Extended Test Drives

[Sheepshanks]

egomeister said:

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:

You'll see the same people on most threads - there aren't that many regularly active members.

[M-SportMatt]

POORCARDEALER said:

Not to you they dont.

Yes you're quite right, i'm sure there's different rules for you and I due to my internet notoriety.........

[loskie]

OP, The SSANGYONG dealer next to my office is doing a 48hr test drive on the Tivoli, what's more you can be the lucky winner of the free one for a year too.
For your elderly parents with mobility issues it will be the ideal type of car.

Perhaps less so for impressing the neighbours!

When I was a company car driver (in pretty basic co cars nothing flash) I was constantly being invited to events and weekend test drives. I did attend some and they were pretty good.
Not sure if manufacturers still do this but often puzzling why they don't also do it for private purchasers.
The cars are usually supplied from a central fleet rather than a main dealer.

Edited by loskie on Friday 14th July 13:14

[RSpiston]

Test drove a Honda S2000 back in the days. Honda dropped it off at my house on a Thursday and picked it up the following Tuesday. In the summer too

[48k]

loskie said:

When I was a company car driver (in pretty basic co cars nothing flash) I was constantly being invited to events and weekend test drives. I did attend some and they were pretty good.
Not sure if manufacturers still do this but often puzzling why they don't also do it for private purchasers.

I'm a private buyer and I often get invited to "VIP" events by the local dealer which services my car (I didn't even buy it from them).

[Fast Bug]

48k said:

I'm a private buyer and I often get invited to "VIP" events by the local dealer which services my car (I didn't even buy it from them).

VIP event = sale

[48k]

Fast Bug said:

48k said:

I'm a private buyer and I often get invited to "VIP" events by the local dealer which services my car (I didn't even buy it from them).

VIP event = sale

Not sure what point you're trying to make. loskie pondered why they don't hold such events for private customers and I was merely making an observation that my local dealer does.

[unrepentant]

48k said:

Fast Bug said:

48k said:

I'm a private buyer and I often get invited to "VIP" events by the local dealer which services my car (I didn't even buy it from them).

VIP event = sale

Not sure I said otherwise? loskie pondered why they don't hold such events for private customers and I was merely making an observation that my local dealer does.

It's often a requirement of the manufacturer. It's a pain because it's difficult to get anyone to turn up without a heavy inducement. A VIP is anyone at all you can persuade to come.

I was with a dealership for a 4x4 company and we had to put on 3 "events" a year. We lost back end money if we didn't and 2 had to be driving events. The only one we could get people to show up to was when we hired a huge off-road park and invited them along. We could only do that once a year.

Often we ended up conscripting staff and friends for the other events and pulling cars out of stock so we could make it look like we had a crowd. Had to take the photos carefully to ensure the dealer plates didn't show.......

[Fast Bug]

48k said:

Fast Bug said:

48k said:

I'm a private buyer and I often get invited to "VIP" events by the local dealer which services my car (I didn't even buy it from them).

VIP event = sale

Not sure what point you're trying to make. loskie pondered why they don't hold such events for private customers and I was merely making an observation that my local dealer does.

Sorry meant to quote all. Was trying to say it's not like it's anything to write home about

[Sheepshanks]

48k said:

Not sure what point you're trying to make. loskie pondered why they don't hold such events for private customers and I was merely making an observation that my local dealer does.

Have you ever been to a dealer VIP event? I think you're talking about a different thing to the events that are put on by manufacturers for company car drivers. Although some marques do similar events for potential customers who somehow get on their radar.

[loskie]

I was talking about something quite different to so called VIP events. They would make me avoid said dealer.

I had been invited to Millbrook by Subaru, Oulton Park by Vauxhall and a Ford event at the McDonald Inchyra Hotel. All were in the 90's, a bit of a free for all with cars.
Also as a fleet driver was often offered 48hr test drives.

Some companies still do the 48hr test drive periodically, Subaru have.

