"You can test drive if you put a deposit down afterwards"

[robmlufc]

I have had the same.

VW dealer wanted me to commit to buying before he would let me take a Scirocco out for a test drive. I laughed, walked straight out and went to the next nearest dealer who was very helpful and eventually sold me a car, funny how that works

[miniman]

BadBanshee said:

That's 3 people on this thread that report being asked to agree a price before a test drive. Must be a common tactic. A tactic that was meant to be clever but always ends up being incredibly stupid and off-putting nonetheless.

Indeed. I went to look at a TT a few months ago at a small dealer in Bristol. It was hemmed in by a few other cars, so I asked if he would shift some stock so I could have a drive. Yes, the chap said, if I was prepared to agree a price and that there was no negotiation because "the price on the screen is what it owes him". The price on the screen was £500 more than the price on his website, natch. Entirely off putting.

[Lotusevoraboy]

Test and pilot spring to mind.

[lindrup119]

Had this with a local Honda dealership, test drove a Type-R and wanted to then think about my options. Well Mr. Salesman wasn't having that. He said that because we'd made them clean the car, fill it up etc that I should feel obliged to buy it. And then he continually bombarded the telephone and email for the next few days when he didn't get an immediate answer. Needless to say I didn't buy it and in fact didn't get a car at all for another year, and ended up buying a VW that was under the same dealership group but acted in quite the opposite manner.

[aizvara]

BadBanshee said:

That's 3 people on this thread that report being asked to agree a price before a test drive. Must be a common tactic. A tactic that was meant to be clever but always ends up being incredibly stupid and off-putting nonetheless.

Yep, I had the same at a dealer when my GF & I were out looking for my car. Looked at a 320i SE, asked sensible questions regarding isofix and other responsible topics, was dressed smartly. We'd been a couple of days before late in the evening, just browsing, and spoken to the same person. When I tried to move toward a deal he said we could test drive it if we were going to buy it. I smiled and nodded and walked down the road to another dealer and booked a test drive on the car I did buy, without having to promise I'd buy it first.

[BadBanshee]

I think it's a power trip (or perceived at least). I was test driving the Abarth 500, lower powered one and higher powered one. After I test drove the lower powered one the dealer went inside to get the keys and told me I hadn't held my license long enough to test drive the higher powered one (pretty sure I wasn't strictly allowed to test drive the lower powered one either!) but he allowed my GF to test drive both. Must have been the way I put my foot down in the lower powered one or something. But he had a giant cock on his head anyway so I like to think it was because he is a cock head.

[ruff'n'smov]

slippery said:

Wills2 said:

Dracoro said:

Wacky Racer said:

kris450 said:

Any reason you couldn't have said:

'yeah, sure, no problem'

Taken it for a drive, returned and just not paid him ?

Forgot to add, just tell him it didn't drive right if he kicks up a fuss. Sounds like part of the original deal...

Classic ad from the eighties...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIQ-283wKgg

Give the image of Audis nowadays, there's a certain irony to that ad

That was a stunning advert, perfect piece of marketing as Audi tried(and succeeded) to move up market. Pity they left all that behind and out BMW'ed BMW in terms of demographic.

Can we get back on topic and lay off the Audi bashing please!

Any oppotunity BMW'ers get to take the heat off them , they're like tories..

[CooperS]

Had this with Renault when I looked at the 200 RS.

I turned up in my Lotus said I was interested in getting a new RS and would like to see what it was like. I assumed that they'd be head over heals with this. So we had a chat, I knew more than he did about the car, then he said he'd get me someone to move things on I.e. book a test drive... So far ok... Not everyone has to be a car fact we... Anyway chap comes across and immediately asks how am I paying for it I say px and finance the rest. He then goes on to say that we'll work out a deal first then have that provisional SIGNED finance in place befeore we go for a test drive.

Of course I said that seemed unnecessary and didn't want to waste their time my time working out a deal on a car I hadn't driven.

They were insistent..... And I walked.

I then drove across town where I'd seen a car I thought was out of my league and Craig at Eastern Edinburgh BMW couldn't of been nicer and knew how to sell me the Z4MC. It was a nice day, so after a tea and chat he said well its a nice afternoon lets get out there chucked me the keys and we went for a 30 minute blast. SOLD there and then

Stupid arrogant Renault or should I say the group who run that dealership should try and learn from the likes of Craig and the new chap Greg as they really know how to manage car enthusiats and sell what at the moment are difficult cars to sell.

[Emeye]

All I can think is that this technique must work with some people for them to try it!

[Wills2]

I have to say that I find it strange that people are unwilling to look at the deal before they test drive a car they want and then at the drop of a hat walk away from what they want.

If you're serious about the car what's wrong with talking figures? I tend to talk figures before I test drive the car you might be miles away from each other and end up wasting yours and their time?

As an example the car I bought last week I did all the figures on the phone then went in to see the car, if I hadn't been happy I would have said so, not sure I see the issue.

[CooperS]

Emeye said:

All I can think is that this technique must work with some people for them to try it!

Exactly but who is that desperate for a car?

[miniman]

Wills2 said:

I have to say that I find it strange that people are unwilling to look at the deal before they test drive a car they want and then at the drop of a hat walk away from what they want.

