Ford Focus ST extended test drive
Discussion
My Girlfriend wants to get a new car in March, she currently has an R56 Mini Cooper S, my main suggestion was to go for the new Focus ST as it seems a decent next step following on from the MCS in both practicality and performance. We went to see one and she liked it, she wasn't fussed on a test drive as shes not really comfortable driving the car with the Sales man. She also wants to drive the car for a few hours to see how she gets on with it.
I was wondering if there was any way it would be possible to get one for a few hours unaccompanied, 24 hours or possibly more? As shes not interested in getting the car before March shes prepared to wait as long as it takes for it to be convenient. Shes not a test Pilot just someone who's a little bit wary of the ST's size, performance, fuel consumption and image.
I believe driving it would seal the deal for her, I can't help but get the feeling that the local dealers will see a young couple looking for a joy ride in the latest hot hatch though (we are 23 & 25 respectively). Is it really acceptable to have a few hours alone with the car (enough to cover approx 40 miles) or is the request unreasonable?
Interested to hear anyone's thoughts
I was wondering if there was any way it would be possible to get one for a few hours unaccompanied, 24 hours or possibly more? As shes not interested in getting the car before March shes prepared to wait as long as it takes for it to be convenient. Shes not a test Pilot just someone who's a little bit wary of the ST's size, performance, fuel consumption and image.
I believe driving it would seal the deal for her, I can't help but get the feeling that the local dealers will see a young couple looking for a joy ride in the latest hot hatch though (we are 23 & 25 respectively). Is it really acceptable to have a few hours alone with the car (enough to cover approx 40 miles) or is the request unreasonable?
Interested to hear anyone's thoughts
I wouldn't have thought to many main dealers will grant a 24 hr test of an ST. In my experience I have had loan of a prospective purchase for a full day but it was from a specialist used car dealer not brand new.
Just being nosey but checked your garage and do you not have a Focus RS? The new ST won't be a million miles away from this model so why not let her drive your car for a weekend (with teeth gritted of course)the performance & fuel consumption would be similar at least!
Just being nosey but checked your garage and do you not have a Focus RS? The new ST won't be a million miles away from this model so why not let her drive your car for a weekend (with teeth gritted of course)the performance & fuel consumption would be similar at least!
ST270 said:
I wouldn't have thought to many main dealers will grant a 24 hr test of an ST. In my experience I have had loan of a prospective purchase for a full day but it was from a specialist used car dealer not brand new.
Just being nosey but checked your garage and do you not have a Focus RS? The new ST won't be a million miles away from this model so why not let her drive your car for a weekend (with teeth gritted of course)the performance & fuel consumption would be similar at least!
I would feel happy to let her drive the RS, they would probably see her as a genuine buyer then (lots of dealers are fickle and terribly short sighted), unfortunately I have moved it on. She drove the RS regular, it wouldn't be good enough for her, she would want more MPG, comfier seats, softer ride and to see how she gets on parking a larger 5 door car. Her reasoning for not jumping at the ST is very odd, but she is a flat cock after all Just being nosey but checked your garage and do you not have a Focus RS? The new ST won't be a million miles away from this model so why not let her drive your car for a weekend (with teeth gritted of course)the performance & fuel consumption would be similar at least!
The reason I posted here was to see the response, I don't want the dealers looking at me as if I had asked to take a s
t on their mothers chest I also thought that by rocking up and asking straight out for an unaccompanied test drive we would seem like definite joy riders. I thought there may be a way to do it through Ford UK or something 
I think you'll be joining the back of a very long queue for a day's test drive to be honest. Get in touch with your local ford dealer and see what they say, i'd take what you're offered though.
I test drove one at a press day recently and it's nice but quite a bit different from the mini.
I test drove one at a press day recently and it's nice but quite a bit different from the mini.
Just be straight with your local dealer - I've given loads of customers an extended demo, it really isn't a problem. A couple of points to consider - think about arranging it for a week day, demos are in demand on the weekend, you'll appear more credible (ie you're less likely to be borrowing it for a day out) and you'll be able to use it on a typical day of commuting/ shopping etc and get a better feel for it on a normal day.
Be prepared to insure it yourself and you should be fine.
