you dislike about it and then driving it just to confirm you don't want it.
By all means if everything else is positive and you are happy with what you have seen then get in it and drive it and if you like it and it drives right buy it before someone else does.
markmullen said:
No one is worried about a demo to ensure you like the car, that makes perfect sense.
The OP says he wouldn't buy the car, and has decided that before even driving it.
100% this^.The OP says he wouldn't buy the car, and has decided that before even driving it.
I've never worked in car sales but have had other sales roles, and no matter whether I am the salesman or the customer, that is how I would approach things.
OP has said he wouldn't buy it because he doesn't like the colour. Well find one in the right colour and all the other bits that you want & go take that one for a test drive. At least that way you might buy that one, but to go and put miles on, waste fuel & the time of the salesman who's car you are not going to buy is such a selfish thing to do that I can't even get my head around how anyone would think that's acceptable.
Centurion07 said:
markmullen said:
No one is worried about a demo to ensure you like the car, that makes perfect sense.
The OP says he wouldn't buy the car, and has decided that before even driving it.
100% this^.The OP says he wouldn't buy the car, and has decided that before even driving it.
I've never worked in car sales but have had other sales roles, and no matter whether I am the salesman or the customer, that is how I would approach things.
OP has said he wouldn't buy it because he doesn't like the colour. Well find one in the right colour and all the other bits that you want & go take that one for a test drive. At least that way you might buy that one, but to go and put miles on, waste fuel & the time of the salesman who's car you are not going to buy is such a selfish thing to do that I can't even get my head around how anyone would think that's acceptable.
k.I reckon the key to getting a testdrive is do stuff in the right order, know if you are or are not trading in, have the trade in with you, and dont be a dick. The last one being the most important one. I suspect those of you who have issues getting a testdrive, might just be swaggering in with a stty know it all attitude. It is very seldom i refuse a testdrive, but it does happen, and its usualy to the type that view it as the most important and first thing to do. For some reason people love wasting time looking at cars they wouldnt buy. If its a certain colour/spec/ mileage/condition before you drive it, it isnt going to be any different afterwards. So why bother? I am there to try and sell, so if you are there to try and buy, there is no problem. if its a car you would buy, you can drive it all day if you want. If it isnt a car you would buy, then dont wate my time, and go and find one you would buy and drive it.
tty know it all attitude. It is very seldom i refuse a testdrive, but it does happen, and its usualy to the type that view it as the most important and first thing to do. For some reason people love wasting time looking at cars they wouldnt buy. If its a certain colour/spec/ mileage/condition before you drive it, it isnt going to be any different afterwards. So why bother? I am there to try and sell, so if you are there to try and buy, there is no problem. if its a car you would buy, you can drive it all day if you want. If it isnt a car you would buy, then dont wate my time, and go and find one you would buy and drive it.Tbh I think it will come down to the person you speak to and possibly a bit of the marque thrown in.
I've been in several Lexus dealers and with nothing more than "I'm considering changing" I've been offered test drives and on one occasion thrown the keys for a couple of hours.
That's why they have demonstrators IMO it's a cost of doing business though I would qualify that by adding I was considering changing I wasn't simply tyre kicking.
That said I've also been thrown the keys to a brand new MX-5 and told "bring it back in a couple of hours" when I was tyre kicking and was totally honest about it.
So long as you're honest I would suggest that any salesperson worth his salary will take the view that you may not buy that car, on that day, but hopefully they'll see that you might come back.
I've been in several Lexus dealers and with nothing more than "I'm considering changing" I've been offered test drives and on one occasion thrown the keys for a couple of hours.
That's why they have demonstrators IMO it's a cost of doing business though I would qualify that by adding I was considering changing I wasn't simply tyre kicking.
That said I've also been thrown the keys to a brand new MX-5 and told "bring it back in a couple of hours" when I was tyre kicking and was totally honest about it.
So long as you're honest I would suggest that any salesperson worth his salary will take the view that you may not buy that car, on that day, but hopefully they'll see that you might come back.
markmullen said:
MDMetal said:
But how sure is the OP? is he 100% or 95% sure he won't buy? He's said colour is an issue but has he checked to see how common his chosen colour is? Personally if the car was immaculate I'd go for a colour I didn't love vs the right colour but chipped and worn to st. Your applying a very binary view of the situation.
I'm applying a binary view based on the OP lacking such confidence that he'll buy the car that he took to the internet to ask advice and stated he was unlikely to buy it, which, in absence of further information, is pretty compelling I'd say.t. Your applying a very binary view of the situation.That happened to me when I bought the used Merc I mentioned earlier. In some ways their keen-ness to sell me the car was a bit scary compared to other encounters!
