Extended Test Drives
Discussion
Insert Coin said:
This thread has all the classic traits of a Vlad thread, didn't you have a junior supercar for a while and a VW California that you paid for in cash?
Coincidentally Vlad was also called Matt.
Sadly not, although I do like the name VladCoincidentally Vlad was also called Matt.
Other cars include an Escos 400/400 Harvey Gibbs Engine , Shawspeed prepared kit car and an XR2 hill climber.
No junior supercars there......lol
I recently bought a car, my experience of most car dealers and dealerships is they expect you to have Two minute drive and make a huge decision to commit to a car and more often than not a stupid finance package.
I disappointed many salesmen while trying to find the right car for me. I must have tried every car in the class that I liked, and sat in every car I wasn't overly keen on.
In the end I knew I wanted a 5 series, and ended up buying one from a small dealer. I turned up on a lazy Saturday afternoon, dressed like a tramp, he literally said it's open, keys inside, it's taxed, tested, have a look and take it for Drive if you want. So we did, gf lived it, I needed more testing. Over next few weeks I went back about 4 times, test driving it a second time. I ended up agreeing to a nice deal with them. My patience saved me 450 quid on the deal.
As for the car, it's not perfect, but over all it was a good call.
The other failed salesmen's need to learn that some people will make up their own mind, the right car will sell itself.
I disappointed many salesmen while trying to find the right car for me. I must have tried every car in the class that I liked, and sat in every car I wasn't overly keen on.
In the end I knew I wanted a 5 series, and ended up buying one from a small dealer. I turned up on a lazy Saturday afternoon, dressed like a tramp, he literally said it's open, keys inside, it's taxed, tested, have a look and take it for Drive if you want. So we did, gf lived it, I needed more testing. Over next few weeks I went back about 4 times, test driving it a second time. I ended up agreeing to a nice deal with them. My patience saved me 450 quid on the deal.
As for the car, it's not perfect, but over all it was a good call.
The other failed salesmen's need to learn that some people will make up their own mind, the right car will sell itself.
Before deciding on my last car, I had an Audi S1, a Q3 and a Yeti on different weekends to see which I wanted. The dealer brought each to our house on Friday afternoon and collected on Monday. I went on to buy an S1.
Before deciding on a Hyundai Tucson, my wife also had one for a weekend, and then placed an order.
Before deciding on a Hyundai Tucson, my wife also had one for a weekend, and then placed an order.
M-SportMatt said:
POORCARDEALER said:
Next house I buy I will ask to move in for a few days before I make a decision
Yet another fatuous idiot...as you can see from the thread if you bother to read it that yes some dealers do offer extended tests over a weekend.........housebuilders do not.I know Matt hasn't expressed the same willingness to rent a car to test that I have (ideally for me, you'd be able to rent from the dealer then perhaps get that value rebated from the purchase if you go ahead), but it seems others would be willing to do this too - coincidentally on the same car I am considering: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It's also amusing that in the last 24 hours I have also seen the thread "what's the shortest you've owned a car" which features some of the same people as this thread: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It seems not getting on with a car you've just bought isn't exactly uncommon, so perhaps there is some merit in this extended test drive thing...
egomeister said:
Ignoring the fact that apples are being compared to oranges, it's funny how some people seem to think because housebuilders don't let you stay for a couple of days that cars should be reduced to this also. My first thoughts were how could housebuilders offer an equivalent of an extended test drive, and what other techniques could be employed to make the pre-sale experience more comprehensive...
I know Matt hasn't expressed the same willingness to rent a car to test that I have (ideally for me, you'd be able to rent from the dealer then perhaps get that value rebated from the purchase if you go ahead), but it seems others would be willing to do this too - coincidentally on the same car I am considering: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It's also amusing that in the last 24 hours I have also seen the thread "what's the shortest you've owned a car" which features some of the same people as this thread: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It seems not getting on with a car you've just bought isn't exactly uncommon, so perhaps there is some merit in this extended test drive thing...
I'd happily pay a fee to the dealer that was rebateable on purchase, perhaps that will come up when I actually go see them. There's definitely merit in the extended test drive because it happens! I'd say some of the posters are in their early/mid twenties and/or someone that's never walked into a dealer and bought a brand new £30-40k car with their own hard earned.......no matter what your means are, its a lot of money to spend.I know Matt hasn't expressed the same willingness to rent a car to test that I have (ideally for me, you'd be able to rent from the dealer then perhaps get that value rebated from the purchase if you go ahead), but it seems others would be willing to do this too - coincidentally on the same car I am considering: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It's also amusing that in the last 24 hours I have also seen the thread "what's the shortest you've owned a car" which features some of the same people as this thread: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It seems not getting on with a car you've just bought isn't exactly uncommon, so perhaps there is some merit in this extended test drive thing...
Also worth noting is that if its possible to get to know every foible of a car in 1-2 hours why are there press demonstrators and long term tests in all the car mags.............
M-SportMatt said:
Also worth noting is that if its possible to get to know every foible of a car in 1-2 hours why are there press demonstrators and long term tests in all the car mags.............
I am McLaren. I give evo and PH a car for 6 months. Do you think I am doing that to give them a long term test drive or, alternatively, because they will write about it every month and give me PR and advertising? limpsfield said:
I am McLaren. I give evo and PH a car for 6 months. Do you think I am doing that to give them a long term test drive or, alternatively, because they will write about it every month and give me PR and advertising?
