Drive lots before you buy..
Discussion
Everyone says 'drive a few before you buy" which can make perfect sense. Also, most of the thrill is in the chase. However...,
- What if the first one you try is a real peach?
- How did you get a go in the cars when you had no intention of buying them? "Err, can I have a test drive then? I've no real intention of buying it but it will server as a fantastic reference against the 5\6th car I try"
- What if the first one you try is a real peach?
- How did you get a go in the cars when you had no intention of buying them? "Err, can I have a test drive then? I've no real intention of buying it but it will server as a fantastic reference against the 5\6th car I try"
Personally I think it's overrated. I've bought two out of my last three cars without driving them, and one of those was without even seeing the thing. Okay, so they were both from main dealers in both cases which limits the risk, but I do like to live on the edge a bit and I suspect I just got very lucky. Logic dictates that it's a really silly thing to do, I know that, but I don't consider my car purchases to be particularly logical: As cheesy as it sounds, I buy from the heart more than anything.
I think if you're passionate about cars, you know when you've found the right one. If that's the first one you look at then more the better.
I think if you're passionate about cars, you know when you've found the right one. If that's the first one you look at then more the better.
Well I did it all wrong, spent ages looking at adverts, found a 911 I liked the look of drove about 60 miles to see it, was taken for a short drive, didn't drive it myself and bought it. Private seller, No Test Drive, No inspection, No argument with the price, and No problems 8 months later and 8K more on the clock.... I’ve not stopped smiling. 
If it feels right then don’t worry life’s too short.
EJ
If it feels right then don’t worry life’s too short.
EJ
EJ911 said:
Well I did it all wrong, spent ages looking at adverts, found a 911 I liked the look of drove about 60 miles to see it, was taken for a short drive, didn't drive it myself and bought it. Private seller, No Test Drive, No inspection, No argument with the price, and No problems 8 months later and 8K more on the clock.... I’ve not stopped smiling.
If it feels right then don’t worry life’s too short.
EJ
I done the exact same thing.If it feels right then don’t worry life’s too short.
EJ
When I bought my GT3 five years ago I turned up, looked around the car, spent ages looking at the history and invoices. Did not drive the car or even take the car at the garage. BUT I did know I would be having a PPI booked and let the guys who know more than me check it over and drive it.
I did not drive it till I picked it up a week later.
Dan
I did not drive it till I picked it up a week later.
Dan
Go to any OPC with a reasonable attitude (I am ready to buy when I find the right car - just not decided on what I want), and you should be able to get some test drives in the 2nd hand stock or demonstrators. Just don't try this at the weekend. If you can't afford to take an afternoon off work, then you can't afford the car.
Then, once you've narrowed down the model range, you can see what other similar cars they will let you drive.
Just remember that this is their job to get you to buy their cars. They want the cars in their show rooms a lot less than you want to buy them. So they are generally willing to accommodate.
Then, once you've narrowed down the model range, you can see what other similar cars they will let you drive.
Just remember that this is their job to get you to buy their cars. They want the cars in their show rooms a lot less than you want to buy them. So they are generally willing to accommodate.
When I was buying I drove quite a few 996s and they all felt different in one way or another, you won't know if the first was a peach until you've tried something else. Only when I thought I'd found the car I wanted I got an inspection done.
(Saying that, the first car I had inspected was a total fail! Proves Mr average knows nothing about cars!)
(Saying that, the first car I had inspected was a total fail! Proves Mr average knows nothing about cars!)
dibblecorse said:
gsewell said:
If you can't afford to take an afternoon off work, then you can't afford the car.
What utter bo11ox ....
gsewell said:
Go to any OPC with a reasonable attitude (I am ready to buy when I find the right car - just not decided on what I want), and you should be able to get some test drives in the 2nd hand stock or demonstrators. Just don't try this at the weekend. If you can't afford to take an afternoon off work, then you can't afford the car.
