Dealer Test Drive Etiquette?
Discussion
I love this thread, when I went to buy my DBS 4 years ago in Grange Welwyn Garden city, I caught the Sleeper down from Aberdeen to London then got another train and a taxi to Grange, I do love winding folk up so my usual scruffy attire is untied trainers, hoody etc. I was almost thrown out, when they asked why I was there. Ahem can I speak to Martin please, just hear to pick up my car.
It is very funny what people percieve
It is very funny what people percieve
Well here is my 2p worth.
Passing Grange Exeter on my way to Cornwall for the weekend, popped into see what they had on the off chance. Within ten minutes of looking at the stock on their forecourt, the salesman, I shall call him (LN) popped out to ask if I wanted to drive a V8V that I was then looking at. Half an hour later we returned from a test drive, a price was then negotiated and thirty minutes after that I was back on the A30 going to Cornwall. I like to be random and when I got up that morning I had no specific intention of buying a car that day, but I did fancy one. The salesman made the very most of a decent opportunity with no pre booked appointment or notice. I would add that I have bought cars from him since as he fits my buying style, if that makes sense.
Passing Grange Exeter on my way to Cornwall for the weekend, popped into see what they had on the off chance. Within ten minutes of looking at the stock on their forecourt, the salesman, I shall call him (LN) popped out to ask if I wanted to drive a V8V that I was then looking at. Half an hour later we returned from a test drive, a price was then negotiated and thirty minutes after that I was back on the A30 going to Cornwall. I like to be random and when I got up that morning I had no specific intention of buying a car that day, but I did fancy one. The salesman made the very most of a decent opportunity with no pre booked appointment or notice. I would add that I have bought cars from him since as he fits my buying style, if that makes sense.
Edited by Rapid rental on Thursday 1st December 09:43
12pack said:
These days the people who are well-dressed in the business sense are usually aspiring middle managers, or in sales. I think they head to the local BMW dealer. AM dealers should be used to scruffily dressed business owners, or fashionable dressed financiers / celeb agents.
Or anyone with good taste! (& deep pockets)! 
When I bought my V8VS from Grange WGC earlier this year, I first dropped in on a Sunday afternoon dressed very casually. From previous poor experiences at other dealers (mainly BMW) I was expecting to be ignored at the least but within a few moments one of the sales guys, Ben, was out and almost threw the key at me and offered a test drive. Made the process a lot more pleasant from the start and I bought the car.
Pothole said:
It's the 21st century way.
OP, didn't you ask the person in front of you if there was anyone else you could speak to or did you just expect him to make all the running? Perhaps his pressing need to leave distracted him from prostrating himself in front of your enormous ego.
You're a customer, not God. Just because the commodity you wish to purchase is expensive shouldn't make you any more or less important than the bloke in the pub up the road who wants to taste a beer before maybe, or maybe not, buying a pint.
(I'm very tired, I've never worked in car sales. 15 years of high end furniture and homewards retailing left me with pretty poor impressions of customers.)
I hope this post is in jest. Yes, buying an Aston Martin is JUST like ordering a beer. Test drive before purchase? What an absurd notion!OP, didn't you ask the person in front of you if there was anyone else you could speak to or did you just expect him to make all the running? Perhaps his pressing need to leave distracted him from prostrating himself in front of your enormous ego.
You're a customer, not God. Just because the commodity you wish to purchase is expensive shouldn't make you any more or less important than the bloke in the pub up the road who wants to taste a beer before maybe, or maybe not, buying a pint.
(I'm very tired, I've never worked in car sales. 15 years of high end furniture and homewards retailing left me with pretty poor impressions of customers.)
I agree, Pothole, you are very tired. How's the furniture sales going, BTW?
SS at Works is a good bloke and would always give good customer service.
Having said that I would always call in advance if I wanted to test drive something.
All the talk about what to wear is so old fashioned.I really don't think salesmen care what you look like !
