Refused for test drive :-(

Yeah it's happened to me. Was interested in a Leon Cupra Stage 2. Rang up and arranged a test drive for a few days later, got there and the salesman I arranged it with was busy with other customers so I waited a bit but got fed up and spoke to someone else. They agreed to show me the car which was still up on ramps at the entrance of the forecourt.

Now understand that there were only 2 salesman working and apparently it takes 3 of them to get the car off of the ramps (it was pretty high up) but he said I needed to pay a deposit to be able to test drive it. I said I'd rang up days prior and he just blanked me.

Way to lose a sale you ****ing retard.
 
Dr House said:
It works the opposite way also. I have a few friends that drive around in flash cars (911 for example), have expensive cloths and flash rented flats.

They don't actually have much money behind them but it looks like they do. They make ok money, borrow even more and save nothing.
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Those people with ok jobs that overspend on luxury goods are still an ideal customer as they do buy those flash goods. A customer on 20k who is willing to borrow 30k to buy a flash car is a better potential than a millionaire who prefers to drive round in a 1k polo!

I have only once been refused a test drive. The first time was for a Civic Type-R at a Honda dealership where they claimed a 25 age restriction when I was 24. Seemed strange given I arrived in an Audi TT and dress fairly smart all the time (short sleeve shirt and jeans usually)
 
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Abyss said:
That isn't really the case though, those people with ok jobs that overspend on luxury goods are still an ideal customer as they do buy those flash goods. A customer on 20k who is willing to borrow 30k to buy a flash car is a better potential than a millionaire who prefers to drive round in a 1k polo!
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Yes, My post was in response to EddScott who has a friend who looks poor but is actually rich enough to drive a Ferrari, I was just saying that a lot of people look rich but the reality of it is that they are not.

But they are probably the best customers for the dealer as they take expensive finance.
 
Abyss said:
I have only once been refused a test drive. The first time was for a Civic Type-R at a Honda dealership where they claimed a 25 age restriction when I was 24. Seemed strange given I arrived in an Audi TT and dress fairly smart all the time (short sleeve shirt and jeans usually)
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He was feeding you crud, I was 19 when I test drove a demo Civic Type R (was up for £16k I think).

I'm sure dealers do have certain restrictions on certain cars due to insurance reasons but none of this 27, 25 or even 21 rubbish.

I'd expect it's over 18 providing someone from the dealer is also in the car and they've checked you've not going x amount of points or banned.
 
Deep said:
unfortunately I only have my Peugeot to drive around in. Nothing special, just your run of the mill hatchback.

oh well, still on the lookout for an XF
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so you are deffo after one then.

Be a good gent and send them a strongly worded letter, along with a reciept for the XF you've bought from another dealer :)
 
A main dealers trade insurance will cover everyone, infact nearly every trade insurance policy has no age restrictions. So, basically the salesman though you were a time waster.

As previously mentioned get one from another dealer, and perhaps pop into that dealer after for a service or something if you fancy seeing a gutted saleman.
 
Deep said:
I went in outlined exactly what I was after, colour spec and all sorts.
Mentioned that the car I wanted was few k out of my price range and that I could stretch if need ve!

I should have been more alpha I suppose, but it's really annoying
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So it was not out your price range then was it? You can either afford it or not surely.
 
Never been refused for a test drive. If a dealer says no then it's their loss.

Best ones are where they take your driving license, throw you the keys and tell you to take it out for half an hour, I like those dealers :)

FWIW though, when I worked in fleet our insurance restricted under 25s from driving vehicles above 2.5 litres (or around that) but would assume 25 would be a pretty standard age to be able to drive anything, especially a 3.0 Diesel.
 
piggeh said:
FWIW though, when I worked in fleet our insurance restricted under 25s from driving vehicles above 2.5 litres (or around that) but would assume 25 would be a pretty standard age to be able to drive anything, especially a 3.0 Diesel.
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Many fleet policies has age restrictions, that is not uncommon. Garages however tend not to have such age restrictions. I know a few wealthy under 25's driving all sorts of exotica that they test drove before hand.
 
If you were actually after a car, and the salesman thought you were a timewaster - it's their loss. "Turning up" in your new XF after you've bought it just to rub it in is a bit of a non-starter, as the whole scenario will have been forgotten by then.

What I would do is write a "disappointed" letter, either to the chap you originally spoke to on the phone, or the dealership principal. State that you were indeed looking to buy, you had the spec you're after worked out, were interested in a specific car they had in stock and were disappointed to be fobbed off as a time waster by a presumptive salesman.

Then inform them that you'll be purchasing another car and having all your servicing and any warranty work done at A. N. Other Jaguar dealership nearby.

If anything, it'll make the numpty salesman's life a little awkward for a day or two.
 
There was no problem test driving my ST, guy just handed me the keys and let me go out in it with my GF while he stayed there with my licence, I was 22 at the time.
 
My Wife will not even look at Volkswagons without snearing as when she was about 19 she went to look at a golf and unbelievably (in particular as she was with her dad who was paying for a brand new car for his daughter) the salesman said she couldnt afford one.
She bought 4 new fords before she moved to minis, not just one lost sale but perhaps several.
 
I've never gone into a dealer and asked for a test drive but with my job I pick up a lot of High performance cars and Vintage cars, on my first day I picked up a Bentley Turbo RT and the guy seemed a bit tetchy about me taking it but then again I'd imagine I'd have problems if I walked into a Jag dealer and asked for a test drive, but then again I'd never buy a Jag :P
 
Deep said:
So I booked a test drive a few days ago for an XF 3.0D.

The gentleman said fine and asked how old I was, I told him 25 and he said that's OK.

So off I trot to the dealership and the man on the phone was ill today I spoke to someone else to ask for a test drive and they said no and that I had to he 27 :confused:

Very annoyed!

Anyway rant over, has this happened to others a lot?
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Good luck on the search for an XF. Ive got a test drive booked next Friday for the XF I am potentially going to buy so if I get refused a test drive I am going to flip out at the salesman.
 
NathWraith said:
This is well stupid. Jag obviously don't need the extra business.

Whenever I have asked for test drives the staff have always been more than happy to help.

Dressing in skinny jeans, tee with long hair I'm not exactly a Accountant or director!
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1) Get a hair cut

2) Stop wearing girls clothes

In all seriousness, people really do alter their behavior to how you dress and who you come with. Went car shopping with the wife, all garages spent ages talking to the wife and selling her the nice cute bits and pointing out how nice the red paint was...

When I went on my own in my work attire they went straight in at financial arrangements, deposits etc etc. funny really when its my wife who primarily looks after our money.
 
This always happens to me, always. I've had only 2 sucessful test drives in my life. I always get fobbed off, despite turning up to the dealer in a suit and an immaculate Monaro. I can even arrange on the phone and then turn up and then I get excuses.
 
Nearly happened to me when I went to test drive an slk at 24. He was like, are you actually going to buy it? Really ****** me off - just because most of the youth of today are lazy bums, doesn't mean I am. Rant over :p
 
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