Asking for test drives when young
Discussion
I've had this a few times now.
Go to look at a car from a dealer when I've been genuinely interested in the car and the salesman has skipped round my question of having a test drive each time I bring it up.
These are reputable nationwide dealers so insurance isn't the issue. I always feel like someone who is young tends to be a tyre kicker and they would rather not waste their time if that is the case.
For example, I went to have a look at a Z4 Coupe from a BMW main dealer a few months back and had discussed taking the car out for a test drive over the phone and was told that it wasn't an issue etc.
After turning up to see the car I could tell the salesman was quite surprised to see that I was only 20 and proceed to cut things short very early on.
After asking directly if I could take the car for a test drive either with or without him a few times he still was very reluctant to the point I where I left.
It was nowhere near closing time, car was ideally placed to go out and the engine was even still warm from what I presumed was an earlier test drive.
Returned a few days later to the same guy and I think he figured I wasn't bored on a weekend last time and he was a completely different person. Went for a test drive but it was't the car for me in the end and I bought another a week or so later.
I'm pretty sure that if I had been double my age this wouldn't have happened.
Is this a case of assumption of frustration at people who may be just there to take something for a steer?
Annoying either way!
Go to look at a car from a dealer when I've been genuinely interested in the car and the salesman has skipped round my question of having a test drive each time I bring it up.
These are reputable nationwide dealers so insurance isn't the issue. I always feel like someone who is young tends to be a tyre kicker and they would rather not waste their time if that is the case.
For example, I went to have a look at a Z4 Coupe from a BMW main dealer a few months back and had discussed taking the car out for a test drive over the phone and was told that it wasn't an issue etc.
After turning up to see the car I could tell the salesman was quite surprised to see that I was only 20 and proceed to cut things short very early on.
After asking directly if I could take the car for a test drive either with or without him a few times he still was very reluctant to the point I where I left.
It was nowhere near closing time, car was ideally placed to go out and the engine was even still warm from what I presumed was an earlier test drive.
Returned a few days later to the same guy and I think he figured I wasn't bored on a weekend last time and he was a completely different person. Went for a test drive but it was't the car for me in the end and I bought another a week or so later.
I'm pretty sure that if I had been double my age this wouldn't have happened.
Is this a case of assumption of frustration at people who may be just there to take something for a steer?
Annoying either way!
As a younger fulla when I was car-shopping I always seemed to get test-drives more easily by not asking for them - ie asking a bunch of other questions to show genuine interest in the car, and generally they'd offer a test drive themselves because they thought that was the best way to sell me the car. One Subaru dealer told me something like "our best trick for selling them is getting people to drive them" and then handed over the keys.
If I specifically asked for a test drive (especially early in the conversation) they'd be more likely to think I was a tyre-kicker and give some excuse not to.
Unfortunately some salesmen will make a snap judgement the moment you walk onto the yard and stick to it regardless of evidence to the contrary, bit of a lost cause with them.
If I specifically asked for a test drive (especially early in the conversation) they'd be more likely to think I was a tyre-kicker and give some excuse not to.
Unfortunately some salesmen will make a snap judgement the moment you walk onto the yard and stick to it regardless of evidence to the contrary, bit of a lost cause with them.
Edited by GravelBen on Monday 19th January 01:02
GravelBen said:
Unfortunately some salesmen will make a snap judgement the moment you walk onto the yard and stick to it regardless of evidence to the contrary, bit of a lost cause with them.
Unfortunately a large percentage of young people who come to try and demo interesting cars are not in the market to buy, they just want a play in someone else's car. This not only ties up the salesman's time when he is not earning commission, but also puts his safety at risk (as generally they try and drive like 
s). As such they tend to be skeptical.Blame the timewasters, not the salesman, for this situation. Have a look on PH, there are plenty of people proud of "blagging" a demo.
I wonder if it's about time dealerships started charging for test drives? It could be a trivial proportion of the overall cost of buying a car whilst still putting off the idiots.
If I was serious about buying a new car for tens of thousands of pounds, I'd have no problem with paying £50 to a few dealers to test drive different ones.
If I was serious about buying a new car for tens of thousands of pounds, I'd have no problem with paying £50 to a few dealers to test drive different ones.
The Crack Fox said:
I might sound a bit unfriendly, but the salesman was actually right to initially refuse you a test drive: He thought you would not buy the car (for whatever reason). He was (eventually) right, because you bought something else. These people are (supposedly) trained to sort buyers from browsers and despite your intentions, you eventually turned out to be a browser.
FWIW, I have no qualms about people blagging test drives, it's the salesman's job to spot the timewasters and if he doesn't then it's his lookout.
I don't agree with this, I was genuinely interested in the car to the point where I was about to put down a deposit to secure it (this was after I had finally driven it) But on the same day a superior car came up within budget so went for that.FWIW, I have no qualms about people blagging test drives, it's the salesman's job to spot the timewasters and if he doesn't then it's his lookout.
Never had I shown the salesman any signs of not being interested.
