Ford Dealership - is it me or them that's crazy...?
Discussion
I live in Prague, Czech Republic, and went to an authorised Ford dealership with a view to look at / buy a Ford Ka. Dealer had said car, brand new, looked OK (i.e. like a Ka), so I asked for a test drive. Answer - 'No'. Was offered a test drive in a Ford Fiesta with the same engine. I pointed out that that is a different car, to which i was just given a shrug of the shoulders. Needless to say I walked out. Are they crazy by not allowing test drives of new cars? I know I am crazy for considering to buy a Ka, but its for the Mrs rather than me (honestly!). Does this sort of thing happen in UK dealers? Does Ford have any control over this sort of rubbish, or they simply don't care?
Looks like it might be a Fiat 500 for the Mrs - if I am allowed to drive it before buying of course....
Looks like it might be a Fiat 500 for the Mrs - if I am allowed to drive it before buying of course....
Aren't they largely the same car/Ka?
I suppose it depends how fast they sell - they may not feel the need to offer a test drive and maybe offering the Fiesta makes people buy Fiestas....
It is also going to be relevent what is available from Ford, if they have a glut of Fiestas but no Kas, there's not much point in a test drive.
I suppose it depends how fast they sell - they may not feel the need to offer a test drive and maybe offering the Fiesta makes people buy Fiestas....
It is also going to be relevent what is available from Ford, if they have a glut of Fiestas but no Kas, there's not much point in a test drive.
Yes, same platform, hence go for a 500. I would have thought they would want to sell a car. I don't want a Fiesta, and the Ka was sitting there. I can't believe anyone would buy a car without test driving it first (if I am honest, I have actually but it was a racing car so I don't think they count, but I probably should have).
Even if there are no Ka's in stock and he has no chance of selling one, I can't believe a salesman would have that attitude unless he didn't think you were serious about buying anything. Think about it, if he wants you to buy a Fiesta he'll try and sell you one. Shrugging his shoulders is simply rude and suggests he wants to spend no more time on you.
LuS1fer said:
Aren't they largely the same car/Ka?
I suppose it depends how fast they sell - they may not feel the need to offer a test drive and maybe offering the Fiesta makes people buy Fiestas....
It is also going to be relevent what is available from Ford, if they have a glut of Fiestas but no Kas, there's not much point in a test drive.
Yep, same platform except the Fiat 500 is cheaper, better looking and depreciates slower.I suppose it depends how fast they sell - they may not feel the need to offer a test drive and maybe offering the Fiesta makes people buy Fiestas....
It is also going to be relevent what is available from Ford, if they have a glut of Fiestas but no Kas, there's not much point in a test drive.
Go for the Fiat. The KA is more Fiat than Ford anyway. It's a fiat engine on a Fiat chassis but a Ford body and interior bolted on.
The Fiat will hold it's money better. No one really seems to care much for the new KA. It's just an odd looking squashed Fiesta. People adore the Fiat 500 and the value it holds when you come to sell it will prove it.
The Fiat will hold it's money better. No one really seems to care much for the new KA. It's just an odd looking squashed Fiesta. People adore the Fiat 500 and the value it holds when you come to sell it will prove it.
MysteryLemon said:
Go for the Fiat. The KA is more Fiat than Ford anyway. It's a fiat engine on a Fiat chassis but a Ford body and interior bolted on.
The Fiat will hold it's money better. No one really seems to care much for the new KA. It's just an odd looking squashed Fiesta. People adore the Fiat 500 and the value it holds when you come to sell it will prove it.
Yes but I'll wager that the Ford will have bigger discounts. last time i was in a Fiat dealer, they were offering deals on Puntos but said 500s fly out of the showroom and all future products are likely to be Fiat 500 flavour in some way, like the MINI range.The Fiat will hold it's money better. No one really seems to care much for the new KA. It's just an odd looking squashed Fiesta. People adore the Fiat 500 and the value it holds when you come to sell it will prove it.
