Don't they need the business?

[matchmaker]

Yes, I know it's been commented on before, but for the first time I've experienced the "No test drive unless you buy the car" syndrome.

My 19 year old son wants to get a newer car as he's now working and in a position to afford something reasonably new - he's wanting to spend maybe 6k-8k. He tracked down (via the internet) one he liked the look of so we went to look it over on Monday - a 40 mile round trip. It seemed OK, good price, extra toys that he'd like on it (cruise, auto aircon, etc) so he asked about a test drive later in the week once he'd checked out insurance costs. The salesman said OK, but could we phone and arrange this a couple of hours beforehand, so he could arrange to get the car out of the middle of the lot. He even said that it would be possible for my son to drive, rather than me.

We checked out insurance - horrendous, but affordable, so my son phoned this morning to organise the test drive. He was met with the response - "Not unless you buy the car".

So we've voted with our feet and gone elsewhere. And the exotic supercar? A 1.8 Astra. Do these feckers want the business?

[Marf]

matchmaker said:

So we've voted with our feet and gone elsewhere. And the exotic supercar? A 1.8 Astra. Do these feckers want the business?

Clearly not. It's a 1.8 Astra, go find a dealer selling one who isnt a clown.

[phil1979]

There's a complete tit at an Alfa garage near Leighton Buzzard that did this to me.

So I bought my GT from one in Barnet instead, who let me have the keys without question.

Edit - Not an Alfa dealer... an indy that happens to have a few tasty Alfas in, along with other ramdom motors.

Edited by phil1979 on Wednesday 30th June 14:46

[RobM77]

doogz said:

This has never happened to me, but to those that it has happened to, when you tell them you're not interested in buying it unless you can drive it first, what do they say?

The last time this happened to me the salesman just walked away. An old guy then came out and explained that they did have a car I could drive, and led me to a nackered older example, and gave me a five minute run round the block (without seatbelts by the way, one of many things on the car that were broken). I didn't buy from them, and to the best of my knowledge have put two other people off buying from them too, so they've lost about £75k of turnover just through that one action.

As others have said, take your business elsewhere. If a salesman's being that much of a cock, just imagine how he buys his cars, prepares them for sale and deals with customers if they require any comeback. It's not worth it - there are plenty of very keen people out there trying to sell their cars.

Out of interest, I did once or twice have problems with insurance when I was younger buying cars and got my Dad to drive the cars instead with me in the passenger seat. He reported back on the mechanical condition of the car, and I could tell that I fitted in it ok and what it felt like on the road so just bought based on that. I did that with two cars. It's understandable if someone's only 19.

The only reason I'd call the guy back is if you can think of something witty and insulting to say and fancy a laugh

[mercfunder]

You can maybe understand it a bit when you get threads such as this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

And there was one a while ago about have you ever wrecked a car on a test drive, which had some right muppets boasting about their exploits, however part of being a good salesman is being able to suss out the interested from the timewasters.

If it is a policy that nobody gets a test drive unless they put up the cash, that is just stupid, if however they use it to get rid of dreamers and idiots I understand it.

Wouldn't buy a car off anybody without driving it first, that's for sure.

Always another one for sale somewhere else.

Edited by mercfunder on Wednesday 30th June 15:03

[garethj]

If you agree to buy the car, then take a test drive, can you then say you don’t want it? Or do you need to complete the paperwork before the test drive?

If no paperwork then shirely you can just change your mind – statements made in a showroom aren’t given under oath (as car dealers should know....) If you have to do the paperwork then I agree with the comment above – it’s just you driving your own car. Clearly bonkers.

[Ben Jk]

When I was looking for a VXR about 2 years ago I went into my local dealership and said I was interested in a part ex price for my Astra CDTI150 against a new Astra VXR, and a test drive. The salesman asked was I willing to do a deal that day I said no, because I wasn't and he said basically he couldn't give me a p/x price or a test drive unless I was willing to deal that day!!!!!!!

So I walked out. Bought one about a month later from another vx dealership (quite a distance from me) who gave me a p/x price over the phone and delivered my new VX to my door!

Local dealership was obviously doing far too well to need my money!