Having said that I would always call in advance if I wanted to test drive something.
All the talk about what to wear is so old fashioned.I really don't think salesmen care what you look like !
Edited by ajr550 on Thursday 1st December 19:23
Its always best to pre-arrange an appointment with a sales specialist, especially if you want to test drive a particular vehicle. He/she can set aside time to devote to you, make sure the car isn't blocked in by several other stock cars, check fuel level, visual check, warm it up, etc.
As for weather, particularly when it concerns a V12 Vantage, i don't blame anybody for recommending postponing the test drive. I have been on 2 V12 test drives that actually put both drivers off the car, simply because the road surface was too cold/damp, and both drivers didn't understand the nature of the beast, combined with cold tyres. On a test drive, naturally, the customer wants to push a little, but has probably never driven a V12, and if it moves unexpectedly, it can have a negative effect. Ask a Ferrari dealership for a test drive on a wet day, and you'll get a "no sir".
I have always made appointments, and then if i consider i'm not getting treated decently, i can quite happily strike that dealership off my list.
As for weather, particularly when it concerns a V12 Vantage, i don't blame anybody for recommending postponing the test drive. I have been on 2 V12 test drives that actually put both drivers off the car, simply because the road surface was too cold/damp, and both drivers didn't understand the nature of the beast, combined with cold tyres. On a test drive, naturally, the customer wants to push a little, but has probably never driven a V12, and if it moves unexpectedly, it can have a negative effect. Ask a Ferrari dealership for a test drive on a wet day, and you'll get a "no sir".
I have always made appointments, and then if i consider i'm not getting treated decently, i can quite happily strike that dealership off my list.
I have always found Works and Grange very obliging. I can understand anyone not wanting to take a showroom car out on salt/gritted roads but would expect them to explain why and show willingness to bring the car to the customer when convenient. That said, I did test drive my DBS from Works in pouring rain (which was a good way to see how well the back end behaved) and my V12VR from Grange in the depth of winter after hearing they had one in that was the DBS' little brother - and yes, of course we had to have the roof down to make sure it worked despite near freezing temperatures!!
I popped into the new dealership in Bristol yesterday and was treated extremely well. Door opens for me by a charming lady, Jackie, who offered me coffee before handing me over to the General Sales Manager, Matthew. Absolutely charming, chatted away, then offered to show me around the new facility in total. We agreed to organize some test drives on my next visit (I was suffering with a slight hangover and didn't think it best to take a drive at just above zero). Lovely dealership, great people and impressive service. I was wearing trousers, brogues, shirt and jumper. With coat and scarf.
Bincenzo said:
I popped into the new dealership in Bristol yesterday and was treated extremely well. Door opens for me by a charming lady, Jackie, who offered me coffee before handing me over to the General Sales Manager, Matthew. Absolutely charming, chatted away, then offered to show me around the new facility in total. We agreed to organize some test drives on my next visit (I was suffering with a slight hangover and didn't think it best to take a drive at just above zero). Lovely dealership, great people and impressive service. I was wearing trousers, brogues, shirt and jumper. With coat and scarf.
No socks?
AMDBSVNick said:
He's Royal Navy 
It comes as no surprise to me that a member of her majesty's Royal Navy is suitably attired and sartorially elegant when going about his daily business.I was particularly impressed to read that the gentleman was wearing a scarf,a form of accessory that I have adopted when driving my DB9V, in Winter ,with the roof down.
It affords me the pleasure of driving topless whilst keeping my nape warm.
Naturally in warmer temperatures I adopt a silk cravat which goes well with my hacking jacket and plus fours.
RobDown said:
You wear a scarf but then drive topless? I thought Nijius was just making those stories up! 
Robert.....I am surprised and somewhat dismayed that you proved to be the wag that chose to comment,on my intentional and cunning,trap set to lure in a PH chapee,with the ambivalent nature of my prose.I assure you that I'm always wearing a Turnbull and Asser.
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