Dealer wants a deposit before test-driving?
Discussion
Am I right to expect to drive a car before handing over my readies, or is this a fair way for traders to weed out timewasters?
I went to look at a Jag XK8 from a large s/h dealer yesterday. Had a look round it, started it up in the showroom, then we haggled over the price and my trade-in. We were £400 apart still, so I asked if I could take it for a test-drive to help make my mind up.
He said "I know the car drives well, if you're serious then put a £250 deposit down, I'll mark the car as sold and you can come back and test drive it later in the week".
I wasn't impressed at being asked for money before I'd even put it into gear, thanked him and left.
I went to look at a Jag XK8 from a large s/h dealer yesterday. Had a look round it, started it up in the showroom, then we haggled over the price and my trade-in. We were £400 apart still, so I asked if I could take it for a test-drive to help make my mind up.
He said "I know the car drives well, if you're serious then put a £250 deposit down, I'll mark the car as sold and you can come back and test drive it later in the week".
I wasn't impressed at being asked for money before I'd even put it into gear, thanked him and left.
Turbocharger said:
Am I right to expect to drive a car before handing over my readies, or is this a fair way for traders to weed out timewasters?
I went to look at a Jag XK8 from a large s/h dealer yesterday. Had a look round it, started it up in the showroom, then we haggled over the price and my trade-in. We were £400 apart still, so I asked if I could take it for a test-drive to help make my mind up.
He said "I know the car drives well, if you're serious then put a £250 deposit down, I'll mark the car as sold and you can come back and test drive it later in the week".
I wasn't impressed at being asked for money before I'd even put it into gear, thanked him and left.
Personally I'd have said fI went to look at a Jag XK8 from a large s/h dealer yesterday. Had a look round it, started it up in the showroom, then we haggled over the price and my trade-in. We were £400 apart still, so I asked if I could take it for a test-drive to help make my mind up.
He said "I know the car drives well, if you're serious then put a £250 deposit down, I'll mark the car as sold and you can come back and test drive it later in the week".
I wasn't impressed at being asked for money before I'd even put it into gear, thanked him and left.
k off mate! Esp for something like an XK8, it's not as if they are short on supply.If they insist say ok. But you'll have to pay me for my time though - in advance. That'll be £400.
I would tell the guy to ps off and take my business else where. If you decide not to take the car you dont have a hope in hell of getting your £250 back as he will argue it was a none refundable deposit and you pulled out of the deal.
Also the fact that he wants you to test drive it later in the week rings alarm bells, whats wrong with it now for him to refuse you an immediate test?
s off and take my business else where. If you decide not to take the car you dont have a hope in hell of getting your £250 back as he will argue it was a none refundable deposit and you pulled out of the deal. Also the fact that he wants you to test drive it later in the week rings alarm bells, whats wrong with it now for him to refuse you an immediate test?
I had this a few years ago from a private Porsche dealer - when I asked if I could test-drive it he said "only if you're going to buy it". I responded by saying I'd never buy a car without driving it and I walked away. If you're a car-dealer then test-drives are a major part of your business and should be encouraged not discouraged.
It's not that uncommon.
The last time I encountered it was looking at swapping my 1.6 Focus daily driver for an ST170. Not only did he want me to make him an offer before I took it out (the car turned out to be an absolute dog by the way) he also wanted to know if I'd 'driven anything this powerful before'. As it happened the most powerful car I'd driven that week had a mere 630bhp so I can't deny I was slightly apprehensive about a 170bhp hatchback.
The last time I encountered it was looking at swapping my 1.6 Focus daily driver for an ST170. Not only did he want me to make him an offer before I took it out (the car turned out to be an absolute dog by the way) he also wanted to know if I'd 'driven anything this powerful before'. As it happened the most powerful car I'd driven that week had a mere 630bhp so I can't deny I was slightly apprehensive about a 170bhp hatchback.
Pistonho said:
Glad you walked away - Deposit before a test drive.....the salesman must be an idiot.
Personally I never discuss the price of a car unless and until I know that I want to buy it .... in other words AFTER the test drive.It seems to me the wrong way round to start negotiating the price of anything before you know you want to buy it. Dealer will be equally aware of that.
The salesman was probably just worried you were 'out for a drive' and wanted to see how serious you were. He is probably now chatting in the garage about how this time waster came in wanting to test drive the XK8 who didn't look old enough to afford the insurance (This is obviously speculation as I don't know how old you are but from experience if you are 30 or under this would probably be the reason).
Perhaps in this instance the salesman made an error, but I can understand why he may have misjudged you. The side of this story you don't see is all the time wasters that salesman has had to deal with this month and how that may have influenced his dealing with you.
Or he is just a c*** and I am barking up the wrong tree!
Perhaps in this instance the salesman made an error, but I can understand why he may have misjudged you. The side of this story you don't see is all the time wasters that salesman has had to deal with this month and how that may have influenced his dealing with you.
Or he is just a c*** and I am barking up the wrong tree!
SClarke said:
The salesman was probably just worried you were 'out for a drive' and wanted to see how serious you were. He is probably now chatting in the garage about how this time waster came in wanting to test drive the XK8 who didn't look old enough to afford the insurance (This is obviously speculation as I don't know how old you are but from experience if you are 30 or under this would probably be the reason).
Perhaps in this instance the salesman made an error, but I can understand why he may have misjudged you. The side of this story you don't see is all the time wasters that salesman has had to deal with this month and how that may have influenced his dealing with you.
Or he is just a c*** and I am barking up the wrong tree!
So what do you suggest the OP should have done?Perhaps in this instance the salesman made an error, but I can understand why he may have misjudged you. The side of this story you don't see is all the time wasters that salesman has had to deal with this month and how that may have influenced his dealing with you.
Or he is just a c*** and I am barking up the wrong tree!
Yeah I had the "only if you're going to buy it" thing (implicitly meaning a deposit will be required) from a dealer recently; I can only assume they thought I didn't have the money or wasn't really committed to buying.
I was looking for an e46 3er and found they had a 318i, close to home, and it seemed OK for the price, but I wasn't prepared to say I'd definitely buy just from looking around the car and chatting to the salesman. In the end I walked around the corner to another dealer who happened to have a 325i sport for similar money and arranged a test drive there and then, with no deposit required.
I was looking for an e46 3er and found they had a 318i, close to home, and it seemed OK for the price, but I wasn't prepared to say I'd definitely buy just from looking around the car and chatting to the salesman. In the end I walked around the corner to another dealer who happened to have a 325i sport for similar money and arranged a test drive there and then, with no deposit required.
Had something similar a few years ago, was looking at boxsters or Audi tt's went to a local dealer who had a lovely example of each, they were both buried deep in the showroom so I arrranged to go back later in the week to test-drive each back to back, an hour before I went back the dealer rang to say I could only test-drive one, and only after I had agreed a deal and paid a deposit.
I told them to shove it and went elsewhere, by comparison a week later we were passing the OPC in Kendal, popped in for a look, and they insisted I took a 987 out even though I had said I couldn't afford a new 987, a couple of weeks later I bought a boxster from another garage, but if ever I was in a position to buy a newer Porsche Kendal would be where I started.
I told them to shove it and went elsewhere, by comparison a week later we were passing the OPC in Kendal, popped in for a look, and they insisted I took a 987 out even though I had said I couldn't afford a new 987, a couple of weeks later I bought a boxster from another garage, but if ever I was in a position to buy a newer Porsche Kendal would be where I started.
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