Be prepared to insure it yourself and you should be fine.
I tried to post a response to this Friday afternoon on my phone but it wouldn't work.
Anyway, an update, I went to the Ford Dealership with my other half, had another look round a Focus, got chatting to the showroom Manager (I assume) who seemed very tidy and gave good honest, if not maybe a little inaccurate answers. Anyway, I explained the situation and we agreed we wanted a car for March delivery, after discussing the options etc we then revealed we wanted a Blue (/purple) Focus ST3 with the added options of the styling pack (red calipers and smoked wheels) plus rear privacy glass provided the price was right.
I tried to put the chap serving us under a bit of pressure asking lots of short, sharp and specific questions, one of which was very bluntly, "So whats the real price of these cars? I assume there are manufacturers discounts to be had as I haven't seen many about?" after a bit of mumbling and thinking he said "You can probably knock about a grand off through Ford", further pressing and he then reveals that he could do a deal on stock cars at around £2,500 under list price (so £23k for an ST3). I also have a Ford Manufacturers discount ticket that I intend to throw into the mix later down the line so we are hoping to be in a well specced Focus ST for around £22k. The chap told us that we would be looking at mid February for delivery should we order this week.
So now the figures line up and my partners happy, still back to the basic question, will she like it? I try and declare our interest as best as possible but the manager seems very reluctant to offer what should be a deal snatching test drive. The offer doesn't come so I ask him outright if one was possible, his response was a little odd stating "We don't advertise or offer test drives, but if you wanted to go out in one you could give us some notice and we would have the workshop prepare one of our stock cars, you see they come shipped with rubber blocks in the suspension that need to be removed and all the Tyre pressures and stuff would be wrong so it has to be set up for the road", I am a little puzzled by this, I mean we are suppose to commit to a £23k performance car without driving it at all? I am also worried about what we have to commit just to get an accompanied test drive? I am expecting a big sell and lots of pressure if the car has to go through the workshop just for one test drive. Surely an unaccompanied extended test drive would be out of the question if a standard accompanied test drive is so difficult to access?
What makes it odd is that there are three unsold examples sitting outside the showroom? Surely one of them would be better used as a Demo?
For the record, I am based in Swansea and cannot for the life of me find anywhere local that hire out Focus ST's, in fact I can't find anywhere
Anyway, an update, I went to the Ford Dealership with my other half, had another look round a Focus, got chatting to the showroom Manager (I assume) who seemed very tidy and gave good honest, if not maybe a little inaccurate answers. Anyway, I explained the situation and we agreed we wanted a car for March delivery, after discussing the options etc we then revealed we wanted a Blue (/purple) Focus ST3 with the added options of the styling pack (red calipers and smoked wheels) plus rear privacy glass provided the price was right.
I tried to put the chap serving us under a bit of pressure asking lots of short, sharp and specific questions, one of which was very bluntly, "So whats the real price of these cars? I assume there are manufacturers discounts to be had as I haven't seen many about?" after a bit of mumbling and thinking he said "You can probably knock about a grand off through Ford", further pressing and he then reveals that he could do a deal on stock cars at around £2,500 under list price (so £23k for an ST3). I also have a Ford Manufacturers discount ticket that I intend to throw into the mix later down the line so we are hoping to be in a well specced Focus ST for around £22k. The chap told us that we would be looking at mid February for delivery should we order this week.
So now the figures line up and my partners happy, still back to the basic question, will she like it? I try and declare our interest as best as possible but the manager seems very reluctant to offer what should be a deal snatching test drive. The offer doesn't come so I ask him outright if one was possible, his response was a little odd stating "We don't advertise or offer test drives, but if you wanted to go out in one you could give us some notice and we would have the workshop prepare one of our stock cars, you see they come shipped with rubber blocks in the suspension that need to be removed and all the Tyre pressures and stuff would be wrong so it has to be set up for the road", I am a little puzzled by this, I mean we are suppose to commit to a £23k performance car without driving it at all? I am also worried about what we have to commit just to get an accompanied test drive? I am expecting a big sell and lots of pressure if the car has to go through the workshop just for one test drive. Surely an unaccompanied extended test drive would be out of the question if a standard accompanied test drive is so difficult to access?