What about Skoda giving them an Octavia or Ford lending Autocar a boggo Focus?Yes its advertising, but the journo's always manage to find new stuff to write about for months and months...or are you stating that yes 2 hours is all it takes to know everything about a car? In which case we disagree
M-SportMatt said:
What about Skoda giving them an Octavia or Ford lending Autocar a boggo Focus?
Yes its advertising, but the journo's always manage to find new stuff to write about for months and months...or are you stating that yes 2 hours is all it takes to know everything about a car? In which case we disagree
Nope. But I don't think a weekend is either. I have had cars in the past that have taken a few months for me to really get on with or hate. I bought a BMW m240 in December after a half hour test drive. I don't think a weekend would have told me much more. I bought a Lotus evora sight unseen and without driving it, because I was a Lotus fan and the positive mag reviews. Yes its advertising, but the journo's always manage to find new stuff to write about for months and months...or are you stating that yes 2 hours is all it takes to know everything about a car? In which case we disagree
I think we would all like long free test drives. But given the amount of tyre kickers out there - just look at the various threads on here with dreamers who are never going to buy - it's completely understandable why manufacturers don't for run of the mill stuff like golfs and BMWs etc. I do think if you really had a list of stuff you wanted to try out, if organised then 2 hours is enough.
Good luck with whatever your decision is in the end.
M-SportMatt said:
limpsfield said:
I am McLaren. I give evo and PH a car for 6 months. Do you think I am doing that to give them a long term test drive or, alternatively, because they will write about it every month and give me PR and advertising?
What about Skoda giving them an Octavia or Ford lending Autocar a boggo Focus?Yes its advertising, but the journo's always manage to find new stuff to write about for months and months...or are you stating that yes 2 hours is all it takes to know everything about a car? In which case we disagree
It's to get column inches. Surely that's no surprise?
SpeckledJim said:
They aren't giving the cars to magazines for 6 months to find out if it gives a journalist a bad back, or makes their nanna nauseous.
It's to get column inches. Surely that's no surprise?
So whats in it for the magazine then.....bit pointless if there's nothing to write about after the first two hours.......It's to get column inches. Surely that's no surprise?
Buster73 said:
Every excuse not to go in next door and discuss it face to face .
Surely the actions of someone who isn't serious about buying , or worse maybe he's already been qualified as a tyre kicker and knows he'll get knocked back .
Another helpful comment, thanks for your input. Surely the actions of someone who isn't serious about buying , or worse maybe he's already been qualified as a tyre kicker and knows he'll get knocked back .
M-SportMatt said:
SpeckledJim said:
They aren't giving the cars to magazines for 6 months to find out if it gives a journalist a bad back, or makes their nanna nauseous.
It's to get column inches. Surely that's no surprise?
So whats in it for the magazine then.....bit pointless if there's nothing to write about after the first two hours.......It's to get column inches. Surely that's no surprise?
Group test
Family holiday
Another group test
First service
Running update
Another group test
Goodbye review
Easy copy for the magazine, and dead cheap coverage for the manufacturer.
I bought a 335i once after a 20 minute test drive.
If I'd have had an extended test drive I'd have been able to learn that actually I hated it.
I sold it 3 months later.
Standard test drives are only really useful for making sure it isn't broken. Not until you experience a car for a while do you really know if it's any good.
I find this a lot with rental cars. Great first impressions but 2 weeks later you are glad to hand it back.
Sounds like extended test drives might put people off more than encourage them to buy
If I'd have had an extended test drive I'd have been able to learn that actually I hated it.
I sold it 3 months later.
Standard test drives are only really useful for making sure it isn't broken. Not until you experience a car for a while do you really know if it's any good.
I find this a lot with rental cars. Great first impressions but 2 weeks later you are glad to hand it back.
Sounds like extended test drives might put people off more than encourage them to buy
Fox- said:
Sounds like extended test drives might put people off more than encourage them to buy
Honestly, I think that is potentially part of it. If the customer is considering a big upgrade, then having it sit on the drive all weekend and noticing that it doesn't actually transform their life after all could be a sale-killer.SpeckledJim said:
M-SportMatt said:
SpeckledJim said:
They aren't giving the cars to magazines for 6 months to find out if it gives a journalist a bad back, or makes their nanna nauseous.
It's to get column inches. Surely that's no surprise?
So whats in it for the magazine then.....bit pointless if there's nothing to write about after the first two hours.......It's to get column inches. Surely that's no surprise?
Group test
Family holiday
Another group test
First service
Running update
Another group test
Goodbye review
Easy copy for the magazine, and dead cheap coverage for the manufacturer.
M-SportMatt said:
POORCARDEALER said:
Next house I buy I will ask to move in for a few days before I make a decision
Yet another fatuous idiot...as you can see from the thread if you bother to read it that yes some dealers do offer extended tests over a weekend.........housebuilders do not.M-SportMatt said:
POORCARDEALER said:
Next house I buy I will ask to move in for a few days before I make a decision
Yet another fatuous idiot...as you can see from the thread if you bother to read it that yes some dealers do offer extended tests over a weekend.........housebuilders do not.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff