Pointless Test Drives
Discussion
IanCress said:
RushDom said:
Not quite the same thing, but I had a saleswoman at a large Ford franchise dealership *cough*
*cough* flatly refuse me a test drive in a 1.0 Zetec Fiesta because I wasn't interested in purchasing a car that day. For clarity, we were looking at leasing a car - not buying a specific used model or anything.
Needless to say, we went to our local independent Ford instead where the salesman handed us the keys and told me and my dad to take as long as we wanted.
And was this salesman rewarded with a sale / lease contract?*cough* flatly refuse me a test drive in a 1.0 Zetec Fiesta because I wasn't interested in purchasing a car that day. For clarity, we were looking at leasing a car - not buying a specific used model or anything. Needless to say, we went to our local independent Ford instead where the salesman handed us the keys and told me and my dad to take as long as we wanted.
Edited by RushDom on Tuesday 17th January 13:37
The whole purpose of a "test drive" is to test the car. To see if you, as the potential customer, feel that you can live with the car on a day-to-day basis. A truly pointless testdrive would be one that takes place after agreeing to buy the damned car first.
Me: "I'd like to test drive the new Mondeo please."
Dealer: "Certainly sir. Just sign this vehicle order form first, and we'll get the keys..."
Me: "Errrrm? Really? You want me to agree to buy it, before I test drive it? Good day to you..."
If the dealership has such little faith in the ability of their product to sell itself during a test drive, then I'm going to have no faith in it either. And certainly not enough to take a blind leap of faith and order it in the hope that I can get on with it. I'd not be shy of telling the salesman if I was dissatisfied with the duration or content of a test drive either. If I'm buying a car to plod up and down motorways all week, I NEED to drive it on at least a NSL dual carriageway to assess it's suitability for the job. Pootling around the bypass at 40mph just won't cut it.
I've always bought outright, and bought used. Last time out it was a 6 month old Mondeo. After a decent test drive, which I had to book for another day, I decided to buy the car. Then, because it was a Ford dealership, and there was a big row of similar cars, I got to cherry-pick some bits'n'bobs from the other cars. Mats, bootliners, the choice between a full sized spare, a space saver, or a repair kit compressor thing. I think it's called customer service. It's why people go to dealerships rather than buying blind on the internet.
But the big objection I have to your question is the presumption that being given a test drive somehow obliges one to make the purchase there and then. Sometimes a test drive reveals that a car just cannot be lived with. Gearing too long, too short, engine or tyre noise excessive at cruising speed, handling foibles, wind noise, seats that you just cannot adjust to fit your fat carcass. So sometimes the point of a test drive is to trim a shortlist down to a few final contenders. Sometimes, comfort and the way a car drives really are the only differences that matter in the decision to buy.
romeogolf said:
Seems very hit-and-miss.
I've test-driven a MINI three times.
First time was the old model and as it was the roadster, my partner and I were allowed out for the afternoon. When the new model came out we tried it and it was a very brief supervised drive. We felt we wanted a longer test, so booked a 24-hour test drive and had the car from 10am Saturday until Sunday lunch-time.
When I test-drove an SLK, it was a supervised one but the salesperson didn't tell me where to go, just let me drive it with him for an hour. I've had a solo drive in an Audi A1 as well, but when we tried a VW Polo the salesperson came with us.
so what did you buy?I've test-driven a MINI three times.
First time was the old model and as it was the roadster, my partner and I were allowed out for the afternoon. When the new model came out we tried it and it was a very brief supervised drive. We felt we wanted a longer test, so booked a 24-hour test drive and had the car from 10am Saturday until Sunday lunch-time.
When I test-drove an SLK, it was a supervised one but the salesperson didn't tell me where to go, just let me drive it with him for an hour. I've had a solo drive in an Audi A1 as well, but when we tried a VW Polo the salesperson came with us.
Depends on your commitment to purchase. When I first went to look at my ST I got 5-10 mins on a d/c. Once I'd made a commitment in was offered an extended unaccompanied test drive before the final purchase was made / paperwork signed.
I feel for dealerships. There must be so many walts / test pilots out there.
I feel for dealerships. There must be so many walts / test pilots out there.
When I used to work for Vauxhall, our test drive route was 15 miles long!
Involved 30mph, dual carriageway, roundabouts, and a big layby exactly halfway along for driver changes (if husband/wife etc).