I'd go as far to say that if I'd had driven the car on my first time of seeing it I would have put the deposit down and done the deal before the one i bought had shown up in the classifieds.
I'm 23, and I've never had any problems with asking for a test drive (went round Merc, Audi, BMW dealers before deciding on my curent car), the way I look at it is if they have a problem offering me a test drive there are plenty of other garages that don't, what would happen if I took it in for a service and they refused to give me a courtesy car?
Just look half presentable, call ahead, be serious about the car (have a genuine interest to buy) and you should be fine. Then again my early hair loss probably helps.
Just look half presentable, call ahead, be serious about the car (have a genuine interest to buy) and you should be fine. Then again my early hair loss probably helps.
Yes had this a lot as a young lad. They don't take you seriously. I found that spending a bit of time talking to them before going to view helped.
What a lot of car dealers seem to fail to appreciate is that you can drive a car and not like it. Whilst they should all drive the same, the fact is plenty of cars don't drive the same. And I would never buy a car I didn't drive - you just never know what faults might appear.
What a lot of car dealers seem to fail to appreciate is that you can drive a car and not like it. Whilst they should all drive the same, the fact is plenty of cars don't drive the same. And I would never buy a car I didn't drive - you just never know what faults might appear.
Spooge has mentioned the key - looking presentable. I test drove a few cars that an 18-20 year old might reasonably want to go and spank just for some afternoon's entertainment, but if you wear nice shoes and a decent shirt you seem to get treated rather better. The car you turn up in will have an effect as well - is it at least close in value / performance to what you're looking at?
If you look like a layabout or it's a huge stretch to imagine you could afford the car, I wouldn't be that inclined to give you a test drive either. These preconceptions can be overridden if you've spent a lot of time looking at the car and asked a lot of pertinent questions, but still..
If you look like a layabout or it's a huge stretch to imagine you could afford the car, I wouldn't be that inclined to give you a test drive either. These preconceptions can be overridden if you've spent a lot of time looking at the car and asked a lot of pertinent questions, but still..
McSam said:
Spooge has mentioned the key - looking presentable. I test drove a few cars that an 18-20 year old might reasonably want to go and spank just for some afternoon's entertainment, but if you wear nice shoes and a decent shirt you seem to get treated rather better. The car you turn up in will have an effect as well - is it at least close in value / performance to what you're looking at?
If you look like a layabout or it's a huge stretch to imagine you could afford the car, I wouldn't be that inclined to give you a test drive either. These preconceptions can be overridden if you've spent a lot of time looking at the car and asked a lot of pertinent questions, but still..
I'd say I was presentable. Shirt, shoes etc.If you look like a layabout or it's a huge stretch to imagine you could afford the car, I wouldn't be that inclined to give you a test drive either. These preconceptions can be overridden if you've spent a lot of time looking at the car and asked a lot of pertinent questions, but still..
I also turned up in a 14 plate 330d estate.
I never really get this absolute necessity for a test drive when buying a car to be honest, especially from a dealer, it always seems to be more of a psychological barrier for the buyer to overcome rather than to actually determine if the car has any faults. I guess its a case of whether you want a test drive to determine if you want that model or that actual car because unless its an obvious fault, you are unlikely to notice anything untoward in a test drive as you are unlikely to have much experience of the car and its idiosyncaries, what is a usual noise, whats unusual etc. Yes its a royal pain in the backside if there is a fault but I'd expect a main dealer to sell a car as faultless as it can be whilst recogininsg its a used car,
If you tell the dealer you havent driven that model before, hence you want a test drive, I can understand his reluctance as you are very unlikely to buy the first one you drive.
If you tell the dealer you havent driven that model before, hence you want a test drive, I can understand his reluctance as you are very unlikely to buy the first one you drive.
kambites said:
If I was serious about buying a new car for tens of thousands of pounds, I'd have no problem with paying £50 to a few dealers to test drive different ones.
Really? Bet sales people love you!Only once had an issue trying to drive a mk3 MX5 from a main dealer. Never did work out why not. Maybe it's because we turned up in a Mk1 he realised I wouldn't like it
. If so he was right after getting a drive elsewhere. Everyone else has always been delighted to chuck me the keys. My tip for buying cars or anything really is try not to look excited
. haha i remember having this issue when i was about 25,
It was a 6 month old Mk1 Audi TT (my first fastish car yes i know but it was quicker than my Vauxhall Chavalier SRI) eventually got a test drive along a slow A-road/congested motorway, got back to the dealership and said i would take it, cue the Salesmans rolling eyes and look of you should be thankful, i am an Audi salesman and only i could have allowed you to drive such a vehicle, and then it came
"how is Sir going to pay for the vehicle"
"do you take cash here
" ( i had been saving)
"oh erm er yes we do"
Spent the next 6 months trying to reject/exchange the damn thing as it was a lemon !