Edited by Ben Jk on Wednesday 30th June 15:18

[mercfunder]

doogz said:

mercfunder said:

You can maybe understand it a bit when you get threads such as this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Yeah, but this guy has been, seen the car, went away to get insurance quotes, then phoned back up to arrange to go back down for another look and a test drive. If the salesman still thinks he's taking the p1ss, he's not much of a salesman!

That's what I'm saying, there's no limit to some people's thickness, dealer is obviously an idiot,take your cash elsewhere.

[RobM77]

mercfunder said:

You can maybe understand it a bit when you get threads such as this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

And there was one a while ago about have you ever wrecked a car on a test drive, which had some right muppets boasting about their exploits, however part of being a good salesman is being able to suss out the interested from the timewasters.

If it is a policy that nobody gets a test drive unless they put up the cash, that is just stupid, if however they use it to get rid of dreamers and idiots I understand it.

Wouldn't buy a car off anybody without driving it first, that's for sure.

Always another one for sale somewhere else.

Edited by mercfunder on Wednesday 30th June 15:03

Absolutely, but I think the OP visiting the garage with his Dad and ringing beforehand is pretty kosher. I'd be rubbing my hands together excited about the sale if I was the salesman!

My experience involved me turning up in a BMW 330ci, smartly dressed and with my cello case to check it fitted (hardly the antics of a joy rider). I also called a few days beforehand to book an appointment, and when asked how I was funding the car replied that it would be a cash purchase. It was an easy and genuine sale, and they let it slip through their fingers.

[jhfozzy]

Had that happen to me in 2004 in the Vauxhall dealer in Swansea (narrows it down a bit).

I was interested in buying a brand new Vectra (I know, I know) about two months down the line. So walked in and basically said "I'm in the market for a new Vectra-ish type car in about 2 months time and want to find out my choices, could I test drive the new Vectra"

Now I was invited and went to the new Vectra launch at the Millbrook proving ground in Bedfordshire so knew most of the quirks, but wanted a refresher and wanted the Mrs to have a drive too.

The salesman came out with the same line "Do you want to buy it" and I replied "yes, in about 2 months time I will have the cash in FULL"

He replied "no test drive if you don't want to buy today"

So I did the decent thing and walked straight out of there, down the road to the Mazda dealer, had a test drive and was so impressed I ordered a brand new Mazda6 there and then. I've still got it now and it's still going strong.

Thing is, I know a few of the salesmen and I mentioned this to them. It was apparently the boss that I'd spoken too. More fool him I'd say, we always used to like that garage, now I'd think twice about buying from them.

[pilchardthecat]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I've found BMW to be very good, in that they don't judge you by your appearence, etc. (Excluding Wollaston in Nothampton, who are the biggest bunch of snobby, snidey fookheads that ever walked the earth)

[Tsippy]

My girlfriend went into a mazda dealer when I was looking to buy an RX8, she asked about some brochures and used car prices and was simply told "We're not doing those anymore, probably a bit too pricey for you anyway".

2 days later they had 8 of them on the forecourt

Needless to say we went elsewhere and bought a better example for £3k less

If you receive bad service, just go elsewhere, do not waste your time with them as if they're that bad when trying to sell you a car, just think how bad they'll be if you ever need to have repairs under warranty.

[iggletiggle]

pilchardthecat said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I've found BMW to be very good, in that they don't judge you by your appearence, etc. (Excluding Wollaston in Nothampton, who are the biggest bunch of snobby, snidey fookheads that ever walked the earth)

Off topic just quickly.. Wollaston went under didnt they (at least the owners did) a while back for fraud??

BOT - As others have said, take your money elsewhere mate, salesmen like this aren't worth the hassle

[MKnight702]

[quote=pilchardthecatI've found BMW to be very good, in that they don't judge you by your appearence, etc. (Excluding Wollaston in Nothampton, who are the biggest bunch of snobby, snidey fookheads that ever walked the earth)
[/quote]

My local now Ex BMW dealer was also a prat. Turned up in a brand new A4 so my wife could test drive a S/H 3 series compact, we needed to establish a) did she like it to drive, b) did the kids fit in the back and c) did the pushchair fit in the boot.

