Selling - Driving ?

[good40]

Car (4.2 cerb)for sale do you let joe public drive it ?

Its not the best its average but its mine & have spent a bit on it, the insurance they will produce from their own car will let them drive it legally but only cover the other 3rd party in an bang, do you let them drive it ?

[phillpot]

I think you've got to "weigh up" any prospective buyer, do they look genuine, careful, responsible or a loon?

Letting them drive should be very last thing, price agreed and deal as good as done providing no nasties when they drive (a test drive with you driving should have shown up any major issues).



I didn't ask to drive the Chimaera I bought and the guy I later sold it to was happy with my test drive. Were we wrong/nieve/stupid?

Being the passenger enables you to watch everything that's going on, is the seller trying to hide a crunchy gearbox, steering or brakes that pull to one side etc. etc.

[tvrboy55]

dilema, dilema,dilema it's frightening. even the dealers give a test drive, everyone dos.what can you do if you want to sell. boy racer a bit risky, muture person 50/50. but hey! it's your decision.
but if you do, then warn him. go easy on the throtle as to not hit the car in front, and also the back end swings out.

[TimJM]

I have bought more cars than I care to remember - I've only ever driven the car myself when dealing with dealers. Private sales I have always been a passenger until the cash was handed over (except for some crappy run around cars). Also, if you make it clear that people will not be driving you car until they have handed over the cash it will put off the test pilots...which is a good thing.

If somebody is serious about the purchase and really wants to have a drive themselves before finalising the sale just ask for the full amount in cash as a safety deposit to allow them to test drive it. If they bend it they have bought it.

I would be happy with that as a buyer.

[Jhonno]

I only passengered in mine..

[Smokey Boyer]

As a buyer, I always expect at least a passenger based test drive. I went to buy a Westfield recently where even that was refused and walked away from it.

As a buyer I would expect to have to produce valid fully comp insurance if requested to do so. There are a number of companies that offer insurance for this, and I think that the HPI check includes 7 days cover although maybe not for a TVR.

I think it is fair to leave the buyer based based test drive until everything has been negotiated (pending a test drive), or at least a good way through to make sure they are genuine, and perhaps even invite them back a second time.

It really does come down to how well you get on with the buyer as to what you ask for. Legally, they must be insured at some level. It would be a mare if they got pulled for speeding, and then the car was impounded due to no insurance. When I purchased my TVR the seller was happy to let me have a drive, and even offered to let me take it out on my own, and that was just on my own policy that covered me to drive another vehicle (although he did not check this).

[jamieduff1981]

My insurer refused to provide temporary cover for test driving my TVR because the seller already had a policy which covered the car.

I had a test ride as a passenger. I wouldn't be willing to let an unknown take mine out for a drive without cash in my hand prior to as a safety deposit.

[tejr]

With any car I usually don't let people test drive a car until they have turned up with a deposit (atleast I know then that they are serious). Otherwise I'm happy to give them a passenger ride (I don't and won't trash the car either).

[Mark.]

I think you need to get a feel for the buyer.

When I got the Cerbera I spoke a couple of times on the phone to the seller, then met once for a look over then agreed to meet again for a drive. We'd gained enough rapport/respect for a "you bend it you buy it" gentleman's agreement which worked for both of us.
I didn't bend it - I did buy it.

Cheers Dave!

[FarmyardPants]

I took out a day's cover to test drive my cerb before I bought it, cost about £35. I wouldn't take the risk without the buyer showing that they have FC insurance, which if they're serious should not be a problem.

[phillpot]

Through "polite conversation" you should get an idea of what the guy has driven before (or maybe what he turns up in), is he familiar with similar cars or is this going to be his "mid-life crisis" and fastest thing he's ever driven is a 1.3 Fiesta?

[tvrboy55]

not nessarely, what he turns up in. I turned up in 1.4.rover 1998, when i went view the tvr at tvrmads
and also at hexham. and both places i drove the cars, and they did'nt even ask me for the insurance.
whith the old car like mine, i could have a third party insurance only, but they wern't to know that.
you just get to feel of the person what he's like. if not sure, take him to the open roads, where there is no cars and police, that way he won't crash and won't get pulled up. hop this helps you.

[so called]

When I bought my last Tuscan I was satisfied with being a passenger-
You can be free to listen and take a lot in without focussing on driving.

[Kie s2]

Most dealers have test drive cover on cars, there selling , so if you are unfortunate to have an accident you are covered , a pre check by the dealer should ask to see your driving license first .. ,
Ive always had test drive cover on my traders policy ,with protected no
claims .
One test drive I took a guy on , jumped out 6 miles down the Rd . (cheap taxi)

Kie

[meths]

I've asked for proof that they actually have the funds to buy the car (eg bank mini-statement), insurance and a substantial deposit before handing over the keys.

The test drive should be the last thing that seals the deal, I usually say something like "Ok, you clearly like it, so if nothings wrong with it will you take it off me?"

If they answer "no" to that question, I ask them why. And their response determines if they get handed the keys.

[C3BER]

Hard call but I test drove mine but it did come from James of TVRMads. I still would have bought it even if I didn't have my own test drive. As a buyer you want the car or not.

[good40]

Thanks chaps ,excellent response.
I feel normal in my apprehension now so I am going to follow what F/pants said & say fine to drive as long as you produce a days FC insurance cover for my car.
3rd party cover is not acceptable, my fear is a collision & the buyer saying "No thanks" leaving you there arranging collection etc, I can see why people P/x now.

I couldn't sell water in a drought ,I'm really useless at this.

[RAS]

Completely agree with all that has been said and when I bought my last 2 TVR's I only had a passenger test drive. But from a buyers perspective if you have never driven that particular model before you need to drive one earlier in the process, possibly at a dealer before looking at the private market.

[tvrboy55]

good luck. hope you sell it soon. any idea what your next purchase going to be?

[Julesprivate]

I have to say I let a couple of people drive my S when it was up for sale. I even let one prospective buyer of the S take the Chim out after as he drove the S so well..

Hell, before now I let the gas man take my 996 out for a ride when he was so enthusiastic about it after he called when I was polishing it.

The person who did buy the S had a resonably lengthy test drive, I sat beside him the whole time thinking "I hope he drives it better when he owns it".