[Mexman]

Quite a few years ago when I worked for a Citroen dealer, they quite often offered 48 hour test drives to every Tom, Dick and Harry.
In return for you accepting there invite, they would reward you with an M&S voucher upon completion of said test drive.
Jesus... what a waste of time that was.
The amount of bottom breathers we had filling the showroom on a Saturday afternoon when you were trying to deal proper people and you have got a queue of these people getting irate cos there are no free cars available, or someone has returned on one absolutely stinking and covered in st from there disgusting kids or there trip to the tip, you couldn't possibly lend it back out.
These are brand new demonstrators by the way.
Most people would just say, forget the test drive, just give me the voucher!!
Total waste of time..
Don't think we sold one single car from that event...
People just take the piss and expect a free car for the weekend, and don't give any consideration to the crap they are causing.
Paperwork, valeting, timewasters, fueling cars, repairing cars, god it did my head in.
I'm not saying that the original poster is one of the above... The way I would approach it, is to speak to the sales manager, and let him know that after the extended test drive, if the car impresses, that you will be placing an order with that dealer.
However, I would make two things clear,
A- the dealers salesman who arranges the car, and does all the necessary paperwork etc, gets the commission.
B- the finances and deal is stacked up and agreed by both parties beforehand, so in the event of a confirmed order, there is a deal already in place, to avoid any stupid offers or unviable deals being offered.

[Buster73]

M-SportMatt said:

Another helpful comment, thanks for your input.

Close to the truth though ?

Thought so.

[papa3]

I haven't read the whole thread and I'm sure I've written this post before.

The extended test drive is one of my favourite offers to a customer. 24 hrs to get a real feel for a car, try it in the drive, throw the kids seats in etc etc. From our perspective a customer who takes it home for a night and see's a car in their drive and as part of their life is far more likely to buy one AND it shows us in a great light by offering such a service. We put some terms in place to protect ourselves such as a mileage limit, minimum age, imprint on credit card and licence copy but any genuine buyer won't mind these requirements.

We NEVER offer this facility from the off however unless it is to an existing customer (service or sales) to avoid test pilot/wedding guests/holiday makers etc. Once the customer has taken a normal test drive we then make the facility available to them. I certainly wouldn't be offering a car for 48hrs to someone off the street.

Our demonstrator fleet is worth close to half a million quid (and we do not represent prestige or performance franchises) and the running costs associated with our demos is significant. Depreciation, fuel, insurance,valeting, vinyl, accessories, interest charges and smart repairs all add up. Most demo plans allow 1 of each vehicle range so if we send our only (insert model) off for 48 hours then that asset is tied up with only a possibility of 1 sale. If it's parked on the line all weekend it has the potential of generating many sales.

As mentioned earlier the manufacturers occasionally run test drive campaigns. Years ago Vauxhall ran a 3 day test drive programme that was the bane of every dealers life for weeks on end. The deal was to take a brand new car away for 3 days and in return Vx gave you vouchers for something, about 100 quid from memory. The normal phone enquiry went something like this;

3 day demo caller said:

Hi, i'd like your Vectra estate for 3 days on the 21st please

Vx salesman said:

Sorry sir, that car is booked for those dates

3 day demo caller said:

What car do you have available that day?

Vx salesman said:

Only a 3 dr Corsa sir.

3 day voucher collector said:

That'll do.

Vx Salesman said:

We require a Credit card to cover fuel and insurance excess sir

3 day voucher wker said:

It doesn't say that in the fking advert. Click.

As with most things in life the attitude that you approach a situation with will dictate the outcome of that situation. Calling up out of the blue and asking for a 48hr weekend demo in a high spec/performance model is seldom going to pan out for anyone. Try visiting the dealer, taking a normal test drive, build some trust and then explain why a slightly longer demo would help and be prepared to accept a mid week appointment. It makes you look like less of a free hire car type.

[48k]

loskie said:

I was talking about something quite different to so called VIP events. They would make me avoid said dealer.

Apologies for the misunderstanding.

[Loyly]

I had the good luck of getting 48 hrs with a Street Triple last year when I got my T595 Daytona serviced at a Triumph dealership. Since I couldn't collect my bike immediately after the serviced, they were quite content that I hang onto the Street Triple for a few days. Best sales pitch I ever had, just letting me really get to grips with the product in my own time.

An absolutely tremendous motorcycle, as it happens.

[The Moose]

Loyly said:

I had the good luck of getting 48 hrs with a Street Triple last year when I got my T595 Daytona serviced at a Triumph dealership. Since I couldn't collect my bike immediately after the serviced, they were quite content that I hang onto the Street Triple for a few days. Best sales pitch I ever had, just letting me really get to grips with the product in my own time.