I don't see the problem with test driving a few cars you are interested in to see which one you like best.
I work in commercial property and regularly carry out tendering exercises to allow my clients to make a commercial decision over whether they want to go ahead with the project. The contractors have to spend time preparing a tender inc paying an estimator/QS, making a site visit, contacting sub-contractors who have to do the same. It is an industry standard thing, they lose some and win some but it's what they need to do to get work.
Based on the above (and looking at the profit margins proportionately) I don't think 30 mins of a salespersons time is an unreasonable investment for a garage in order to tout for business. I'd be prepared to reimburse the garage for fuel used if I didn't go ahead with the car.
I work in commercial property and regularly carry out tendering exercises to allow my clients to make a commercial decision over whether they want to go ahead with the project. The contractors have to spend time preparing a tender inc paying an estimator/QS, making a site visit, contacting sub-contractors who have to do the same. It is an industry standard thing, they lose some and win some but it's what they need to do to get work.
Based on the above (and looking at the profit margins proportionately) I don't think 30 mins of a salespersons time is an unreasonable investment for a garage in order to tout for business. I'd be prepared to reimburse the garage for fuel used if I didn't go ahead with the car.
I've never had an issue getting a test drive. In fact Everytime I've taken my old 197 in for a service I got chatting to a salesperson and they would show me a different model (I do like my Renaultsports)
Cars wipers died on my last month so I stopped in Renault around the corner from work and got a price on some bits for it.
Service guy clocked the car I was driving and dropped the oh we have a new Megane 275 in (id already notices it as I came in)
Half an hour later I was out test driving it, even though I gave no indication I was into buying it. Next day I came back and brought it. Having driven a few (a 200t a 200 raider etc) this car just felt right.
I think most dealers have a good feel for their customers and if you show a genuine interest then they don't mind interacting with you, allowing you to have a look around and occasionally drive a car.
Just be honest with them. Main dealers tend to be a bit more lenient with their test drives in my experience.
Then again, female and into cars, I could just be lucky with the salespeople I've interacted with.
Cars wipers died on my last month so I stopped in Renault around the corner from work and got a price on some bits for it.
Service guy clocked the car I was driving and dropped the oh we have a new Megane 275 in (id already notices it as I came in)
Half an hour later I was out test driving it, even though I gave no indication I was into buying it. Next day I came back and brought it. Having driven a few (a 200t a 200 raider etc) this car just felt right.
I think most dealers have a good feel for their customers and if you show a genuine interest then they don't mind interacting with you, allowing you to have a look around and occasionally drive a car.
Just be honest with them. Main dealers tend to be a bit more lenient with their test drives in my experience.
Then again, female and into cars, I could just be lucky with the salespeople I've interacted with.
As regards test driving a car in the wrong colour. I've been offered test drives in cars 'the wrong colour'. The dealers logic being - if I liked the car, he could source the same car in other colours within the group. I'd only see this as being a bit wky if you're asking a small independent dealer who clearly hasn't easy access to anything other than what's on his forecourt.
ky if you're asking a small independent dealer who clearly hasn't easy access to anything other than what's on his forecourt.twing said:
All of this x 10. Esp the fuel and the salesman's time, also the added miles on the car. I have, many times, told customers to go and hire one for the day and if he likes it I'll take the cost of the rental off the price. Let's all be honest, a "quick spin" isn't worth a wk.
Amazing how many never do.k.I'm not sure the comparison to tendering is valid. For starters you tender for things you actually have a chance of winning, or there is some other indirect benefit involved (eg. forging or maintaining an otherwise valuable relationship).
The difference is that the OP has no intention of buying the car the salesman is selling. The colour isn't right for him. That's a pretty big show stopper and won't change with any test drive experience.
All this dancing around doesn't alter the fact that the OP wants to abuse the goodwill of a dealer simply because it's more convenient than actually finding a car in the right colour - God forbid it's not on his doorstep and he has to inconvenience himself to view it - that he actually might buy.
Regardless of feelings about sales tactics and hard sells I wouldn't want anyone wasting my time professionally so naturally (or maybe not? It seems some people are quite happy to be duplicitous) I wouldn't waste theirs.
The difference is that the OP has no intention of buying the car the salesman is selling. The colour isn't right for him. That's a pretty big show stopper and won't change with any test drive experience.
All this dancing around doesn't alter the fact that the OP wants to abuse the goodwill of a dealer simply because it's more convenient than actually finding a car in the right colour - God forbid it's not on his doorstep and he has to inconvenience himself to view it - that he actually might buy.
