Test driving a car I'm not buying from you!
Discussion
I'm not an experienced car buyer.
We can get a brand new RS4 Avant for £55k (comfort and sound pack inc) which is £490pcm HP and balloon on the Magnitude calculator. Don't worry about the pcm and deposit. That can be tweaked. The residuals are high, £30k after 49 months hence the low payment.
I've never driven one and there isn't one for sale within 50 miles.
The local Audi dealer saw the discount (military) and laughed. He told me to just do it! They don't have one I could try.
How do you keep a straight face when asking for a test drive on a car you'll never buy with that dealer.
I drove a new Macan S last week as I am genuinely interested in buying one. Too slow btw. Lovely interior and held the road really well. Had to put my head out of the window to hear the exhaust (even when in angry mode).
Anyhow, do you just style it out?
Call me naïve but this is a new one to me.
One other problem is that used prices are so strong (W205 C63 is the perfect car), new cars with an Army discount (Forces cars Direct) become really affordable. Tells me NOT to buy used.
Thoughts and guidance always welcome.
Thanks.
We can get a brand new RS4 Avant for £55k (comfort and sound pack inc) which is £490pcm HP and balloon on the Magnitude calculator. Don't worry about the pcm and deposit. That can be tweaked. The residuals are high, £30k after 49 months hence the low payment.
I've never driven one and there isn't one for sale within 50 miles.
The local Audi dealer saw the discount (military) and laughed. He told me to just do it! They don't have one I could try.
How do you keep a straight face when asking for a test drive on a car you'll never buy with that dealer.
I drove a new Macan S last week as I am genuinely interested in buying one. Too slow btw. Lovely interior and held the road really well. Had to put my head out of the window to hear the exhaust (even when in angry mode).
Anyhow, do you just style it out?
Call me naïve but this is a new one to me.
One other problem is that used prices are so strong (W205 C63 is the perfect car), new cars with an Army discount (Forces cars Direct) become really affordable. Tells me NOT to buy used.
Thoughts and guidance always welcome.
Thanks.
At that price I'd just buy it. As long as the size and feel of a standard a4 works for you and your family.
Suprised they are so reasonable given what I understand the lead times/demand on RS products is at the moment.
A w205 C63 is not a better car, louder maybe, but no more effective - and certainly less comfortable. I wouldn't think twice.
Suprised they are so reasonable given what I understand the lead times/demand on RS products is at the moment.
A w205 C63 is not a better car, louder maybe, but no more effective - and certainly less comfortable. I wouldn't think twice.
I test drove a couple of cars at a local main dealer that I had no intention of buying from. I did give them the opportunity to give me their best price but it was nowhere near what was available elsewhere.
This was a dealer that I'd previously had a shocking experience with a car that I'd actually bought so I had no qualms about wasting their time.
This was a dealer that I'd previously had a shocking experience with a car that I'd actually bought so I had no qualms about wasting their time.
This is what is wrong about the whole franchised dealer business model - dealers should be happily demonstrating the products they are representing, no matter if the punter is buying through another channel.
(Admittedly an RS4 is not going to be a car that is likely to be on many dealer's demo fleet)
(Admittedly an RS4 is not going to be a car that is likely to be on many dealer's demo fleet)
FastEdd11e said:
Sheepshanks said:
Forces Cars Direct should be able to arrange test drives
I asked and they told me they didn't.Have you had a different experience?
Having said that, it says on their Audi page: "We can arrange a test drive at a time and place convenient for you"
I suppose it says "can" not that they will.
Could be wrong but it’s my understanding that dealers make rather more from servicing etc than initial sales. So unless you will definitely be taking your car elsewhere to be looked after, you’re not really wasting their time as you’ll be back there spending money repeatedly in the future anyway.
mikey_b said:
Could be wrong but it’s my understanding that dealers make rather more from servicing etc than initial sales. So unless you will definitely be taking your car elsewhere to be looked after, you’re not really wasting their time as you’ll be back there spending money repeatedly in the future anyway.
It doesn't really work that way because the sales team and the service team work very separately from each other at a shop floor level, the sales people being asked for a test drive won't really be bothered at all who services it in 12 months time, they want the sale and their commission from it. The dealer principle of course will have a different view but that's not who you deal with. Huge waiting lists for these, really hard to get hold of with nearly new example selling for pretty much the same as brand new.
There aren't many modern day cars in that sort of price point that are utterly gash or anything so can always keep it for a bit and move it on.
How does that work with a military discount actually is there stipulations reference selling cars on within a short period of ownership?
There aren't many modern day cars in that sort of price point that are utterly gash or anything so can always keep it for a bit and move it on.
How does that work with a military discount actually is there stipulations reference selling cars on within a short period of ownership?
ExcitableBoy said:
I'd be super suprised if they can get a build slot that isn't a year away. It would be interesting to hear.
That would be perfect. I will invest the deposit and buy a smart watch/guitar with the profits. It's tricky as I do want to drive one, as does my wife. I may just see which dealer has one and be honest.
OP - will you be in a position to carry out servicing at the garage that provides the test drive?
My OH gets her company car via Leaseplan. They buy centrally, but servicing happens at our local garage. They've actually said that they make so little on the sale of a new car that they're not worried. They prefer to have the servicing. We've had no problems getting test drives in Audi/VW, but Mercedes weren't at all co-operative. Worth saying that while my OH qualifies for quite a high-value car, it's not in the RS class!
My OH gets her company car via Leaseplan. They buy centrally, but servicing happens at our local garage. They've actually said that they make so little on the sale of a new car that they're not worried. They prefer to have the servicing. We've had no problems getting test drives in Audi/VW, but Mercedes weren't at all co-operative. Worth saying that while my OH qualifies for quite a high-value car, it's not in the RS class!
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