If you're serious about the car what's wrong with talking figures? I tend to talk figures before I test drive the car you might be miles away from each other and end up wasting yours and their time?

As an example the car I bought last week I did all the figures on the phone then went in to see the car, if I hadn't been happy I would have said so, not sure I see the issue.

Surely, as a car salesman, it is easier to close a deal once the punter has driven the car and loved it, than beforehand?

[Wills2]

CooperS said:

Had this with Renault when I looked at the 200 RS.

I turned up in my Lotus said I was interested in getting a new RS and would like to see what it was like. I assumed that they'd be head over heals with this. So we had a chat, I knew more than he did about the car, then he said he'd get me someone to move things on I.e. book a test drive... So far ok... Not everyone has to be a car fact we... Anyway chap comes across and immediately asks how am I paying for it I say px and finance the rest. He then goes on to say that we'll work out a deal first then have that provisional SIGNED finance in place befeore we go for a test drive.

Of course I said that seemed unnecessary and didn't want to waste their time my time working out a deal on a car I hadn't driven.

They were insistent..... And I walked.

I then drove across town where I'd seen a car I thought was out of my league and Craig at Eastern Edinburgh BMW couldn't of been nicer and knew how to sell me the Z4MC. It was a nice day, so after a tea and chat he said well its a nice afternoon lets get out there chucked me the keys and we went for a 30 minute blast. SOLD there and then

Stupid arrogant Renault or should I say the group who run that dealership should try and learn from the likes of Craig and the new chap Greg as they really know how to manage car enthusiats and sell what at the moment are difficult cars to sell.

Yes but you didn't want the Renault did you? But you were gagging for the M and they knew it!

[lightthefuse]

Emeye said:

All I can think is that this technique must work with some people for them to try it!

Maybe on the "car as white goods" peeps. You don't test drive a fridge...

Wills2 said:

I have to say that I find it strange that people are unwilling to look at the deal before they test drive a car they want and then at the drop of a hat walk away from what they want.

If you're serious about the car what's wrong with talking figures? I tend to talk figures before I test drive the car you might be miles away from each other and end up wasting yours and their time?

As an example the car I bought last week I did all the figures on the phone then went in to see the car, if I hadn't been happy I would have said so, not sure I see the issue.

Now, on a new car, I'd have that approach, and in fact have done it with Renault regarding a Megane Sport Tourer. Unfortunately the deal didn't stack up, to the point where not even a test drive would convince me. On used, it depends. In my example I'd already worked out the finance & chop on the Corolla, before the refused test drive. Sod doing that on the Beemer, I thought thereafter.

[aizvara]

Emeye said:

All I can think is that this technique must work with some people for them to try it!

I can't imagine who. I'm a pushover in general and will acquiesce to anything for an easy life, plus it was my first attempt to buy my first car; I still didn't quite believe what I was being told and just walked away.

Wills2 said:

I have to say that I find it strange that people are unwilling to look at the deal before they test drive a car they want and then at the drop of a hat walk away from what they want.

I wasn't asked to "look at the deal". The car in question was £4000-5000, there was no deal to be made beyond me saying I'll give you £4000-haggle amount. No figures or finance to discuss. He wanted to know that I'd be buying the car before I could test drive it; I'm not willing to lie, and not willing to deal with people who want to do things in a bizarre order.

[Wills2]

miniman said:

Wills2 said:

I have to say that I find it strange that people are unwilling to look at the deal before they test drive a car they want and then at the drop of a hat walk away from what they want.

If you're serious about the car what's wrong with talking figures? I tend to talk figures before I test drive the car you might be miles away from each other and end up wasting yours and their time?

As an example the car I bought last week I did all the figures on the phone then went in to see the car, if I hadn't been happy I would have said so, not sure I see the issue.

Surely, as a car salesman, it is easier to close a deal once the punter has driven the car and loved it, than beforehand?

Maybe, Maybe not but talking figures shouldn't put a serious punter off, most serious punters (unless minted) want to know the deal.

On the other hand when I bought my 911 I was walking round the showroom saying I can't afford this, they just went yeah, yeah come on lets go for a drive.

I think it's fine either way but what I'm trying to say is it shouldnt put you off either way.

[Redbaron1973]

It is a baffling tactic to me, I was trained to sell the demo. You then let the demo sell the car - it is so much easier to do this.

[TinyCappo]

crispyshark said:

It wasn't a certain Honda 2 seater sportscast "specialist" in four marks, Hampshire was it??

I have had experience of them went to see a tidy MR2 they had which was listed as amazing condition 1 owner...Had major symptoms of headgasket failure lots of evidence of coolant boiling over dreaming at 4k

[kris450]

Wills2 said:

Maybe, Maybe not but talking figures shouldn't put a serious punter off, most serious punters (unless minted) want to know the deal.

On the other hand when I bought my 911 I was walking round the showroom saying I can't afford this, they just went yeah, yeah come on lets go for a drive.

I think it's fine either way but what I'm trying to say is it shouldnt put you off either way.

Just talking figures is very different to being asked to sign an agreement before you go out for a drive though ...

[xRIEx]

miniman said:

Surely, as a car salesman, it is easier to close a deal once the punter has driven the car and loved it, than beforehand?

I was going to say something along these lines, I think if the car is good, they'll get you driving it as soon as possible; if it's crap, they'll try to get you to buy it before you drive it.