Buying without driving?

[Bispal]

650spider said:

xcentric said:

Jules360 said:

I would definitely drive one first. I was convinced i wanted a 650S until the dealer let me have one for a day. Didn't get on with it, didn't like the gearbox at all and it gave me a real back ache after about 30 minutes. Bought the 458 Instead. Also had a 570S for a day, back ache was so bad i was dreading driving it back to the showroom. Maybe its just me, but never had the same issue in any Lambo or Ferrari, except the Huracan Performante with race seats.

Interesting. The 458 spider is the other option I'm considering. Had almost decided to do Mc for 2 years then the Ferrari, but may have to wait and drive to see.....

As an alternative view, i still think the alcantara electric seats i had fitted to my 650 as being not only the comfiest seats any any sports car I have had, but to the best of my memory l, the comfiest in any car i have had.

Did think after approx 90 secs sitting in senna seats that they were a tad on the uncomfortable side and wondered what they would be like after a 300mile drive.

P1 seats seemed pretty snug.

I agree with 650spider and it proves there's a saddle for ever arse. When I test drove the perf, with standard seats, it gave me backache, so bad I could only stand 30 mins in it and the only other car I ever owned and got back ache in (enough to sell it) was an original Imprezza turbo. The seats in my 12C were the comfiest I have ever owned (bar a 760 Volvo), I did lots of euro tours and 10 hour at the wheel stints with not a hint of back pain. Same with my 675LT with P1 seats and again done 10 hours at the whee. Al the Porsches I have had with bucket seats have been comfy too. Only the Huracan and Imprezza gave me back ache. That's why its important to test drive, we are all different......

[robsco]

petjam said:

robsco said:

PS - I assume you are asking this question because you are currently unable to drive a car due to Click & Collect only. This classes as a distance sale so you have a 14 day cooling off period.

That depends on how the car is financed, if paid in full remotely, then yes. However if finance is being utilised McLaren require for that to be signed in person, that removes the DSR coverage.

Most finance houses now have the facility to remote sign. Considering that Click & Collect handovers in this lockdown are supposed to be done “off premises”, I can’t see how you’d end up with any other result but a distance sale. I guess the OP needs to get clarity on this.

[petjam]

robsco said:

petjam said:

robsco said:

PS - I assume you are asking this question because you are currently unable to drive a car due to Click & Collect only. This classes as a distance sale so you have a 14 day cooling off period.

That depends on how the car is financed, if paid in full remotely, then yes. However if finance is being utilised McLaren require for that to be signed in person, that removes the DSR coverage.

Most finance houses now have the facility to remote sign. Considering that Click & Collect handovers in this lockdown are supposed to be done “off premises”, I can’t see how you’d end up with any other result but a distance sale. I guess the OP needs to get clarity on this.

Agreed, McLaren is not most though. If you use their finance they require you to sign in person. They know consumer rights well and want to remove as many of them as possible!

[robsco]

petjam said:

robsco said:

petjam said:

robsco said:

PS - I assume you are asking this question because you are currently unable to drive a car due to Click & Collect only. This classes as a distance sale so you have a 14 day cooling off period.

That depends on how the car is financed, if paid in full remotely, then yes. However if finance is being utilised McLaren require for that to be signed in person, that removes the DSR coverage.

Most finance houses now have the facility to remote sign. Considering that Click & Collect handovers in this lockdown are supposed to be done “off premises”, I can’t see how you’d end up with any other result but a distance sale. I guess the OP needs to get clarity on this.

Agreed, McLaren is not most though. If you use their finance they require you to sign in person. They know consumer rights well and want to remove as many of them as possible!

Absolutely. It’s an interesting one, the “off premises” statement makes it a grey area.

[petjam]

Having recently fell foul of McLaren customer services on a brand new faulty vehicle (purchased in the first lockdown) I played the DSR card straight away.

Almost instantly they hit me with a ream of reasons why they were exempt, they know exactly what they are doing.

[Crazy4557]

petjam said:

Having recently fell foul of McLaren customer services on a brand new faulty vehicle (purchased in the first lockdown) I played the DSR card straight away.

Almost instantly they hit me with a ream of reasons why they were exempt, they know exactly what they are doing.

What was the end result, did they cave in or did a battle emerge?

[petjam]

Crazy4557 said:

What was the end result, did they cave in or did a battle emerge?

I won't clog up on here (search my other posts for detail) but in the end I got the solicitor involved. McLaren kicked, screamed and ignored but in the end the evidence from an independent specialist that the brand new car they sold me was made of chocolate was too much to ignore.

What's even more worrying is that they put it back into their stock, didn't appear to fix anything and then sold it on.

[John-l3ycg]

I bought a 570GT without driving it. I had a foreign drivers licence, and they wouldn't insure me to test drive.

So just bought it, and had to have it looked at the following week. Loose insulating foam inside one tyre.

Apart from that, no dramas.

Probably wouldn't buy without driving again though, if I could avoid it.

[BlueIn2Red]

It wouldn't bother me not driving it, assuming you're buying it from a reputable source. As you don't have experience of similar cars, you're not going to know if this one is good or bad anyway, and it's not as if you can make any reliability judgements from a few minutes test drive.

[Nattyboy888]

I’m in this boat ! Never even sat in one Of the cars I’m considering is a great spec I’m and there are (allegedly ) quite a few people from further afield interested in the car but won’t proceed until they’ve viewed. The dealer does click and collect and has put in writing that they will refund if it doesn’t meet my expectations. I’m also getting thorney to do a PPI tomorrow On the dealers ramp. It’s not how I envisaged buying my first proper supercar after ten years of Porsche ownership, but that’s the situation we’re in and I don’t want to potentially miss out. It’s also quite exciting lol!

[xcentric]

McDealer or independent? just wondering why you're getting a Thorney PPI?

Will the return extend to 'just don't like it....'?

[iridium_moon]

If buying remotely from a proper dealer (check online with Company Check that they exist as a registered company and have very positive funds/asset values) then I think no problem at all.

I've bought most of my cars over the years without the hassle of travelling, viewing and/or test driving. I'm just about to do exactly that again tomorrow, after extensive price and spec discussions by email, and on-line research of the shortlist vehicles' histories.

These days, cars just work. We also have that thing called the internet, with high-res photos, and forums where if a car model is rubbish to drive, there is no shortage of people to tell you about it!

Good luck! Do let us all know what you do in the end.

[xcentric]

I think, clarified by the advice on here, that there are two issues at play:
1. is this particular car ok?
2. is this car in general for me?

For 1 it seems clear that buying without driving is perfectly fine - almost all 'just work' and with a warranty, whilst a hassle, niggles can be put right for minimal costs.

For 2 it's much harder - obviously one can read all about the handling and performance, and it is all wonderful. But there are also other options (458 spider, ?lambo) which are also wonderful but in different ways. And really, without driving, one can't tell which sings to your soul most.

Which doesn't mean I have to wait to drive them all - I need to reassure myself that this is not the last car I'll ever buy, that it can be changed in a few years to try one fo the others, and so on. But maybe it might make sense.

Or I could have one now ready for the summer...... Decisions, decisions......

[sardis]

I think your summary is spot on and good advice offered all round. Indeed I have just bought a car undriven, but I did have previous experience of a sister model. But, many moons ago, I bought a BMW325i based on road tests and reviews, and it just didn’t work for me, I really disliked the dynamics of it, the balance and just general niggles all round despite the glowing reports on it.
So I still think it would be worthwhile at least trying to get a test drive in your preferred model and as you say you can leave the others for later. Having said all that it’s so tempting with summer coming and lockdown looking to be over by then. Good luck with your car.

[Jonny TVR]

I bought without driving ...

F10 M5
F90 M5
Maserati Granturismo
Ferrari 599
Ferrari Testarossa
Ferrari 488 GTB
e-type series 1 FHC
Alfa Romeo GT Junior
Seat Leon Cupra R
Golf GTI
Cobra 427 recreation
TVR S2
2X Range Rover L405's
LR Defender

Out of these only the GT Junior was disappointing. All the others I really enjoyed ... they weren't all perfect but I knew that before I bought them as I had researched them.

[SL550M]

Jonny TVR said:

I bought without driving ...

F10 M5
F90 M5
Maserati Granturismo
Ferrari 599
Ferrari Testarossa
Ferrari 488 GTB
e-type series 1 FHC
Alfa Romeo GT Junior
Seat Leon Cupra R
Golf GTI
Cobra 427 recreation
TVR S2
2X Range Rover L405's
LR Defender

Out of these only the GT Junior was disappointing. All the others I really enjoyed ... they weren't all perfect but I knew that before I bought them as I had researched them.

Great stuff, love that list of cars!

Of all the cars I've owned, the only one I didn't test drive was my 550 Maranello and ironically that's the car I kept (and loved) the longest.

[Jonny TVR]

SL550M said:

Great stuff, love that list of cars!

Of all the cars I've owned, the only one I didn't test drive was my 550 Maranello and ironically that's the car I kept (and loved) the longest.

Thanks Steve ... the 550 is one I would buy without driving too!