It was a 6 month old Mk1 Audi TT (my first fastish car yes i know but it was quicker than my Vauxhall Chavalier SRI) eventually got a test drive along a slow A-road/congested motorway, got back to the dealership and said i would take it, cue the Salesmans rolling eyes and look of you should be thankful, i am an Audi salesman and only i could have allowed you to drive such a vehicle, and then it came
"how is Sir going to pay for the vehicle"
"do you take cash here
" ( i had been saving) "oh erm er yes we do"
Spent the next 6 months trying to reject/exchange the damn thing as it was a lemon !
pablo said:
I never really get this absolute necessity for a test drive when buying a car to be honest, especially from a dealer, it always seems to be more of a psychological barrier for the buyer to overcome rather than to actually determine if the car has any faults. I guess its a case of whether you want a test drive to determine if you want that model or that actual car because unless its an obvious fault, you are unlikely to notice anything untoward in a test drive as you are unlikely to have much experience of the car and its idiosyncaries, what is a usual noise, whats unusual etc. Yes its a royal pain in the backside if there is a fault but I'd expect a main dealer to sell a car as faultless as it can be whilst recogininsg its a used car,
If you tell the dealer you havent driven that model before, hence you want a test drive, I can understand his reluctance as you are very unlikely to buy the first one you drive.
+1If you tell the dealer you havent driven that model before, hence you want a test drive, I can understand his reluctance as you are very unlikely to buy the first one you drive.
smith94 said:
I'd say I was presentable. Shirt, shoes etc.
I also turned up in a 14 plate 330d estate.
I wasn't implying you weren't, I was just stating it helped. Rightly or wrongly people make assumptions based on appearance, we all know that. Maybe your dealer was having a bad day, or perhaps a bit of a cock. Glad to hear you got the car you were after anyway. I also turned up in a 14 plate 330d estate.
A dealer once told me his company did a quick search of the drivers postcode/address in google street level view to see if it looked as though they could really afford the higher end stuff, whilst pretending to sort out something random etc.
Allegedly, it did pick up a few obvious tyre kickers.
I am not saying that the OP's abode is not suitable for a Z4, btw.
Allegedly, it did pick up a few obvious tyre kickers.
I am not saying that the OP's abode is not suitable for a Z4, btw.
For me, how a car drives is the key issue with cars, so a test drive is essential, not just for checking the car over, but for knowing if I want it or not. The best analogy I think of is music: I would't buy an album without hearing it first. Like the OP, I also had issues getting test drives when I was younger and the result of that was that the first few cars I owned I bought purely on trust after reading good reviews in magazines. To be fair, at that age I wouldn't have got much out of a test drive anyway as I wasn't experienced in assessing a car. In my mid twenties I started to get test drives when car shopping, but many dealerships refused, so that then moulded what I bought (Porsche for example - I've had awful experiences at independent Porsche dealers, and I couldn't afford OPC prices, so the result of that is I've never owned one. Lotus were nice to me and I've had two now). Thankfully now that I'm older, test drives aren't really a problem and I've driven a lot of cars through my involvement in the car world and with work, so my buying decisions are better informed than ever before. It was definitely an issue when I was younger though.
Kambites' idea above regarding charging for test drives is a good one, although anyone implementing it before anyone else would be taking big risks with their profit as many customers would simply shop elsewhere. I'd happily pay £50 though.
ETA: Mercedes Benz World and Porsche Silverstone are both fantastic ventures by both manufacturers. This is in effect charging for a test drive. If I wanted a Porsche now, I'd just head straight to their Silverstone centre and pay my £300 or whatever it is to drive one properly on their mixed range of circuits etc. £300 is nothing in comparison to a £30k - £50k purchase. I think it's down to the manufacturers to let us know what their cars drive like - I know Lotus' recent marketing push has been to get people to drive their cars - formalising it with a driving centre as Merc and Porsche do is a wonderful idea, although perhaps limited to very large manufacturers, but I'm sure hire venues could be used for those with a lower budget. Caterham have had a scheme for many years now whereby you can hire a 7 for a weekend and then if you decide to buy a car they take the hire cost off the cost of the car - I presume they still do it and it's a great idea, especially if you're new to sevens.
Kambites' idea above regarding charging for test drives is a good one, although anyone implementing it before anyone else would be taking big risks with their profit as many customers would simply shop elsewhere. I'd happily pay £50 though.
ETA: Mercedes Benz World and Porsche Silverstone are both fantastic ventures by both manufacturers. This is in effect charging for a test drive. If I wanted a Porsche now, I'd just head straight to their Silverstone centre and pay my £300 or whatever it is to drive one properly on their mixed range of circuits etc. £300 is nothing in comparison to a £30k - £50k purchase. I think it's down to the manufacturers to let us know what their cars drive like - I know Lotus' recent marketing push has been to get people to drive their cars - formalising it with a driving centre as Merc and Porsche do is a wonderful idea, although perhaps limited to very large manufacturers, but I'm sure hire venues could be used for those with a lower budget. Caterham have had a scheme for many years now whereby you can hire a 7 for a weekend and then if you decide to buy a car they take the hire cost off the cost of the car - I presume they still do it and it's a great idea, especially if you're new to sevens.
Edited by RobM77 on Monday 19th January 11:17
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