Test driving potential company cars
Discussion
Morning all, assuming this is the most suitable section for this question.
I'm moving back to a company car from a private car, so I need to choose from a selection of cars on our current list.
Having never driven any of them before, I'd like to arrange some viewings to take a look at the cars, go over the spec and options etc, and take them out for test drives to get a feel for them and see how I feel driving them (there's quite a variety of engines on offer, some of which I'm not sure about).
I've spoke to my fleet department and they don't arrange test drives (with our old employer, their lease company would allow us 3 x 24hr test drives of any cars on the list prior to ordering, but not any more). I've tried to arrange some by phoning or emailing the local dealerships for the relevant manufacturers but none of them seem really interested as it's a company car purchase..
I've been advised to just go in and tell them that I'm a private buyer looking at the car and they'll be much more welcoming to offer test drives, but I don't really feel comfortable putting on an act and having to make up a story when they ask about budget and whatnot as I really just want to look at the specific models and trims I have available..
Any advice as to how to go about this? Is playing the 'private buyer' thing the best way? I can see it from the dealerships perspective in that they are franchise and need to make sales themselves, whereas our fleet dept. order direct from factory.. But at the same time how can I commit to owning and paying tax on a car for 4 years without having driven it beforehand??
Any advice welcome
I'm moving back to a company car from a private car, so I need to choose from a selection of cars on our current list.
Having never driven any of them before, I'd like to arrange some viewings to take a look at the cars, go over the spec and options etc, and take them out for test drives to get a feel for them and see how I feel driving them (there's quite a variety of engines on offer, some of which I'm not sure about).
I've spoke to my fleet department and they don't arrange test drives (with our old employer, their lease company would allow us 3 x 24hr test drives of any cars on the list prior to ordering, but not any more). I've tried to arrange some by phoning or emailing the local dealerships for the relevant manufacturers but none of them seem really interested as it's a company car purchase..
I've been advised to just go in and tell them that I'm a private buyer looking at the car and they'll be much more welcoming to offer test drives, but I don't really feel comfortable putting on an act and having to make up a story when they ask about budget and whatnot as I really just want to look at the specific models and trims I have available..
Any advice as to how to go about this? Is playing the 'private buyer' thing the best way? I can see it from the dealerships perspective in that they are franchise and need to make sales themselves, whereas our fleet dept. order direct from factory.. But at the same time how can I commit to owning and paying tax on a car for 4 years without having driven it beforehand??
Any advice welcome
smithyithy said:
Morning all, assuming this is the most suitable section for this question.
I'm moving back to a company car from a private car, so I need to choose from a selection of cars on our current list.
Having never driven any of them before, I'd like to arrange some viewings to take a look at the cars, go over the spec and options etc, and take them out for test drives to get a feel for them and see how I feel driving them (there's quite a variety of engines on offer, some of which I'm not sure about).
I've spoke to my fleet department and they don't arrange test drives (with our old employer, their lease company would allow us 3 x 24hr test drives of any cars on the list prior to ordering, but not any more). I've tried to arrange some by phoning or emailing the local dealerships for the relevant manufacturers but none of them seem really interested as it's a company car purchase..
I've been advised to just go in and tell them that I'm a private buyer looking at the car and they'll be much more welcoming to offer test drives, but I don't really feel comfortable putting on an act and having to make up a story when they ask about budget and whatnot as I really just want to look at the specific models and trims I have available..
Any advice as to how to go about this? Is playing the 'private buyer' thing the best way? I can see it from the dealerships perspective in that they are franchise and need to make sales themselves, whereas our fleet dept. order direct from factory.. But at the same time how can I commit to owning and paying tax on a car for 4 years without having driven it beforehand??
Any advice welcome
If your company order direct from the manufacturer, they should have a contact who will arrange a demo car to be available.I'm moving back to a company car from a private car, so I need to choose from a selection of cars on our current list.
Having never driven any of them before, I'd like to arrange some viewings to take a look at the cars, go over the spec and options etc, and take them out for test drives to get a feel for them and see how I feel driving them (there's quite a variety of engines on offer, some of which I'm not sure about).
I've spoke to my fleet department and they don't arrange test drives (with our old employer, their lease company would allow us 3 x 24hr test drives of any cars on the list prior to ordering, but not any more). I've tried to arrange some by phoning or emailing the local dealerships for the relevant manufacturers but none of them seem really interested as it's a company car purchase..
I've been advised to just go in and tell them that I'm a private buyer looking at the car and they'll be much more welcoming to offer test drives, but I don't really feel comfortable putting on an act and having to make up a story when they ask about budget and whatnot as I really just want to look at the specific models and trims I have available..
Any advice as to how to go about this? Is playing the 'private buyer' thing the best way? I can see it from the dealerships perspective in that they are franchise and need to make sales themselves, whereas our fleet dept. order direct from factory.. But at the same time how can I commit to owning and paying tax on a car for 4 years without having driven it beforehand??
Any advice welcome
I worked for Audi and that's how it worked as they've got plenty of cars in the system to be utilised.
Fair play for not wanting to waste a dealerships time and money.
BenjiS said:
I'll be honest, I just lied :-)
Well, sort of. I told them it was a personal purchase on PCP funded using a car allowance. That gave me a reason to discuss specific spec of cars at a particular price point. Ok I had to sit through the PCP numbers bit.
When one dealer did eventually call me to follow up, I just apologised, thanked him for his time, but informed him I'd bought a different brand. As it happened I'd leased his brand via my company.
That's what I did last time, but was actually telling the truth Well, sort of. I told them it was a personal purchase on PCP funded using a car allowance. That gave me a reason to discuss specific spec of cars at a particular price point. Ok I had to sit through the PCP numbers bit.
When one dealer did eventually call me to follow up, I just apologised, thanked him for his time, but informed him I'd bought a different brand. As it happened I'd leased his brand via my company.
Test drove a Cooper S, Fiesta ST, MX5 ND.. They were generally fine with me taking out cars as I explained my budget with the allowance and what I was looking for etc.
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