An absolutely tremendous motorcycle, as it happens.

Did you buy?

[unrepentant]

papa3 said:

The extended test drive is one of my favourite offers to a customer. 24 hrs to get a real feel for a car, try it in the drive, throw the kids seats in etc etc. From our perspective a customer who takes it home for a night and see's a car in their drive and as part of their life is far more likely to buy one AND it shows us in a great light by offering such a service. We put some terms in place to protect ourselves such as a mileage limit, minimum age, imprint on credit card and licence copy but any genuine buyer won't mind these requirements.

We NEVER offer this facility from the off however unless it is to an existing customer (service or sales) to avoid test pilot/wedding guests/holiday makers etc. Once the customer has taken a normal test drive we then make the facility available to them. I certainly wouldn't be offering a car for 48hrs to someone off the street.

Our demonstrator fleet is worth close to half a million quid (and we do not represent prestige or performance franchises) and the running costs associated with our demos is significant. Depreciation, fuel, insurance,valeting, vinyl, accessories, interest charges and smart repairs all add up. Most demo plans allow 1 of each vehicle range so if we send our only (insert model) off for 48 hours then that asset is tied up with only a possibility of 1 sale. If it's parked on the line all weekend it has the potential of generating many sales.

That makes no sense at all to me. You say you sell a non prestige brand so your margins are skinny but you're prepared to let your only demo of a model leave for the weekend on the chance that you might sell 1 car? Meanwhile you might lose 6 deals.

As I said earlier we don't allow unaccompanied test drives and I've only once seen us lose a potential sale because of that (the guy was an ar5e so he probably wouldn't have bought anyway. Maybe prestige car buyers (or Americans ) are naturally more decisive and used to making a decision rather than procrastinate. We sold a car for $193k today to a guy who hasn't even seen it (nor have we) , let alone driven it.

For existing customers we have a $3 million fleet of service loaners and will always try to put people into an upgraded version of what they drive or the next model up when they drop their car for service. That does generates sales.

[papa3]

unrepentant said:

That makes no sense at all to me. You say you sell a non prestige brand so your margins are skinny but you're prepared to let your only demo of a model leave for the weekend on the chance that you might sell 1 car? Meanwhile you might lose 6 deals.

We use courtesy (loan) fleet to the same end and generally these are nicely spec'd too. We try to avoid weekends for extended drives but will accommodate them if necessary. Whilst we lose the demo we gain customer confidence and once they have bought we tend to have very loyal customers. We can always cover a walk in test dive with stock, management cars or at a push something from the lot.

unrepentant said:

As I said earlier we don't allow unaccompanied test drives and I've only once seen us lose a potential sale because of that (the guy was an ar5e so he probably wouldn't have bought anyway. Maybe prestige car buyers (or Americans ) are naturally more decisive and used to making a decision rather than procrastinate. We sold a car for $193k today to a guy who hasn't even seen it (nor have we) , let alone driven it.

As i understand it the buying model in the US is totally different from the UK. We don't push to conclude a deal on the first visit to the dealership and very rarely deliver a vehicle on the day of sale. We are seeing more first visit buyers as the shopping process is now so heavily influenced online but delivery will be 3-5 days after.

I think the point I was making (perhaps badly) is that the facility DOES exist for extended demos. We don't advertise the fact and we don't offer it to all, particularly not to a random walk in/phone call out of the blue. We recognise that many people looking for an extended test drive are nutters, but just as many are not. If we qualify correctly then we weed out most of the loonies and we have enough processes in place to protect us from the small %age that slip through.

[Sheepshanks]

unrepentant said:

For existing customers we have a $3 million fleet of service loaners and will always try to put people into an upgraded version of what they drive or the next model up when they drop their car for service. That does generates sales.

Yet when I asked if it might be possible to try an E Class while my C was serviced, and was told "of course" I was presented with an A Class on the day. A gentle enquiry as to what happened to the E Class was met with a shrug and "do you want the car or not?"

I don't think there's anything malicious in this, it's just that many dealer staff couldn't give a toss. Last time without any comment about the car I was given a brand new E350CDi.