What makes it odd is that there are three unsold examples sitting outside the showroom? Surely one of them would be better used as a Demo?
For the record, I am based in Swansea and cannot for the life of me find anywhere local that hire out Focus ST's, in fact I can't find anywhere
Edited by Tuvra on Monday 19th November 10:29
That means they are not running an ST demo car, so would need to prep a customer car - he's right about how they come in (rubber blocks etc), they are basically in shipping mode. The cars will be left like this until they are sold, when they then go into the workshop to be PDI'd, setup and then released for handover. What's he's offering to do is to prep a car for you to use - it'll have delivery miles on though so everything will be very tight.
Worth ringing around some other Ford dealers to see if any of them have an ST demo car on their fleet. That would be a simpler process then, although if you don't have any relationship with that dealer they might be reluctant to offer you a test drive.
Other option would be to contact Ford UK, and the Ford Press Department. See if Ford Customer Services can wangle you the use of a press demo car for a 48 hour period? That would be my preferred option as the demo cars will likely have a few thousand miles on the clock, and will give you a better indication of how it drives once run in.
Worth ringing around some other Ford dealers to see if any of them have an ST demo car on their fleet. That would be a simpler process then, although if you don't have any relationship with that dealer they might be reluctant to offer you a test drive.
Other option would be to contact Ford UK, and the Ford Press Department. See if Ford Customer Services can wangle you the use of a press demo car for a 48 hour period? That would be my preferred option as the demo cars will likely have a few thousand miles on the clock, and will give you a better indication of how it drives once run in.
Tuvra said:
I tried to put the chap serving us under a bit of pressure asking lots of short, sharp and specific questions, one of which was very bluntly, "So whats the real price of these cars? I assume there are manufacturers discounts to be had as I haven't seen many about?" after a bit of mumbling and thinking he said "You can probably knock about a grand off through Ford", further pressing and he then reveals that he could do a deal on stock cars at around £2,500 under list price (so £23k for an ST3). I also have a Ford Manufacturers discount ticket that I intend to throw into the mix later down the line so we are hoping to be in a well specced Focus ST for around £22k. The chap told us that we would be looking at mid February for delivery should we order this week.
So now the figures line up and my partners happy, still back to the basic question, will she like it? I try and declare our interest as best as possible but the manager seems very reluctant to offer what should be a deal snatching test drive. The offer doesn't come so I ask him outright if one was possible, his response was a little odd stating "We don't advertise or offer test drives, but if you wanted to go out in one you could give us some notice and we would have the workshop prepare one of our stock cars, you see they come shipped with rubber blocks in the suspension that need to be removed and all the Tyre pressures and stuff would be wrong so it has to be set up for the road", I am a little puzzled by this, I mean we are suppose to commit to a £23k performance car without driving it at all? I am also worried about what we have to commit just to get an accompanied test drive? I am expecting a big sell and lots of pressure if the car has to go through the workshop just for one test drive. Surely an unaccompanied extended test drive would be out of the question if a standard accompanied test drive is so difficult to access?
What makes it odd is that there are three unsold examples sitting outside the showroom? Surely one of them would be better used as a Demo?
For the record, I am based in Swansea and cannot for the life of me find anywhere local that hire out Focus ST's, in fact I can't find anywhere
Come in playing silly games and trying to be the big man and I guarantee the deal won't be as good as it might have had you not tried to play them. If you suddenly pull out a discount voucher I think you'll find it is taken off the list price, no-one is going to do a deal, then suddenly take an increased hit from some voucher you'd conveniently forgotten about.So now the figures line up and my partners happy, still back to the basic question, will she like it? I try and declare our interest as best as possible but the manager seems very reluctant to offer what should be a deal snatching test drive. The offer doesn't come so I ask him outright if one was possible, his response was a little odd stating "We don't advertise or offer test drives, but if you wanted to go out in one you could give us some notice and we would have the workshop prepare one of our stock cars, you see they come shipped with rubber blocks in the suspension that need to be removed and all the Tyre pressures and stuff would be wrong so it has to be set up for the road", I am a little puzzled by this, I mean we are suppose to commit to a £23k performance car without driving it at all? I am also worried about what we have to commit just to get an accompanied test drive? I am expecting a big sell and lots of pressure if the car has to go through the workshop just for one test drive. Surely an unaccompanied extended test drive would be out of the question if a standard accompanied test drive is so difficult to access?