Again we were given the you can't test drive it unless you buy it malarky. If we were test pilots then we would hardly be taking the 318 Compact for a spin now would we. Walked away and went somewhere else, ended up with a 206 GTI. I will never darken the doors of that dealer again, even though they are at the end of the road. (Oh that and they are now Vauxhall)

[swanny71]

Tsippy said:

Needless to say we went elsewhere and bought a better example for £3k less

Take your nice new car to that first dealership, be sure to park it close to the window.
Go see the Sales Manager and show him the car. Then explain that he could have had the sale if his staff weren't such un-helpful, arrogant aholes.

[mercfunder]

doogz said:

Tsippy said:

My girlfriend went into a mazda dealer when I was looking to buy an RX8, she asked about some brochures and used car prices and was simply told "We're not doing those anymore, probably a bit too pricey for you anyway".

2 days later they had 8 of them on the forecourt

Needless to say we went elsewhere and bought a better example for £3k less

If you receive bad service, just go elsewhere, do not waste your time with them as if they're that bad when trying to sell you a car, just think how bad they'll be if you ever need to have repairs under warranty.

Haha, heard the "too pricey for you" comment before, with my mate in a Porsche dealership. We left, and my mate made sure that the salesman heard us leaving in his DB7

Wasn't one in a certain part of Cheshire(Footballers territory) was it?

Asked the price of a Boxster they had in the showroom to be told "if you have to ask, you can't afford it", so decamped to the local Merc dealers, who were happy to tell me the price of anything I asked, and left with a CLK.

[The Wookie]

pilchardthecat said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I've found BMW to be very good, in that they don't judge you by your appearence, etc. (Excluding Wollaston in Nothampton, who are the biggest bunch of snobby, snidey fookheads that ever walked the earth)

I was actually given a test drive pretty easily at a BMW dealer, liked the car, but the bloke's attitude was so bad (made us wait ages for no reason, monosyllabic answers to questions, fobbed me off when I asked about deals on offer, gave us a different spec of car to the one we've booked then tried to pass it off as the same) I ended up buying my car from somewhere else.

He probably thought I was a time waster.

[n3il123]

MKnight702 said:

My local now Ex BMW dealer was also a prat. Turned up in a brand new A4 so my wife could test drive a S/H 3 series compact, we needed to establish a) did she like it to drive, b) did the kids fit in the back and c) did the pushchair fit in the boot.

Again we were given the you can't test drive it unless you buy it malarky. If we were test pilots then we would hardly be taking the 318 Compact for a spin now would we. Walked away and went somewhere else, ended up with a 206 GTI. I will never darken the doors of that dealer again, even though they are at the end of the road. (Oh that and they are now Vauxhall)

I know the ones you mean... their service department was a shower of ste too

[mercfunder]

doogz said:

mercfunder said:

doogz said:

Tsippy said:

My girlfriend went into a mazda dealer when I was looking to buy an RX8, she asked about some brochures and used car prices and was simply told "We're not doing those anymore, probably a bit too pricey for you anyway".

2 days later they had 8 of them on the forecourt

Needless to say we went elsewhere and bought a better example for £3k less

If you receive bad service, just go elsewhere, do not waste your time with them as if they're that bad when trying to sell you a car, just think how bad they'll be if you ever need to have repairs under warranty.

Haha, heard the "too pricey for you" comment before, with my mate in a Porsche dealership. We left, and my mate made sure that the salesman heard us leaving in his DB7

Wasn't one in a certain part of Cheshire(Footballers territory) was it?

Nope, it was not. Near Glasgow.

Must be their policy to be judgmental supercilious tts then.

[mattmoxon]

I have had this before when I bought my Focus ST I went to one Ford Dealership and asked about it, politely explaining that I was coming out of my time as an apprentice in a few months and I was looking at buying an ST (I had bought my ST170 from that same dealer 7 months earlier) and that I wanted a rough trade in price for my ST170 vs a new one. I clearly interrupted the salesman's bacon sandwich and was told, "ohh you can get a valuation online" he clearly had no interest in a potential £20k car sale and the commission that goes with it. They didn't have an ST in the show room or on the forecourt so it wasn't like I was a test pilot.

In the end I went 10 minutes down the road to another branch (same franchise) and within half an hour I had a valuation and was sat in the drivers seat of a used ST off the forecourt - A month later I had a brand new ST. I never did take it to the other franchise and show that salesman what I he has missed out on his commission, though the fact that they closed it a few months later said it all really.