Regardless of feelings about sales tactics and hard sells I wouldn't want anyone wasting my time professionally so naturally (or maybe not? It seems some people are quite happy to be duplicitous) I wouldn't waste theirs.
Edited by Durzel on Wednesday 20th May 23:17
The most succesful salesman are the ones who qualify customers quickly and prioritise the serious ones.
I ran a "supercar" dealership and you cannot imagine the amount of people who thought they were going to drive three different species of exotica on a saturday morning having walked in unnanounced off the street.
BMW dealership in a big city had such a problem with a large financial institutions hundreds of company car buyers taking up staffs time wanting test drives for cars they couldnt supply (all supplied by a dealership 100 miles away at a stupid level of discount and contrcted to them to buy) the DP wrote to them and said they would not do anything more than supply them with a brochure, that pissed off Mr and Mrs turning up with their pram, pushchair, buggy and three kids expecting to drive various cars on their "list".
I have a rule, anyone turning up with a clipboard is automatically barred from driving anything!
Can see how it could be very annoying and time wasting from a dealers perspective.
I've found quite a few dealers offered a test-drive even though I'd explained I was just slightly interested in a specific car, or came to see if the dog would fit in etc., one I even categorically told I wouldn't buy the car and he continued to offer a test drive lol.
I had to ask at the last car I bought, but I walked into an MB dealer in old jeans and a t-shirt unannounced and after a quick look round the car was pretty happy with it - so wanted to get on with it. lol.
I've found quite a few dealers offered a test-drive even though I'd explained I was just slightly interested in a specific car, or came to see if the dog would fit in etc., one I even categorically told I wouldn't buy the car and he continued to offer a test drive lol.
I had to ask at the last car I bought, but I walked into an MB dealer in old jeans and a t-shirt unannounced and after a quick look round the car was pretty happy with it - so wanted to get on with it. lol.
The dealer was most unimpressed when I claimed on their insurance.
Durzel said:
I'm not sure the comparison to tendering is valid. For starters you tender for things you actually have a chance of winning, or there is some other indirect benefit involved (eg. forging or maintaining an otherwise valuable relationship).
The difference is that the OP has no intention of buying the car the salesman is selling. The colour isn't right for him. That's a pretty big show stopper and won't change with any test drive experience.
Generally in sales you welcome any opportunity to engage with potential customers, and the OP is looking to buy a car, so he fits that criteria.The difference is that the OP has no intention of buying the car the salesman is selling. The colour isn't right for him. That's a pretty big show stopper and won't change with any test drive experience.
POORCARDEALER said:
BMW dealership in a big city had such a problem with a large financial institutions hundreds of company car buyers taking up staffs time wanting test drives for cars they couldnt supply (all supplied by a dealership 100 miles away at a stupid level of discount and contrcted to them to buy) the DP wrote to them and said they would not do anything more than supply them with a brochure, that pissed off Mr and Mrs turning up with their pram, pushchair, buggy and three kids expecting to drive various cars on their "list".
We had similar thing with Audi - the only way to get a test drive was to call Audi UK and get them to instruct the local dealer to do it, and certainly my local one made it very clear they weren't happy about being forced to do it. That encounter has tarred my opinion of Audi for ever.OTOH Mercedes Corporate drove a brand-new car to my house and left it for a few days. Bought one.
Sheepshanks said:
POORCARDEALER said:
BMW dealership in a big city had such a problem with a large financial institutions hundreds of company car buyers taking up staffs time wanting test drives for cars they couldnt supply (all supplied by a dealership 100 miles away at a stupid level of discount and contrcted to them to buy) the DP wrote to them and said they would not do anything more than supply them with a brochure, that pissed off Mr and Mrs turning up with their pram, pushchair, buggy and three kids expecting to drive various cars on their "list".
We had similar thing with Audi - the only way to get a test drive was to call Audi UK and get them to instruct the local dealer to do it, and certainly my local one made it very clear they weren't happy about being forced to do it. That encounter has tarred my opinion of Audi for ever.OTOH Mercedes Corporate drove a brand-new car to my house and left it for a few days. Bought one.
Sheepshanks said:
We had similar thing with Audi - the only way to get a test drive was to call Audi UK and get them to instruct the local dealer to do it, and certainly my local one made it very clear they weren't happy about being forced to do it. That encounter has tarred my opinion of Audi for ever.
OTOH Mercedes Corporate drove a brand-new car to my house and left it for a few days. Bought one.
Audi did that for me. A red S5. Except they messed up the paperwork and left it for 13 days, not 3. I rang them and they - oh well, keep it, we haven't got anyone else waiting... OTOH Mercedes Corporate drove a brand-new car to my house and left it for a few days. Bought one.
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