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

[beeblebrox]

So I went to view a car at a trader today, and upon asking about taking it for a test drive was answered with "what we want to do is get you into a position where you'll put a deposit down when you get back if the car drives OK."

WTF? Is this commonplace? I'd already visited two other places who fell over themselves to let me take their cars out for a drive. Who in their right mind commits to buying a car before they've even driven it?!

Helpfully, he hadn't bothered to put any photos up (on the phone "It's surrounded by other cars mate, I'll try and take some next week"), so the journey to see it was a bit of gamble and the car did turn out to be an utter shed in the end (bits of trim/bodywork missing, mismatched door mirror, didn't start to begin with, misfiring, etc.)

As he wouldn't let me drive without agreeing on a price I made him a lowball offer and was then described as a 'fking joker' and shown the door. No negotiation. I told him he was the joker for asking as much as he was for such a sorry looking car and wished him a good day.

[beeblebrox]

slippery said:

Bemmer said:

What was wrong with the first two you test drove?

Good question.

Valid question. First one made all sorts of wrong noises from the power steering, second looked brilliant in the photos but was a right shed with sad-looking bodywork and knackered bumpers and suspension that clonked over every bump in the road.

[beeblebrox]

Ari said:

He'd sussed that you weren't going to buy it and didn't fancy a joy ride.

I got there at 4:30 PM on Saturday in the pissing rain - too late for a test drive, so I returned the next day. If that doesn't say "I'm serious" what does?

[beeblebrox]

crispyshark said:

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

Nope. It was a garage somewhere in the Avon valley.

[beeblebrox]

ZOLLAR said:

See you're from Swansea, it wouldn't happen to be the little car lot by the kingsbridge pub in Gorseinon would it?

Nope, it was just the other side of the bridge.

[beeblebrox]

CooperS said:

Aha right like most posters you ignore the OP and type your own post as if you are the OP. understanding the car you test drove I'd guess its the same chaps who run the Renault and fiat dealerships up here and so have the same policy.

Not sure what you mean here - I am the OP?

[beeblebrox]

Alfahorn said:

I doubt that the conversation took place in quite the way the OP has explained it. I think it's more likely that the dealer asked the customer the following; if you like the car and the deal was would you put down a deposit?

Just a hunch.

It took place exactly as I described. The guy was a grumpy sod from the get-go, to be honest. When the car wouldn't start due to a flat battery I asked if it had been standing for a while. He got quite confrontational, "What do you mean by that, eh? What are you trying to say?". I should have walked away sooner!