LuS1fer said:
Yes but I'll wager that the Ford will have bigger discounts. last time i was in a Fiat dealer, they were offering deals on Puntos but said 500s fly out of the showroom and all future products are likely to be Fiat 500 flavour in some way, like the MINI range.
Which is why the Fiat has a better residual value. Spunk it out the door with a massive discount and it will be worth diddly squat...Fast Bug said:
Which is why the Fiat has a better residual value. Spunk it out the door with a massive discount and it will be worth diddly squat...
If you have a massive discount to start with, you're not going to lose any more in the long run and there are always people happy to buy a Ka. For many people, the lower purchase price is more important.LuS1fer said:
Fast Bug said:
Which is why the Fiat has a better residual value. Spunk it out the door with a massive discount and it will be worth diddly squat...
If you have a massive discount to start with, you're not going to lose any more in the long run and there are always people happy to buy a Ka. For many people, the lower purchase price is more important.How many new Ka's do you see on the road copmpared to Fiat 500's?
I bought a Fiat 500 several years ago - a local dealership had, somehow, acquired a large quantity of 1.2 Pop 500's with very low mileage (<1,000 miles) and were selling them off at very good prices - predictably they were selling quickly.
I identified one and asked for a test drive - the guy did seem very off with me and basically said it's virtually a brand new car, there's nothing wrong with it, so there's nothing to test. Additionally because the mileage was so low, he didn't want loads of people test driving the cars and putting the mileage up. I'd never even SAT in a Fiat 500 let alone driven one so wasn't about to hand over the cash without doing so first. He did relent eventually, I had a (short) test drive of a couple of miles and promptly did the deal to buy the car. It's not asking a lot really.
If they don't want to give you test drive, go somewhere else as obviously they don't want your business.
I identified one and asked for a test drive - the guy did seem very off with me and basically said it's virtually a brand new car, there's nothing wrong with it, so there's nothing to test. Additionally because the mileage was so low, he didn't want loads of people test driving the cars and putting the mileage up. I'd never even SAT in a Fiat 500 let alone driven one so wasn't about to hand over the cash without doing so first. He did relent eventually, I had a (short) test drive of a couple of miles and promptly did the deal to buy the car. It's not asking a lot really.
If they don't want to give you test drive, go somewhere else as obviously they don't want your business.
Chicane-UK said:
I bought a Fiat 500 several years ago - a local dealership had, somehow, acquired a large quantity of 1.2 Pop 500's with very low mileage (<1,000 miles) and were selling them off at very good prices - predictably they were selling quickly.
Wonder if they were ex-BSM from when they switched back to Vauxhall Corsa/Astra after ditching them for Fiat only a couple of years before
Prancing Hippo said:
I live in Prague, Czech Republic, and went to an authorised Ford dealership with a view to look at / buy a Ford Ka. Dealer had said car, brand new, looked OK (i.e. like a Ka), so I asked for a test drive. Answer - 'No'. Was offered a test drive in a Ford Fiesta with the same engine. I pointed out that that is a different car, to which i was just given a shrug of the shoulders. Needless to say I walked out. Are they crazy by not allowing test drives of new cars? I know I am crazy for considering to buy a Ka, but its for the Mrs rather than me (honestly!). Does this sort of thing happen in UK dealers? Does Ford have any control over this sort of rubbish, or they simply don't care?
Looks like it might be a Fiat 500 for the Mrs - if I am allowed to drive it before buying of course....
maybe find a car hire lot with one ,day hire then you can have a really good long test drive ???Looks like it might be a Fiat 500 for the Mrs - if I am allowed to drive it before buying of course....
Toaster Pilot said:
Wonder if they were ex-BSM from when they switched back to Vauxhall Corsa/Astra after ditching them for Fiat only a couple of years before
I never did find out. I assumed they were not ex driving school as the clutch seemed to still have plenty of life left in it, and it was absolutely mint. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff