Car viewing, test drives, lockdown
Discussion
What's the consensus regarding viewing and test driving a car under current lockdown?
I reckon it's ok but my wife thinks a no no and I risk a fine.
OK it's not essential, but as far as I can see the law doesn't mention that only essential journeys can be undertaken, the guidelines however say journeys "should" be essential.
I reckon it's ok but my wife thinks a no no and I risk a fine.
OK it's not essential, but as far as I can see the law doesn't mention that only essential journeys can be undertaken, the guidelines however say journeys "should" be essential.
Oceanrower said:
Oh FFS. Here we go again...
I'm sorry you may find this topic repetitive, you didn't need to waste your time with your helpful reply, just bear in mind that not everybody reads every post on here, and occasionally somebody may ask for others thoughts on a topic that you find worthless.Well, one current thread has 65 pages and another on 238 pages on essential, guidelines and legislation.
That’s not posts, that’s pages...
The legislation is written in plain language. As BV would say , for the ninety gabillionzilliknth time, there is no mention of essential travel in the legislation.
Let’s see how many pages this runs to.
That’s not posts, that’s pages...
The legislation is written in plain language. As BV would say , for the ninety gabillionzilliknth time, there is no mention of essential travel in the legislation.
Let’s see how many pages this runs to.
Alucidnation said:
Crack on OP.
At least you can look back and can be proud that you have potentially contributed to keeping us in this s
t for longer.
Oh god, that didn't take long.....At least you can look back and can be proud that you have potentially contributed to keeping us in this s
t for longer.Go buy the car. I bought a car during lockdown 1, & another one in lockdown 2. Sold one in tier 4. I didn't heel over & as far as I know the punters didn't die from bat-flu either.
Showrooms are shut, test drives are not allowed, remote buying is allowed as are Click & Collect style collections and contactless deliveries.
Some dealers will allow test drives but they shouldn't, if they are doing so then they will be super strict on who's test driving and what, be prepared for a grilling, strict qualification and likely a deposit upfront.
Some dealers will allow test drives but they shouldn't, if they are doing so then they will be super strict on who's test driving and what, be prepared for a grilling, strict qualification and likely a deposit upfront.
Alucidnation said:
Crack on OP.
At least you can look back and can be proud that you have potentially contributed to keeping us in this st for longer.
I bought a car a couple of weeks ago. At least you can look back and can be proud that you have potentially contributed to keeping us in this s
t for longer.Made a 120 mile journey to collect it too.
If I’ve been allowed to work for the last year, and dealer is allowed to be open why the hell should I or anyone else who is cracking on with their life while still being within the laws and guidance be made to feel guilty by the sanctimonious who believe that we should all be locked up until death has been eradicate as a cause of death?
21TonyK said:
I bought a new one "click and collect" a couple of weeks back from a main dealer. However I have told my son, no way is he travelling half way across the country to view a second hand car to break up his lockdown boredom!
Probably an astute financial decision, although entirely unnecessary in regards to the global pandemic as long as you're not stupid about it.Now that thread bickering has calmed down, I see comments about test drives being according to dealer policy. Scanning around various possibles nearly always a link on manufacturer websites for book or ask for a test drive.
In these times how does this work, generally speaking, or is the answer as long as a piece of string? Realise that it all depends, devil in the detail etc, but reality is I'm not going to buy or lease a vehicle without a test drive, and something more than a run round the block with a salesman. Over the years have twice removed a favoured vehicle from short list because just couldn't get comfortable, 1 BMW and 1 Toyota, if gone ahead with those two would have been a shambles for 2/3 years, or even a get rid situation with the Toyota.
Ideally there needs to be a longer drive over various roads, including in the dark, as do a lot of night driving, and way modern cars are built if the lights are rubbish you don't realistically have the option of adding auxiliaries. There are other issues these days, eg the habit of sticking lots of controls on touch screens, we have one vehicle already where every day you have to delve into menus to turn this or that off as it's just so intrusive.
Should a, would a, could a got something suitable early last year but bailed out because of lockdown why buy something that's just going nowhere, and in the end place shut, no test drives full stop, but never expected this malarkey to continue this long. Now getting to point have to start up looking again and get a move on.
In these times how does this work, generally speaking, or is the answer as long as a piece of string? Realise that it all depends, devil in the detail etc, but reality is I'm not going to buy or lease a vehicle without a test drive, and something more than a run round the block with a salesman. Over the years have twice removed a favoured vehicle from short list because just couldn't get comfortable, 1 BMW and 1 Toyota, if gone ahead with those two would have been a shambles for 2/3 years, or even a get rid situation with the Toyota.
Ideally there needs to be a longer drive over various roads, including in the dark, as do a lot of night driving, and way modern cars are built if the lights are rubbish you don't realistically have the option of adding auxiliaries. There are other issues these days, eg the habit of sticking lots of controls on touch screens, we have one vehicle already where every day you have to delve into menus to turn this or that off as it's just so intrusive.
Should a, would a, could a got something suitable early last year but bailed out because of lockdown why buy something that's just going nowhere, and in the end place shut, no test drives full stop, but never expected this malarkey to continue this long. Now getting to point have to start up looking again and get a move on.
I've been trying to get a test drive on a couple of cars from dealers and its been a total non starter , no test drives , showroom closed, online orders only
I did however sell a car a few weeks back , no test drive offered, dealt with all the paperwork in my garage , wore a mask and social distanced and fully expected one of my neighbours to report me.
I did however sell a car a few weeks back , no test drive offered, dealt with all the paperwork in my garage , wore a mask and social distanced and fully expected one of my neighbours to report me.
I bought a 4 year old used VW from VW dealer. No test driving allowed. Was able to look at the car, inside and out. My car was inspected for part ex at the same time. Then had a 2 week give it back for any reason agreement with them. The first 20 miles were free and thereafter there was a per mileage charge which wasn't an egregious amount. Now you've got to be pretty convinced it's right for you for that to work. I was and it worked fine (didn't need to send it back).
In conversation with another dealer recently about a potential future purchase, apparently if my car needed work (which they are open for), the vehicle I was interested in would be provided as a courtesy car!
I'm not going to be doing that as Mrs Bert and me are now shielding (she's a sicky - harsh but fair) which we weren't before, so it seems unnecessary
- perhaps to coin a phrase - "not essential"
In conversation with another dealer recently about a potential future purchase, apparently if my car needed work (which they are open for), the vehicle I was interested in would be provided as a courtesy car!
I'm not going to be doing that as Mrs Bert and me are now shielding (she's a sicky - harsh but fair) which we weren't before, so it seems unnecessary
- perhaps to coin a phrase - "not essential"
sherbertdip said:
What's the consensus regarding viewing and test driving a car under current lockdown?
My personal view is it is fine. I sold a car last year, and I am selling another one now. I have this strange idea that I am a human being and I live in what should be a free society, so I operate as such.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff