"You can test drive if you put a deposit down afterwards"
Discussion
becauseitmatters said:
Name and shame these dealers!
Wouldn't that be against the name and shame policy that pistonheads has? 
A better plan would be people telling positive experiences.
Two that stand out to me: Stratstone Doncaster who let me test drive whatever I wanted no question asked before I purchased a 330ci from them.
Porsche Kendal who let me drive 3 of their cars for nearly half a day, alone and didn't get a sale that time round as we couldn't come to a mutually acceptable deal. However the first place I'll be going when I'm looking for another Porsche will be there and hopefully they won't be quite so inflexible on the price.
Fair comment ~ overlooked that policy!
Luckily my previous post finished on a positive note and my previously not-so-good experience was a long time ago.
Can anybody remember Charlesworth Jap Import Specialist near Nottingham? They used to simply chick you the keys and recommend a route where you could both throw the car around and catapult it along a good straight. Let the cars sell themselves. I only visited them once and bought the vehivle I test drove.
Likewise I visited an importer with a similar style near Chelmsford and bought the car I test drove from him also. I must be such a pushover!
Luckily my previous post finished on a positive note and my previously not-so-good experience was a long time ago.
Can anybody remember Charlesworth Jap Import Specialist near Nottingham? They used to simply chick you the keys and recommend a route where you could both throw the car around and catapult it along a good straight. Let the cars sell themselves. I only visited them once and bought the vehivle I test drove.
Likewise I visited an importer with a similar style near Chelmsford and bought the car I test drove from him also. I must be such a pushover!
Deva Link said:
Yep, calling them salespeople is an insult to the sales profession.
Interesting to see the salary discussions in the car sales thread - most are earning less than £30K/yr.
You really do have issues, it was your ramblings which got you banned from that thread was it not?Interesting to see the salary discussions in the car sales thread - most are earning less than £30K/yr.
BT52 said:
DonkeyApple said:
Bafflingly angry chap. PH seems full of them these days.
This reminds me of the driver who has never had an accident, but has seen hundreds....But hey, if you use the word 'chap' then that makes you a 'decent sort' yes?
markmullen said:
You really do have issues, it was your ramblings which got you banned from that thread was it not?
I think it was more to do with car showroom staff not liking the truth, so they ran to teacher.Selling is so easy it's boring (hence we've both got high post counts
).For main dealership staff, the current situation isn't really their fault - you recognised that and got out.
I think most people on here are talking about independent dealers, a much more edgy business where the owner/salesman has to know what's doing or he's going to go bust pretty quickly.
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!Just a hunch.
I've only ever been to one independent dealer and even though it was clear I didn't like the car, (horrible body paint which started life has a vibrant orange but was starting to go yellow in patches, dash looked like someone took a ninja sword to it), he still let me go for a test drive. It was the Grande Punto 1.4 turbo (not abarth).
I've been in a MINI dealership and found I got completely ignored too (to the poster a few posts above).
I've been in a MINI dealership and found I got completely ignored too (to the poster a few posts above).
beeblebrox said:
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!
He obviously misunderstood you and thought you were trying to say the car was crap, hence it's been standing a while!! Haha!Can't think why else he would get so defensive. Overly Sensitive & Paranoid.
BadBanshee said:
I've only ever been to one independent dealer and even though it was clear I didn't like the car, (horrible body paint which started life has a vibrant orange but was starting to go yellow in patches, dash looked like someone took a ninja sword to it), he still let me go for a test drive. It was the Grande Punto 1.4 turbo (not abarth).
I've been in a MINI dealership and found I got completely ignored too (to the poster a few posts above).
So if you didn't like the car why did you bother test driving it?I've been in a MINI dealership and found I got completely ignored too (to the poster a few posts above).
Did you say 'BIG MISTAKE' to the sales manager a la Pretty Woman?
becauseitmatters said:
I ventured next door to Mercedes and bought a C Klass which she subsequently preffered. I took my receipt back next door to Wollaston BMW, asked to see the sales manager and showed it to him suggesting his team ought to pre-judge everyone who visits their showroom.
BadBanshee said:
even though it was clear I didn't like the car............he still let me go for a test drive.
followed by
I've been in a MINI dealership.....
no, you're not a test pilot at all!!!!!!!!!followed by
I've been in a MINI dealership.....
I know i shouldn't rise to it, but come on, don't play the all hurt and offended card in one hand and not expect a bit back in the other.
Hoist by his own petard anyone?
Greg_D said:
no, you're not a test pilot at all!!!!!!!!!
I know i shouldn't rise to it, but come on, don't play the all hurt and offended card in one hand and not expect a bit back in the other.
Hoist by his own petard anyone?
Lol I'm really digging my hole here. For the record, I didn't ask for a test drive for the Mini, I only went to look at them. However, if someone had acknowledged me and after a talk I might have been tempted to ask for a test drive :P What can I say I enjoy driving other people's cars. I do like the Mini Cooper, they have a nice low driving position, getting in feels like kneeling down to sit on the floor. Out of all new cars I've sat in, the Mini is the one that felt the most old skool, and yet still super stylish. How it drives though, I've no idea. I suspect the Cooper S is THE best sub 200bhp hot hatch on sale today. By a mile off.I know i shouldn't rise to it, but come on, don't play the all hurt and offended card in one hand and not expect a bit back in the other.
Hoist by his own petard anyone?
But on a serious note I would never test drive a car I had no interest in at all.
Popped into a dealership last week when I was looking at a couple of candidates before ordering a new car for the missus.
I asked for a test drive and was told 'You don't test drive a house before you buy it, do you?'. After a bit of back tracking he said he would try and sort something out and get back to me. Suffice to say, no phone calls.
I went to another dealer (same brand) and actually got a test drive. I told him in advance I had a couple of other brand models I was keen to try for comparison and wouldn't be committing to anything following a test drive. 'No problem' said he, 'we understand'. Following the test drive they obviously wanted to try and talk figures and were keen to do a deal so I went along with it and said, 'Ok, tell me your best price and how we get there'. Nope, it's never that simple, we never got any further than him continuously asking what my monthly payment would need to be to get me in the car despite my responding that I'm open on monthly payments, just give me a total cost to me and how we get there.
Unfortunately, after both experiences, I won't be back and I won't be buying that brand. I'll probably end up just going for a Ford as we know how they drive and can just order through DrivetheDeal with none of these hassles.
I asked for a test drive and was told 'You don't test drive a house before you buy it, do you?'. After a bit of back tracking he said he would try and sort something out and get back to me. Suffice to say, no phone calls.
I went to another dealer (same brand) and actually got a test drive. I told him in advance I had a couple of other brand models I was keen to try for comparison and wouldn't be committing to anything following a test drive. 'No problem' said he, 'we understand'. Following the test drive they obviously wanted to try and talk figures and were keen to do a deal so I went along with it and said, 'Ok, tell me your best price and how we get there'. Nope, it's never that simple, we never got any further than him continuously asking what my monthly payment would need to be to get me in the car despite my responding that I'm open on monthly payments, just give me a total cost to me and how we get there.
Unfortunately, after both experiences, I won't be back and I won't be buying that brand. I'll probably end up just going for a Ford as we know how they drive and can just order through DrivetheDeal with none of these hassles.
jock mcsporran said:
Popped into a dealership last week when I was looking at a couple of candidates before ordering a new car for the missus.
I asked for a test drive and was told 'You don't test drive a house before you buy it, do you?'. After a bit of back tracking he said he would try and sort something out and get back to me. Suffice to say, no phone calls.
I went to another dealer (same brand) and actually got a test drive. I told him in advance I had a couple of other brand models I was keen to try for comparison and wouldn't be committing to anything following a test drive. 'No problem' said he, 'we understand'. Following the test drive they obviously wanted to try and talk figures and were keen to do a deal so I went along with it and said, 'Ok, tell me your best price and how we get there'. Nope, it's never that simple, we never got any further than him continuously asking what my monthly payment would need to be to get me in the car despite my responding that I'm open on monthly payments, just give me a total cost to me and how we get there.
Unfortunately, after both experiences, I won't be back and I won't be buying that brand. I'll probably end up just going for a Ford as we know how they drive and can just order through DrivetheDeal with none of these hassles.
That's unfortunate. It's not nice when a salesperson tries to force you to look at the deal in a particular way. I too would prefer to just know the total figure rather than how much it would be per month. That way I can look at the bigger picture. The dealer should have responded to your way of looking at the deal rather than forcing his trick upon you. I say trick because, it is a trick! He knows you probably have no idea how much you're looking to spend per month so you would say a random figure and he would catch you out (or ridicule you if it's not to his liking).I asked for a test drive and was told 'You don't test drive a house before you buy it, do you?'. After a bit of back tracking he said he would try and sort something out and get back to me. Suffice to say, no phone calls.
I went to another dealer (same brand) and actually got a test drive. I told him in advance I had a couple of other brand models I was keen to try for comparison and wouldn't be committing to anything following a test drive. 'No problem' said he, 'we understand'. Following the test drive they obviously wanted to try and talk figures and were keen to do a deal so I went along with it and said, 'Ok, tell me your best price and how we get there'. Nope, it's never that simple, we never got any further than him continuously asking what my monthly payment would need to be to get me in the car despite my responding that I'm open on monthly payments, just give me a total cost to me and how we get there.
Unfortunately, after both experiences, I won't be back and I won't be buying that brand. I'll probably end up just going for a Ford as we know how they drive and can just order through DrivetheDeal with none of these hassles.
markmullen said:
So if you didn't like the car why did you bother test driving it?
He promised to sort everything out on the car in the included price. He offered a test drive so I said yes, thinking it might sway me. In the end I decided it was just too much hassle. There was so many things that needed patching up to my liking, I just had a feeling the dealer wouldn't do a proper or complete job, especially if it's at no extra profit for him. Went with my gut instinct.
monamimate said:
We're all PH'ers here, so isn't it our default condition that we will take a drive in anything, regardless of whether it's great or crap, or whether we're planning to buy it or not? We can't help ourselves...
I have better things to do than go to garages test driving cars I'm not interested in buying.becauseitmatters said:
I once visited Wollaston BMW in Northampton with the full intention of buyins a Mini (for the wife). It was a Saturday morning and I was dressed in a t-shirt and jogging bottoms ~ I was ignored.
I hear you. The other day I stood in the middle of Sainsburys with some shopping and I was also ignored. I couldn't beleive it. It's almost as if you have to ask people for help if thats what you require, isn't it?When I visit a car dealership I prefer to be ignored initially. I'm free to wander around, look, take my time, see whatever I want without bothering anyone or disturbing anyone. If I then want more information, I can ask a salesman.
Why do people expect them to come to you?
Fox- said:
becauseitmatters said:
I once visited Wollaston BMW in Northampton with the full intention of buyins a Mini (for the wife). It was a Saturday morning and I was dressed in a t-shirt and jogging bottoms ~ I was ignored.
I hear you. The other day I stood in the middle of Sainsburys with some shopping and I was also ignored. I couldn't beleive it. It's almost as if you have to ask people for help if thats what you require, isn't it?When I visit a car dealership I prefer to be ignored initially. I'm free to wander around, look, take my time, see whatever I want without bothering anyone or disturbing anyone. If I then want more information, I can ask a salesman.
Why do people expect them to come to you?
I also appreciate that salespeople will, for the most part, prioritise well-dressed individuals over scruffbags. We've all heard the stories about someone's multi-millionaire mate who was ignored in the Merc dealership so went next door and bought six Audis. Back in the real world, anyone with a brain will play the odds.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff