Extended Test Drives
Discussion
M-SportMatt said:
Pretty normal for high end hi-fi equipment......
And I'm sure if you had a similar relationship with a high-end car dealer who had some history with you purchasing their high-end products they would happily lend you a high-end car for an extended drive.... But you don't - you simply walked into a VW dealer enquiring about a high-volume car with a slight reputation for not having the most responsible drivers. To continue the analogy, haven't visited your high-end hi-fi dealer, you have visited Currys and asked for an old-school ghetto blaster to borrow.
2 hours seems pretty reasonable and that is a view shared by most people it seems. If you don't like it then surely the logical option is to go back and just speak to the dealer principal?
M-SportMatt said:
Exactly the kind of thing I was going to do. Cheers
I guess a lot of the posters on here buy with their dick rather than actually find out what a car is like before they buy it by the sounds of it.
Certainly looks that way! The Bellendery is strong in this thread.I guess a lot of the posters on here buy with their dick rather than actually find out what a car is like before they buy it by the sounds of it.
FWIW, I agree with you OP.
I used to drive a lot of different cars at work and some that I liked initially turned out to have annoying foibles when driven longer distances.
In one case, I was considering purchasing a similar model as my own car - until I found that it got very uncomfortable, to the point of giving me pins and needles, on longer drives.
I'm so glad that I didn't buy one - it would have been, literally, a PITA on my semi-frequent Euro trips.
Cars such as you're considering aren't cheap. I can't say that I'd want to drop north of £30k on the strength of a short drive and a few magazine reviews either.
ktard in the town would be blagging one for the weekend:stanglish said:
M-SportMatt said:
Pretty normal for high end hi-fi equipment......
And I'm sure if you had a similar relationship with a high-end car dealer who had some history with you purchasing their high-end products they would happily lend you a high-end car for an extended drive.... But you don't - you simply walked into a VW dealer enquiring about a high-volume car with a slight reputation for not having the most responsible drivers. To continue the analogy, haven't visited your high-end hi-fi dealer, you have visited Currys and asked for an old-school ghetto blaster to borrow.
2 hours seems pretty reasonable and that is a view shared by most people it seems. If you don't like it then surely the logical option is to go back and just speak to the dealer principal?
OP, take a chill pill, stop attacking half the posters on this board. You seen really pent up.
Maybe a Golf R is perfect for you.
DJP said:
I used to drive a lot of different cars at work and some that I liked initially turned out to have annoying foibles when driven longer distances.
I found the opposite - I got used to cars which were initially annoying. Especially odd engine / gearbox traits - you learn to drive around them.Sheepshanks said:
DJP said:
I used to drive a lot of different cars at work and some that I liked initially turned out to have annoying foibles when driven longer distances.
I found the opposite - I got used to cars which were initially annoying. Especially odd engine / gearbox traits - you learn to drive around them.Op your anger is stopping you looking at this from the dealers point of view. VW are a volume seller, many of their customers are happy with a quick 10 mins around the block before making a decision. They probably only have 1 Golf R on demo but you want them to let you have it for 2 days on the basis of just a phone call.
It's very difficult for any salesman to qualify you over the phone. If you invested some time in a visit to the dealer, showed your genuine interest, talked through the purchase options, had your BMW appraised as a trade in, took the 2 hour test, and built a relationship they might then stretch their policy to allow you to have it for several hours. And of course Golf R's have been extremely cheap as lease deals recently, I wonder how many Golf R test drives they've done only to have the customer go and lease the car elsewhere.
Unfortunately despite the cost this isn't a high end product like your hi fi, a large dealer will be punting out well over 100 unit's per month, if you don't buy someone else will. I had a 12 week wait when I got my golf last year. In fact in the weekend you're having your extended test they might well lose 3 or 4 other sales because the car is unavailable for normal test drives.
It's very difficult for any salesman to qualify you over the phone. If you invested some time in a visit to the dealer, showed your genuine interest, talked through the purchase options, had your BMW appraised as a trade in, took the 2 hour test, and built a relationship they might then stretch their policy to allow you to have it for several hours. And of course Golf R's have been extremely cheap as lease deals recently, I wonder how many Golf R test drives they've done only to have the customer go and lease the car elsewhere.
Unfortunately despite the cost this isn't a high end product like your hi fi, a large dealer will be punting out well over 100 unit's per month, if you don't buy someone else will. I had a 12 week wait when I got my golf last year. In fact in the weekend you're having your extended test they might well lose 3 or 4 other sales because the car is unavailable for normal test drives.
Edited by oldnbold on Thursday 13th July 17:34
stanglish said:
And I'm sure if you had a similar relationship with a high-end car dealer who had some history with you purchasing their high-end products they would happily lend you a high-end car for an extended drive.
... But you don't - you simply walked into a VW dealer enquiring about a high-volume car with a slight reputation for not having the most responsible drivers. To continue the analogy, haven't visited your high-end hi-fi dealer, you have visited Currys and asked for an old-school ghetto blaster to borrow.
2 hours seems pretty reasonable and that is a view shared by most people it seems. If you don't like it then surely the logical option is to go back and just speak to the dealer principal?
I think you'll find VW regard themselves as premium, I think you'll find that although the R is unlimited production it most certainly isn't high volume (subjective), you'll also find that I didn't ask for advice on how to handle the VW dealer, i merely asked if any manufacturers were known to offer extended test drives. IF i decide to pursue an R of course i will visit the dealer, its virtually next door to where I work, which is a long way from home, another reason i don't want a two hour test on a busy saturday. Thanks ... But you don't - you simply walked into a VW dealer enquiring about a high-volume car with a slight reputation for not having the most responsible drivers. To continue the analogy, haven't visited your high-end hi-fi dealer, you have visited Currys and asked for an old-school ghetto blaster to borrow.
2 hours seems pretty reasonable and that is a view shared by most people it seems. If you don't like it then surely the logical option is to go back and just speak to the dealer principal?
stanglish said:
And I'm sure if you had a similar relationship with a high-end car dealer who had some history with you purchasing their high-end products they would happily lend you a high-end car for an extended drive.
... But you don't - you simply walked into a VW dealer enquiring about a high-volume car with a slight reputation for not having the most responsible drivers. To continue the analogy, haven't visited your high-end hi-fi dealer, you have visited Currys and asked for an old-school ghetto blaster to borrow.
2 hours seems pretty reasonable and that is a view shared by most people it seems. If you don't like it then surely the logical option is to go back and just speak to the dealer principal?
He didn't even do that, he phoned them up and tried to order his free £30K hire car...... But you don't - you simply walked into a VW dealer enquiring about a high-volume car with a slight reputation for not having the most responsible drivers. To continue the analogy, haven't visited your high-end hi-fi dealer, you have visited Currys and asked for an old-school ghetto blaster to borrow.
2 hours seems pretty reasonable and that is a view shared by most people it seems. If you don't like it then surely the logical option is to go back and just speak to the dealer principal?
I actually do get the need for an extended drive. I love my car and have had it for over five years but as I'm getting old and fat I'm starting to get back ache after an hour in it which is a pain in all senses of the word. So I may have to think about changing it and I'd like to drive a potential replacement for two or three hours to make absolutely sure I don't run into the same issue, which would make it pointless.
But I certainly wouldn't expect to just call a dealer I'd never even met and have a car put at my disposal for two days!
oldnbold said:
Op your anger is stopping you looking at this from the dealers point of view. VW are a volume seller, many of their customers are happy with a quick 10 mins around the block before making a decision. They probably only have 1 Golf R on demo but you want them to let you have it for 2 days on the basis of just a phone call.
It's very difficult for any salesman to qualify you over the phone. If you invested some time in a visit to the dealer, showed your genuine interest, talked through the purchase options, had your BMW appraised as a trade in, took the 2 hour test, and built a relationship they might then stretch their policy to allow you to have it for several hours. And of course Golf R's have been extremely cheap as lease deals recently, I wonder how many Golf R test drives they've done only to have the customer go and lease the car elsewhere.
Unfortunately despite the cost this isn't a high end product like your hi fi, a large dealer will be punting out well over 100 unit's per month, if you don't buy someone else will. I had a 12 week wait when I got my golf last year. In fact in the weekend you're having your extended test they might well lose 3 or 4 other sales because the car is unavailable for normal test drives.
I don't have any anger for the dealer, or much else, i have some scorn for some idiots on a forum but that's to be expected, if you swim with the bottom feeders you often encounter some turds.It's very difficult for any salesman to qualify you over the phone. If you invested some time in a visit to the dealer, showed your genuine interest, talked through the purchase options, had your BMW appraised as a trade in, took the 2 hour test, and built a relationship they might then stretch their policy to allow you to have it for several hours. And of course Golf R's have been extremely cheap as lease deals recently, I wonder how many Golf R test drives they've done only to have the customer go and lease the car elsewhere.
Unfortunately despite the cost this isn't a high end product like your hi fi, a large dealer will be punting out well over 100 unit's per month, if you don't buy someone else will. I had a 12 week wait when I got my golf last year. In fact in the weekend you're having your extended test they might well lose 3 or 4 other sales because the car is unavailable for normal test drives.
Edited by oldnbold on Thursday 13th July 17:34
Your suggested course of action would be pretty much my action if i decide to pursue it. The post was just asking about other manufacturers who are known to offer extended test drives. Cheers
PixelpeepS3 said:
Good post - tbh, when we had the i3 for a week it allowed us to trial it in all the situations it was likely to face, we did the commute, we picked up the in-laws from the beck theater in middlesex and drove them back to Islington, we did a tip run (boot not very big bit inside is 'tall) we also did the McDonalds and sit in the car n eat test - cup holders and flat surfaces passed the test.
we also ordered it when we returned, in exactly the same spec as the demonstrator we had.
That's very relevant for an extended test though. Buying an electric car is an altogether different concept for family life. I too managed to get an extended test as I wanted a weekend doing family stuff then a couple of days to run it on my commute. we also ordered it when we returned, in exactly the same spec as the demonstrator we had.
Bought an e-class diseasel estate in the end though. Very middle aged
Ari said:
He didn't even do that, he phoned them up and tried to order his free £30K hire car...
I actually do get the need for an extended drive. I love my car and have had it for over five years but as I'm getting old and fat I'm starting to get back ache after an hour in it which is a pain in all senses of the word. So I may have to think about changing it and I'd like to drive a potential replacement for two or three hours to make absolutely sure I don't run into the same issue, which would make it pointless.
But I certainly wouldn't expect to just call a dealer I'd never even met and have a car put at my disposal for two days!
There seems to be a fairly large assumption here that I don't know the dealer.....I bought my wife's car there and the business I work for has about 30 cars from there.......I actually do get the need for an extended drive. I love my car and have had it for over five years but as I'm getting old and fat I'm starting to get back ache after an hour in it which is a pain in all senses of the word. So I may have to think about changing it and I'd like to drive a potential replacement for two or three hours to make absolutely sure I don't run into the same issue, which would make it pointless.
But I certainly wouldn't expect to just call a dealer I'd never even met and have a car put at my disposal for two days!
Why not actually go in to the dealer and meet face to face and take the offer of a 2 hour test drive ? It will give you a good idea (some would say a very good idea) if the car is for you or not. If you still (seriously) can't decide if it's dull or not having driven it for two hours you have at least established a relationship with the salesperson concerned which might put you in a position to negotiate an extended test drive if they can qualify you as a genuinely serious buyer.
Trying to arrange it over the phone is naive in the extreme IMO.
Edit: Failing that as I mentioned previously you can hire an R32 from Avis Prestige.
Trying to arrange it over the phone is naive in the extreme IMO.
Edit: Failing that as I mentioned previously you can hire an R32 from Avis Prestige.
Edited by 48k on Thursday 13th July 17:55
48k said:
Why not actually go in to the dealer and meet face to face and take the offer of a 2 hour test drive ? It will give you a good idea (some would say a very good idea) if the car is for you or not. If you still (seriously) can't decide if it's dull or not having driven it for two hours you have at least started to establish a relationship with the dealer which might put you in a position to negotiate an extended test drive if the dealer can qualify you as a genuinely serious buyer.
Trying to arrange it over the phone is naive in the extreme IMO.
I think iv'e said a number of times now that would be exactly what i'd do......my OP wasn't asking what I should do, it was asking if any other manufacturers offered extended tests........Trying to arrange it over the phone is naive in the extreme IMO.
Ari said:
I actually do get the need for an extended drive. I love my car and have had it for over five years but as I'm getting old and fat I'm starting to get back ache after an hour in it which is a pain in all senses of the word. So I may have to think about changing it and I'd like to drive a potential replacement for two or three hours to make absolutely sure I don't run into the same issue, which would make it pointless.
Just go and sit in a car in the showroom for 3 hours. 
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