when looking at cars..dealer question.

[craigw]

went to looks at various 964's on saturday, was in half decent car, had driving license etc.

was taken out in a car I had expressed an interest in but wasnt offered to drive myself, do you think this is usual, never come across it before. I didnt ask, just expected him to stop halfway & then wehen we got back to dealers couldnt be bothered to go back out.

I left not especially annoyed or anything, just thought it was a bit odd.

I had gone specifically to see this car & having looked over it was interested ,if it drove properly & the right price could have been had I may have gone further. having not driven it I left uninspired.

I can appreciate dealers dont want every idiot off the street turning up & ragging their cars but was a little mystified with this one, maybe I didnt give off the right buying signals or maybe the vendor didnt want to push me, just interested what you chaps think ?

[david968s]

If you don't ask, you don't get. He maybe thought that you were serious, but when you didn't ask for a drive, took that to mean that you weren't! I'm not sure what could be "odd" about your experience...?

[craigw]

I assumed that when i asked "can we go for a drive in it" that that would mean both of us driving & on any other test drive I have ever been on (and I've been on a few) they have pulled over half way and swapped seats so I didnt really think i had to ask. Maybe odd was the wrong term then.

[domster]

If they take the car out, it's fair to assume they'd probably let you have a go.

Maybe you said the wrong thing in the passenger seat ('go on mate, spin em up..."; "did I tell you about how I spun on the M4 coming here?"; stuff like that)

[a993lad]

Craig,

Where was this car? Wasn't in Kent by any chance was it?

I went to a dealer there to see a car and he wouldn't even move it outside so I could see it in daylight!

[craigw]

ah yes, It must have been when entered their premises sideways with the prodigy booming out dom, you know me, ever brash

[craigw]

I shant name, wasnt in kent though.

[neilpeel59]

I must admit, maybe I'm being naive, but I dont really see what can be gained from test driving or even being test driven. I mean what can you really tell from it?. That there is not masses of smoke pouring from the engine and exhaust, it's backfiring and the horn is going off randomly as you lurch back and forth down the road, and that the wheels, doors and bonnet don't fall off when you finally arrive back at the dealer?
You can't really tell whether you like a car or not until at least a few weeks of ownership. If you check out that the dealer has been in business for a long time and has a good reptutation thats good enough for me.

[david hype]

Whilst looking for my first Porsche about ten years ago, I visited a then well known dealer to look at a Carrera 3.2.

I looked it over and then I asked if I (we) could go for a drive in it. To my amazement the dealer looked over at my C Class Merc and said "That should cover it" passed me the keys to the 3.2 and said "Off you go, but please let the oil warm up a bit"

Can`t see that happening today!

[markbe]

Hi Craig, If you have decided you would like the car, ring them up,ask them to bring the car out to your place of work or home,so, you may drive it,if they won't ,find anougher one.If they will,and you like it,bid em in the rounders,subject to haveing it checked over.
ps if you see anything in Cheshire let me know.

[softinthehead]

neilpeel59 said:

I must admit, maybe I'm being naive, but I dont really see what can be gained from test driving or even being test driven.

clutch slipping, notchy gearbox, vague steering, erratic or wobbly handling, harsh or bloaty ride, tramlining, poor break feel or action, uneven power delivery....oh and the all important one - "despite the endless reams of info i have gleaned from pistonheads, magazines, Top Gear etc do I actually enjoy driving this car?"!

[s3am]

I've never had any problems getting a test drive. I do remember however a Renault dealer saying to my brother, "you can take it (182) for a test drive, but only if you sign something agreeing to buy the car before you go." I mean, wha?

[craigw]

softinthehead said:

neilpeel59 said: I must admit, maybe I'm being naive, but I dont really see what can be gained from test driving or even being test driven. clutch slipping, notchy gearbox, vague steering, erratic or wobbly handling, harsh or bloaty ride, tramlining, poor break feel or action, uneven power delivery....oh and the all important one - "despite the endless reams of info i have gleaned from pistonheads, magazines, Top Gear etc do I actually enjoy driving this car?"!

agreed, I once nearly bought a car unseen, drove it & hated it.

[supersport]

Of course we can all afford to hand over 10, 20 , 30, 40, 50 - 100K without bothering to giving it a go, very sensible.

I am sure that it is very easy to get your wedge back once you drive the thing off the forecourt only to find that the wheels are round, the brakes don't work etc.


S

[TVR MAN]

I think the reason they do it is because they are stuck negotiating all do so when a chance of driving a 944 (it was a 944 wasn't it?) comes up they jump at it and want to have some fun!

[craigw]

i dont understand what you mean ?

[sidicks]

supersport said:

only to find that the wheels are round

That would be a big benefit as far as I'm concerned............

sidicks

[superlightr]

neilpeel59 said:

I must admit, maybe I'm being naive, but I dont really see what can be gained from test driving or even being test driven. I mean what can you really tell from it?. That there is not masses of smoke pouring from the engine and exhaust, it's backfiring and the horn is going off randomly as you lurch back and forth down the road, and that the wheels, doors and bonnet don't fall off when you finally arrive back at the dealer? You can't really tell whether you like a car or not until at least a few weeks of ownership. If you check out that the dealer has been in business for a long time and has a good reptutation thats good enough for me.

Would disagree, Had found 2x 996tt which looked good on paper at an opc. Drove my prefereed choice and was just numb. Drove the other 996tt and could not stop talking and smiling. The dealer said that I seem more happy with this one..
One car felt 'better' than the other non stop smiles from the first half mile of driving.

[simonharrod911]

softinthehead said:

neilpeel59 said: I must admit, maybe I'm being naive, but I dont really see what can be gained from test driving or even being test driven. clutch slipping, notchy gearbox, vague steering, erratic or wobbly handling, harsh or bloaty ride, tramlining, poor break feel or action, uneven power delivery....oh and the all important one - "despite the endless reams of info i have gleaned from pistonheads, magazines, Top Gear etc do I actually enjoy driving this car?"!

But apart from that?

[craigw]

ha, like it.