What makes it odd is that there are three unsold examples sitting outside the showroom? Surely one of them would be better used as a Demo?
For the record, I am based in Swansea and cannot for the life of me find anywhere local that hire out Focus ST's, in fact I can't find anywhere
All this about short sharp specific questions to put them under pressure, it will ensure they assume you're a bellend (rightly or wrongly, I don't know, I've not met you) and any future chance of a long term demo disappears toiletwards.
As for the cars outside, are you fully aware of the intricacies of their demo plan? No. What the salesman said makes sense, you couldn't take a car straight off the transporter and demo it, they need PDIing first.
Listen to Mark above ^^. Dont play silly mind games. Be honest and open especially regarding a voucher, it will negate any previous negotiations and will have just wasted yours and the sales persons time.
Ref an ST demo. It has to be allocated to a person to drive. Highish Co2 emissions means its costly in company car tax + the fact that even if you are paying tax on it every bugger in the company wants to borrow it for a "friend/neighbour" to test drive and you never have it.
Ref an ST demo. It has to be allocated to a person to drive. Highish Co2 emissions means its costly in company car tax + the fact that even if you are paying tax on it every bugger in the company wants to borrow it for a "friend/neighbour" to test drive and you never have it.
beeej said:
Get a normal test drive.
Put deposit down.
Get another test drive.
From a dealer perspective, why should he give you a free car for 48hrs because you and yours are indecisive? Sorry to put a dollar sign on it, but that's the position I think you're in.
It seems a whole lot of trouble just to get a "normal test drive", If I prepped a car for someone and they said "I don't like it" I would be pissed off, knowing my girlfriend, she may very well do this. That's why I am reluctant to arrange the "normal" test drive. BTW, extended test drives are not unheard of and this is essentially just a Ford Focus, albeit with a decent engine.Put deposit down.
Get another test drive.
From a dealer perspective, why should he give you a free car for 48hrs because you and yours are indecisive? Sorry to put a dollar sign on it, but that's the position I think you're in.
markmullen said:
Come in playing silly games and trying to be the big man and I guarantee the deal won't be as good as it might have had you not tried to play them. If you suddenly pull out a discount voucher I think you'll find it is taken off the list price, no-one is going to do a deal, then suddenly take an increased hit from some voucher you'd conveniently forgotten about.
All this about short sharp specific questions to put them under pressure, it will ensure they assume you're a bellend (rightly or wrongly, I don't know, I've not met you) and any future chance of a long term demo disappears toiletwards.
As for the cars outside, are you fully aware of the intricacies of their demo plan? No. What the salesman said makes sense, you couldn't take a car straight off the transporter and demo it, they need PDIing first.
A similar stunt was pulled by my girlfriends brother purchasing an ST2 (previous gen) when they were launched. I am sorry but trying to get the cheapest deal is not playing the big man, his job is too make as much money out of me as possible, my "job" as a punter is to get the best possible deal for my hard earned cash. My short, sharp and specific questions were not "knobbish" at all although the way I explained them makes them seem that way. All this about short sharp specific questions to put them under pressure, it will ensure they assume you're a bellend (rightly or wrongly, I don't know, I've not met you) and any future chance of a long term demo disappears toiletwards.
As for the cars outside, are you fully aware of the intricacies of their demo plan? No. What the salesman said makes sense, you couldn't take a car straight off the transporter and demo it, they need PDIing first.
Right or wrong, my girlfriends brother and my uncle who is giving me the ticket told me this is the best way to reduce the price of the car. My uncle explained that the dealership gets reimbursed by Ford anyway so no one loses out, besides the sales man potentially losing commission/one upmanship. Shoot me down if this is wrong, I am only repeating what I have been told.
I don't care about the dealers "demo plan"? Why should I? The fact that they don't have one may potentially lose them a sale? Am I bothered that they don't have a demo car? No, I'll go else where. Are they worried about losing me as a potential customer? I should hope so considering he knew exactly how many ST's they have sold across their group (5 sites), in each individual color since the launch (one black, one orange and a handful of blue & white cars). My comment about it being strange was, surely one of the three cars parked outside could have been set up properly and used as a Demo? No?