WTF? How does that work? I work in an industry that if i take the wrong day off i could easily loose several thousand pounds, and you will never know which days will be quiet ones. Im sure for numerous people, probably even more so buying high end goods, its very expensive to take a day of work.SonnyM said:
+1 - I could not take anytime off work because the trading floor need me. So bought mine over the phone from a Bentley dealer without seeing the car in person and had it delivered on a truck. Best deal I have ever done.
Exactly. Mind you, terrible all this new money isnt it what? Terribly crass. 
mrh1275 said:
The reason why most of us guys drive a Porsche is thru hard work
I cannot remember the last real day off I had !!
Internet company and I even worked Xmas day !!
But I am not complaining
That's the trouble- no free time to enjoy the fruits of your labour! Don't drive my Porsche nearly enough!I cannot remember the last real day off I had !!
Internet company and I even worked Xmas day !!
But I am not complaining
To the handful of Porsche drivers who are in the top 1 percentile salary range and who believe that they are indispensable to their company - just think that Steve Jobs (rip) and Bill gates are no longer around and their companies are still flourishing. So get a work/life balance.
To the remaining 99% of people who could lose a years gross salary in the depreciation of the wrong car - have as many test drives as you can blag until you find the right car - or even whether you actually like driving a Porsche, not every one does.
If buying second hand, you then have several choices:
OPC or specialist with guarantee
private seller with an OPC 111 point check
private seller with an AA/RAC inspection
private seller and a wind/prayer.
When I bought my Subaru, I was worried that the common perception of their drivers was that they were arrogant tossers. That perception is wrong. It seems that those drivers have now upgraded to "high end products"
To the remaining 99% of people who could lose a years gross salary in the depreciation of the wrong car - have as many test drives as you can blag until you find the right car - or even whether you actually like driving a Porsche, not every one does.
If buying second hand, you then have several choices:
OPC or specialist with guarantee
private seller with an OPC 111 point check
private seller with an AA/RAC inspection
private seller and a wind/prayer.
When I bought my Subaru, I was worried that the common perception of their drivers was that they were arrogant tossers. That perception is wrong. It seems that those drivers have now upgraded to "high end products"
mrh1275 said:
The reason why most of us guys drive a Porsche is thru hard work
I cannot remember the last real day off I had !!
Internet company and I even worked Xmas day !!
But I am not complaining
I find that quite sad..... you've got to find time for yourself and others you share your life with.I cannot remember the last real day off I had !!
Internet company and I even worked Xmas day !!
But I am not complaining
gsewell said:
To the handful of Porsche drivers who are in the top 1 percentile salary range and who believe that they are indispensable to their company - just think that Steve Jobs (rip) and Bill gates are no longer around and their companies are still flourishing. So get a work/life balance.
To the remaining 99% of people who could lose a years gross salary in the depreciation of the wrong car - have as many test drives as you can blag until you find the right car - or even whether you actually like driving a Porsche, not every one does.
If buying second hand, you then have several choices:
OPC or specialist with guarantee
private seller with an OPC 111 point check
private seller with an AA/RAC inspection
private seller and a wind/prayer.
When I bought my Subaru, I was worried that the common perception of their drivers was that they were arrogant tossers. That perception is wrong. It seems that those drivers have now upgraded to "high end products"
hahahah. Righto mate, we are all w@nkers because we dont want to take a day off work to test drive cars?To the remaining 99% of people who could lose a years gross salary in the depreciation of the wrong car - have as many test drives as you can blag until you find the right car - or even whether you actually like driving a Porsche, not every one does.
If buying second hand, you then have several choices:
OPC or specialist with guarantee
private seller with an OPC 111 point check
private seller with an AA/RAC inspection
private seller and a wind/prayer.
When I bought my Subaru, I was worried that the common perception of their drivers was that they were arrogant tossers. That perception is wrong. It seems that those drivers have now upgraded to "high end products"
As for losing a years gross salary to depreciation, good lord, thats a scary thought for anyone, irrelevent of your income.
I bought mine first thing on a Sunday morning. That must make me the ultimate idiot then: Didn't take a day off from work AND I gave up sitting in the drawing room in the east wing reading the Sunday papers, whilst being served freshly killed venison by my private army of naked supermodels.
I'm a heathen!
I'm a heathen!
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