Test driving, with no intention of buying?
Discussion
Now I thought this was frowned upon, but Toyota seem to be practically encouraging it!
Recieved this in the post
Do I fancy a test drive in a GT86, yes.
Do I want somebody to wash my car the day after I've driven a 250 mile round trip to next weeks Sunday Service, oh yes.
Would I buy a GT86 having done this, no I can't afford one.
Would I buy one in a couple of years time, possibly.
Would I be an arse for going along to this, you tell me.
Recieved this in the post
Do I fancy a test drive in a GT86, yes.
Do I want somebody to wash my car the day after I've driven a 250 mile round trip to next weeks Sunday Service, oh yes.
Would I buy a GT86 having done this, no I can't afford one.
Would I buy one in a couple of years time, possibly.
Would I be an arse for going along to this, you tell me.
.
If you drive it and have an enjoyable experience in it, you'll probably tell people about it and most likely via the internet. Which helps them with their marketing a great deal, so don't feel too bad.
Dealers always expect the odd test pilot at such events. Go along and have a drive if you want, just don't waste anyone's time further by pretending to buy a car. A thank you goes a long way, as does a bit of positive feedback about the experience and the dealership etc.
Having worked such events from the shiny-suited side of things, I'd always rather have had a day full of enthusiastic and interested people having drives than spent the day with the dealership having spent loads of money on mailshots and promotional material for the showroom, food and drink and so on and then had a woeful turnout.
Just because they may not be in the market for the car that day, doesn't mean they never will - and they just might remember their previous positive experience and come back to the business.
Dealers always expect the odd test pilot at such events. Go along and have a drive if you want, just don't waste anyone's time further by pretending to buy a car. A thank you goes a long way, as does a bit of positive feedback about the experience and the dealership etc.
Having worked such events from the shiny-suited side of things, I'd always rather have had a day full of enthusiastic and interested people having drives than spent the day with the dealership having spent loads of money on mailshots and promotional material for the showroom, food and drink and so on and then had a woeful turnout.
Just because they may not be in the market for the car that day, doesn't mean they never will - and they just might remember their previous positive experience and come back to the business.
Edited by Zwolf on Sunday 15th July 22:18
I did an Mazda test drive day a few years back - I think it was the 20th anniversary of the MX5, and they held events all over the UK showcasing the range and allowing test drives.
They even provided a really nice pub lunch, too.
When they asked for feedback, I was honest and polite - along the lines of 'nice car, would be tempted if I could have one as a company car, but as a weekend toy, I think you've just convinced me to buy a Mk1'. Which I did, a couple of years later.
They even provided a really nice pub lunch, too.
When they asked for feedback, I was honest and polite - along the lines of 'nice car, would be tempted if I could have one as a company car, but as a weekend toy, I think you've just convinced me to buy a Mk1'. Which I did, a couple of years later.
Zwolf said:
If you drive it and have an enjoyable experience in it, you'll probably tell people about it and most likely via the internet. Which helps them with their marketing a great deal, so don't feel too bad.
I'll make sure I come on here afterwards and do a little write up. 
Zwolf said:
A thank you goes a long way, as does a bit of positive feedback about the experience and the dealership etc.
Took my MR2 to the dealers for a service and actually have nothing but positive things to say about them. Really pleasant to deal with and the cost wasn't OTT either. Would be more than happy to do my bit with positive feedback
We (cousin & I) were invited on a Jag blag a few years back - got to play with the S type, XJR and XKRs when they were very new. Happy memories of seeing 4mpg on the insta-spendometer in the xkr ho ho.. Did say to the sales chap that we couldn't afford one.. But now they are almost in shed territory.. perhaps. No deception involved, but a positive experience that made us *want* one back then; got to sit in 007s XKR too - wanted *that* one with chain gun on back.
As rep said at the time, good jobs, lottery wins and rich relatives passing are always a possibility, no?
As rep said at the time, good jobs, lottery wins and rich relatives passing are always a possibility, no?
I once went and test drove 6 cars in a day, and I went back and drove 2 of them again the day after.
It started as a bit of boredom and a slight urge to buy something new, by the end of day two I'd placed a deposit on a car I was certain on day 1 I'd never have been able to afford.
Since then if I've ever popped into a dealer to kill some time or just to browse without any serious commitment to buying I tell sales people that I'm there for those reasons. 9/10 times it makes them a bit more keen to offer me help and test drives (that I generally don't accept) which must mean they prefer a challenging sale to one where a person walks in with a shopping list.
It started as a bit of boredom and a slight urge to buy something new, by the end of day two I'd placed a deposit on a car I was certain on day 1 I'd never have been able to afford.
Since then if I've ever popped into a dealer to kill some time or just to browse without any serious commitment to buying I tell sales people that I'm there for those reasons. 9/10 times it makes them a bit more keen to offer me help and test drives (that I generally don't accept) which must mean they prefer a challenging sale to one where a person walks in with a shopping list.
Its kind of the same with Seat.
If you go in and enquire I think you get some sort of code for their own music site for a certain amount of free song/album downloads.
Then if you test drive a car you get about double or triple the mount.
I didn't find anything that interested me so didn't use them !
If you go in and enquire I think you get some sort of code for their own music site for a certain amount of free song/album downloads.
Then if you test drive a car you get about double or triple the mount.
I didn't find anything that interested me so didn't use them !
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