Funnily enough a similar story happened 4 years ago, my Girlfriend wanted a Mini Cooper S (at 19) and the local dealer didn't take her serious, didnt offer her a test drive etc, she visited another dealer, test drove the car and a few months later her factory ordered MCS was delivered 40 miles away to another dealer.
Truth of the matter is, with websites like Drive the Deal the dealers need me more than I need them (as far as sales go at least). The whole point of this thread was to see if an extended test drive or even hiring/loaning a car was a possibility, the whole reasoning of this thread should prove I have no desire to waste any ones time.
Tuvra said:
A similar stunt was pulled by my girlfriends brother purchasing an ST2 (previous gen) when they were launched. I am sorry but trying to get the cheapest deal is not playing the big man, his job is too make as much money out of me as possible, my "job" as a punter is to get the best possible deal for my hard earned cash. My short, sharp and specific questions were not "knobbish" at all although the way I explained them makes them seem that way.
Right or wrong, my girlfriends brother and my uncle who is giving me the ticket told me this is the best way to reduce the price of the car. My uncle explained that the dealership gets reimbursed by Ford anyway so no one loses out, besides the sales man potentially losing commission/one upmanship. Shoot me down if this is wrong, I am only repeating what I have been told.
I don't care about the dealers "demo plan"? Why should I? The fact that they don't have one may potentially lose them a sale? Am I bothered that they don't have a demo car? No, I'll go else where. Are they worried about losing me as a potential customer? I should hope so considering he knew exactly how many ST's they have sold across their group (5 sites), in each individual color since the launch (one black, one orange and a handful of blue & white cars). My comment about it being strange was, surely one of the three cars parked outside could have been set up properly and used as a Demo? No?
Funnily enough a similar story happened 4 years ago, my Girlfriend wanted a Mini Cooper S (at 19) and the local dealer didn't take her serious, didnt offer her a test drive etc, she visited another dealer, test drove the car and a few months later her factory ordered MCS was delivered 40 miles away to another dealer.
Truth of the matter is, with websites like Drive the Deal the dealers need me more than I need them (as far as sales go at least). The whole point of this thread was to see if an extended test drive or even hiring/loaning a car was a possibility, the whole reasoning of this thread should prove I have no desire to waste any ones time.
Fair enough, don't take my advice, advice from 10 years in the motor trade, carry on as you were, and get bummed on the deal for trying to be clever. You've got fRight or wrong, my girlfriends brother and my uncle who is giving me the ticket told me this is the best way to reduce the price of the car. My uncle explained that the dealership gets reimbursed by Ford anyway so no one loses out, besides the sales man potentially losing commission/one upmanship. Shoot me down if this is wrong, I am only repeating what I have been told.
I don't care about the dealers "demo plan"? Why should I? The fact that they don't have one may potentially lose them a sale? Am I bothered that they don't have a demo car? No, I'll go else where. Are they worried about losing me as a potential customer? I should hope so considering he knew exactly how many ST's they have sold across their group (5 sites), in each individual color since the launch (one black, one orange and a handful of blue & white cars). My comment about it being strange was, surely one of the three cars parked outside could have been set up properly and used as a Demo? No?
Funnily enough a similar story happened 4 years ago, my Girlfriend wanted a Mini Cooper S (at 19) and the local dealer didn't take her serious, didnt offer her a test drive etc, she visited another dealer, test drove the car and a few months later her factory ordered MCS was delivered 40 miles away to another dealer.
Truth of the matter is, with websites like Drive the Deal the dealers need me more than I need them (as far as sales go at least). The whole point of this thread was to see if an extended test drive or even hiring/loaning a car was a possibility, the whole reasoning of this thread should prove I have no desire to waste any ones time.
k all chance of a long term demo of an ST, and your attitude will guarantee you pay more than necessary.I borrowed a Honda CRZ for 4 days last october (2011) from Honda here in Aberdeen (didn't like it) and they just took my driving license details and that was that. I just asked nicely as i wanted to get a feel for the car for a longer period of time. Turned out to be a worthwhile thing to do as it made me not want the car.
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