I'd always say to the customer if they were happy with the route, if they were local and wanted to deviate why not!
Involved 30mph, dual carriageway, roundabouts, and a big layby exactly halfway along for driver changes (if husband/wife etc).
I'd always say to the customer if they were happy with the route, if they were local and wanted to deviate why not!
yellowjack said:
IanCress said:
RushDom said:
Not quite the same thing, but I had a saleswoman at a large Ford franchise dealership *cough*TrustFord*cough* flatly refuse me a test drive in a 1.0 Zetec Fiesta because I wasn't interested in purchasing a car that day. For clarity, we were looking at leasing a car - not buying a specific used model or anything.
Needless to say, we went to our local independent Ford instead where the salesman handed us the keys and told me and my dad to take as long as we wanted.
And was this salesman rewarded with a sale / lease contract?Needless to say, we went to our local independent Ford instead where the salesman handed us the keys and told me and my dad to take as long as we wanted.
Edited by RushDom on Tuesday 17th January 13:37
The whole purpose of a "test drive" is to test the car. To see if you, as the potential customer, feel that you can live with the car on a day-to-day basis. A truly pointless testdrive would be one that takes place after agreeing to buy the damned car first.
Me: "I'd like to test drive the new Mondeo please."
Dealer: "Certainly sir. Just sign this vehicle order form first, and we'll get the keys..."
Me: "Errrrm? Really? You want me to agree to buy it, before I test drive it? Good day to you..."
It's natural to want to drive a car before committing to it, but put yourself in the used car salesperson's (Primark) shoes. You're stood there and someone says that they want a test drive on a used car they have no intention of buying that day, but want to see what it's like to order one on lease.
Would you use your (commission-based) time to take him out?
Granted, the salesperson could be a little more enterprising and if there was a lease section, direct them to there. However I don't think you can blame them for vetting test drives.
If a new customer asked me for a meeting at work, but told me they weren't interested in doing a deal and wanted a product I didn't offer, I would direct them somewhere else within the business or refuse. Same principle.
few years ago, I bought an impreza from Subaru. the initial drive we did together. the second time I went back, he handed me the keys and told me to take as long as I wanted- on my own.
Obviously I was then thrashing it and seeing what it could do. this is also rural yorkshire, so plenty of lovely roads to have fun on, as oppose to a city somewhere.
Ironically I passed- quite sedately by chance- 3 motorcycle coppers parked up at the side of the road, having a chat/rest/fag whatever.
I reckon a few minutes later I would probably have been tearing past them at great speed and giving myself a few points. phew
anyway I loved and bought the car.
Obviously I was then thrashing it and seeing what it could do. this is also rural yorkshire, so plenty of lovely roads to have fun on, as oppose to a city somewhere.
Ironically I passed- quite sedately by chance- 3 motorcycle coppers parked up at the side of the road, having a chat/rest/fag whatever.
I reckon a few minutes later I would probably have been tearing past them at great speed and giving myself a few points. phew
anyway I loved and bought the car.
Pointless can doubled sided.. I remember my old neighbour yoused to regularly book test drives at weekend's some 24 hour ones with absolutely no intention of buying,he'd even put on a suit and tell every one in the pub he'd drivin this and driven that but the best of all he was going to a wedding and managed to get a top of the range Lexus for the weekend... in the 4/5 years i lived there he changed his car once and bought that privately..in hindsight a complete tt..
t..My ex took a Focus ST out, the worst test drive I have ever been on. Basically took her around the Bridgend engine plant which is full of speed bumps, he kept telling her it was the fastest car shes driven, probably never experienced anything like it etc. I then got fed up and chipped in from the back and informed him that she drove my old RS regularly , he seemed to ignore this and continued patronising her.
She stormed out after the test drive and bought one from a different dealership. Bloke was a massive bellend.
She stormed out after the test drive and bought one from a different dealership. Bloke was a massive bellend.
Told a salesman at a MB dealer in Newcastle , I'd want to take an e class out for a couple of hours to which he agreed, when I returned on a pre set appointment I handed him the keys for him to appraise my BMW when I'm away , he then told me it was an accompined drive on a pre set route , didn't drive it , no apology for making a mistake on the agreement.
Fast forward two years and my son pre booked a test drive in an AMG A45 , turned up , no car available, salesman reluctantly took him out in a three year old car and basically couldn't be interested.
Not surprised at all to find out it was the same salesman.
