How to blag a test drive?

pok125

pok125

pok125

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Joined
4 Apr 2006
Posts
254
Location
Glasgow
Hi, first off, to avoid confusion, yes I did post asking about cars in my price range (2-3k) the other day, and something in that range is still the main plan, however, I am thinking of other things as well :p

One thing thats crossed my mind, is saving for about a year, in order to buy a used Fiesta ST. Now I know there is perhaps a lot better options for me even if I did save, but this is what I really want, and I might be willing to save for a long time to get it.

As I say, there might be things that drive better for the same money, but that won't matter to me, if I find the drive up to the standards I hope they are. However, I don't want to save for a year just to find out they are not.

So really what I want to do is give one a quick test drive, to see if I consider it worthwhile to save the money. Basically none of the dealerships around me have any used Fiesta STs, so if I was to get a test drive, would I need to convince them I might be buying a new ST soon?

I've never had a test drive before so I really don't know how it works, I imagine its not as simple as just walking in and asking for one, because I'm sure a lot of people would just do that for fun. I'm up for spending a a couple of hours convincing a salesman that I can afford, and want to buy one soon tho, if this is the best way?
 
Just ask them for a test drive - you don't need to try and justify it, or prove you could afford it right then. After all if you have the money why would you feel the need to prove it?

If they get shirty just tell them you'll take your business elsewhere, they'll soon let you have a testdrive :)
 
I found that when I was looking for £7k cars like the Puma I had to jump through hoops to get a test drive yet when I was looking to spend £20k+ on the Elise it was easy.

Go figure :confused:
 
Some dealers are more friendly than others.

BMW dealers I went to were fabulous - all offered me insant test drives, tea/coffee etc. One even said they would deliver a car to my office and pick it back up from me before 5pm.

Make a good impression and you'll get a test drive.
 
When I last changed my car salesmen were desperate to get me to test drive.

Although once one of my mates gave me a lift in her 'X' reg corsa and no one in the garage even spoke to me...
 
eidolon said:
I found that when I was looking for £7k cars like the Puma I had to jump through hoops to get a test drive yet when I was looking to spend £20k+ on the Elise it was easy.

Go figure :confused:
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that would probably be down to their retrospective dealers

i too have found this

and i think fox has as well. On numerous ocassions dealers have just thrown him the keys and said come back in an hour and dont crash it, whereas others have gone through a gestapo-esque vetting procedure for a cheaper car than the one he was given the keys for.
 
Also if after the testdrive the salesperson is really pushing for a sale, just say your going to have to get your partner to have a look - the salesperson will take this as you need to get permission and all the hard sell will dissapear.
 
Oh yeah I forgot to mention, I'm 22, and I have really short hair... Sometimes get the feeling the security guard is following me in my local supermarket...

Should I wear a suit or something? :p
 
eidolon said:
I found that when I was looking for £7k cars like the Puma I had to jump through hoops to get a test drive yet when I was looking to spend £20k+ on the Elise it was easy
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EXACTLY the same experience. Tried hard to test drive a Silver Mk2 Mondeo 2.5 V6 Ghia X RSAP. Even parked my car beside it at the showroom. They were identical. Nope, no test drive, get lost. Used 528i Sports, no test drive, get lost.

£15k+ low mileage 530i's and ST220's, heres the keys mate bring it back in an hour :confused:

When I go back to Uni I'm going back to blagging random test drives, it's so much fun, and I reckon despite my appearance if I turn up in the 530i I'll be able to drive most things.
 
I hate going on test drives :( Infact thats part of the reason I ended up with my particular car. The dealer gave me the keys and said "see what you think" I came back 30 minutes later and was unsure so he said fine, sleep on it. I went back 2 days later and his first words were "want another test drive?" "err... yes please" "why not take it a bit longer. Oh actually I think you left it on the fuel light when you last took it out." "er... yeah sorry about..." *hands me a fiver* :eek: Took it out to my mechanic which was about 15 minutes away, he stuck it on his ramps and checked it over for about 15 minutes, he drove it for about 20 minutes and said it seemed fine then I drove it back. After being out for over an hour I was expecting to find the boys in blue waiting for me but he just asked me how I got on.

Shockingly good service considering I wasn't spending much. Ended up buying the car though so it worked :)
 
Get some business cards printed up with you as MD of a hugely successful company, and give them one when you introduce yourself...

You can pretty much blag any test drive then...

:D
 
[TW]Fox said:
When I go back to Uni I'm going back to blagging random test drives, it's so much fun, and I reckon despite my appearance if I turn up in the 530i I'll be able to drive most things.
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So you can perhaps see why many dealers are not always receptive to test drive requests. Blagging test drives is common and for this reason when another 20 something walks into the showroom wanting a drive they sometimes get short shrift. You really can't judge a book by its cover so the genuine ones sometimes get tarnished because of the 'test pilots'. Most credible sales people within the motor trade, few and far between though they may be, will ask a few questions to smoke out the genuine buyer and will pay little or no attention to how you are dressed or what car you pull up in. Problem is most form an opinion on first impression so how you are dressed and what you pitch up in is seen as important. They also remember the 25 people a week they giver a test drive to but never see again, most of who probably fit into a similar demographic.

You reap what you sow as they say ;)
 
Dr Who said:
Get some business cards printed up with you as MD of a hugely successful company, and give them one when you introduce yourself...

You can pretty much blag any test drive then...

:D
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That would fail. If you were that successful your PA would arrange for the car to be delivered to your house for the weekend ;)
 
If you are really that worried about not getting a test drive take your dad with you, shouldn't have any problems then...
 
al123 said:
If you are really that worried about not getting a test drive take your dad with you, shouldn't have any problems then...
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Well I'm not really worried, I've just never tried, I was half expecting, and hoping people would tell me its easy, no problem :p

Plus I dont want my dad to know at this stage :p
 
pok125 said:
Well I'm not really worried, I've just never tried, I was half expecting, and hoping people would tell me its easy, no problem :p

Plus I dont want my dad to know at this stage :p
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Well i've never had a problem getting test drives, just say you are looking for a new car etc, they will probs offer you a test drive anyway.
 
[TW]Fox said:
How are you supposed to have an idea what you want next if you've never driven it?
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Your not and you missed my point. You were talking about blagging test drives not buying a car...
 
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