End result , no e class for me back into another 5 series , A45 purchased from the same group of garages 40 miles away , both salesman were on the ball.
Vote with your feet it's the only way.
Fast forward two years and my son pre booked a test drive in an AMG A45 , turned up , no car available, salesman reluctantly took him out in a three year old car and basically couldn't be interested.
Not surprised at all to find out it was the same salesman.
End result , no e class for me back into another 5 series , A45 purchased from the same group of garages 40 miles away , both salesman were on the ball.
Vote with your feet it's the only way.
Porsche:
Gave me an unlimited test drive anywhere I wanted to go.
Followed up over the next couple of months with:
- an afternoon's driving session at Chobham circuit.
- a track day at Silverstone (before the Porsche centre was built).
- lending me a tricked up 911 for a weekend, unlimited mileage.
Aston Martin:
Took me around Walton on Thames for half an hour. Didn't get out of third gear.
Didn't follow up.
Guess which one I bought (eventually)?
Gave me an unlimited test drive anywhere I wanted to go.
Followed up over the next couple of months with:
- an afternoon's driving session at Chobham circuit.
- a track day at Silverstone (before the Porsche centre was built).
- lending me a tricked up 911 for a weekend, unlimited mileage.
Aston Martin:
Took me around Walton on Thames for half an hour. Didn't get out of third gear.
Didn't follow up.
Guess which one I bought (eventually)?
I've always found the quality and duration of any test drive to be proportional to the price of the car. Bought an old Vectra shed years ago, test drive was over in 5 minutes, but then I only paid £500 for the car.
Years ago me and the Mrs test drove a brand new Mazda RX8, salesman handed over the keys and left us to it. Being quite young at the time we didn't think to ask how long or far we could take it, and the salesman didn't say. We were probably gone about 30 minutes, but could see the look of relief on the salesman's face when we got back. Apparently it was only supposed to be 15-20 minutes
More recently test drove a new focus, the salesman insisted he accompanied us on the test drive. Despite taking us on a predetermined route, he was quite happy for us to give it the beans, which included Mrs CC managing to spin the wheels in 3rd a few times
Years ago me and the Mrs test drove a brand new Mazda RX8, salesman handed over the keys and left us to it. Being quite young at the time we didn't think to ask how long or far we could take it, and the salesman didn't say. We were probably gone about 30 minutes, but could see the look of relief on the salesman's face when we got back. Apparently it was only supposed to be 15-20 minutes
More recently test drove a new focus, the salesman insisted he accompanied us on the test drive. Despite taking us on a predetermined route, he was quite happy for us to give it the beans, which included Mrs CC managing to spin the wheels in 3rd a few times
andymc said:
not really the salesman's fault, nearly all garages have a test route the salesman are meant to take, if you start hanging the car's arse out around the bends he would just take the car off you, think this topic has been covered may times before, it's a no win situation
Andy
I don't think the OP expected that, I know I certainly wouldn't. What we do expect though is a test drive encompassing a range of roads representative of our intended daily use of the car.Andy
I'm not willing to part with a substantial amount of money for a car without first trying it on C or B roads, A roads and a short stretch of 70mph limit DC/Mway. Without that I won't buy a car, no matter how good reviews or a salesman say it is.
Corpulent Tosser said:
Best was when I was looking for a TVR and test drove two from a dealer in a town called Hexham, the sales chappie gave me the keys to the first one and said he would get the other fuelled up while I was away, he also gave me a recommended route to take
I bet that was a long time ago. Their former sister store was persuaded to lend someone a Tuscan for an unaccompanied TD about 15 years ago and the idiot started racing on the A59 and caused a serious accident with injuries. They didn't do unaccompanied drives after that.There was a salesman in Illinois who was carjacked on a TD and left beaten up on a quiet road. Fortunately he was on the regular test drive route and when he didn't come back and didn't answer his phone they went looking for him and found him. I've been on courses where sales people are told to stick to a known route for that reason. I don't know any new car dealership where we are in the US that allows unaccompanied TD's. For one thing most insurance companies don't allow it for liability reasons. I have a route I use that is about 5 miles, takes in faster stretches, twistyish bits and some city roads and it's perfectly adequate for most people. If someone specifically wants to go on the highway I'll take them. I always make sure they understand that any speeding tickets are theirs. If anyone drives dangerously fast i'll politely ask them to slow down or pull over (happens rarely).
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