Test driving expensive cars

Scuzi

Scuzi

Scuzi

Man of Honour
Joined
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As you may have seen from my previous threads, I'm in the market for a 2 seater in spring and have recently been on a few test drives. I've had a Boxster, a 350Z and an S2000 for a drive and have had my eyes opened.
One hurdle I have encountered is that when I turn up at the dealer I get the impression that they're a bit apprehensive. I think the see me as a test pilot there to just have a free rag around in their car. One dealer even refused me a test drive in a Boxster unless I committed to buy it :rolleyes:

I can see their concern as I'm fairly young and 'relaxed' in my appearance (i.e. I don't put on a shirt and tie to go test drive a car, come to think of it I very rarely wear a shirt and tie, jeans and a tshirt for the win). I went to a VW dealer last week for a drive in a Golf R32 to see if it was any good. The salesman actually asked me straight out if I could afford the car and if I had any way to prove it. I mean, I'm there to potentially spend a chunk of money on a car and I want to test the bloody thing before I purchase it. I'm there giving them my custom, they're not the ones doing me the bloody favour. Needless to say I left the dealership disgruntled and without a test drive.

If I'm going to spend a chunk of money on a car, I expect to be treated as a respected customer by the dealer. The cold attitude I get from the dealers is really putting me off and out of principle I wouldn't give them my money regardless of whether they had the perfect car or not.

It's really annoying. Have any of you had similar problems and if so how did you overcome them? I don't want to have to bring my bloody payslip with me every time, it's none of their ****ing business what I earn :mad:
 
tblocksom said:
Blame it on the rest of the society. You don't think they've had to entertain many tyre kickers who had no intention on buying then?
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I can understand that they do get test pilots and tyre kickers in but to be downright refused a test drive unless I committed to buy and to be asked to show my payslip is unacceptable.

If you go to a nice restaurant for example and were asked to prove that you could afford the meal before you were served by showing your payslip would you be impressed? I wouldn't, I would be fuming mad.

It's not like I'm trying to test supercars either, they've all been mid range 2 seaters and a few sporty hatchbacks in the price region of £18-30k. If anything they're quite average when you look at the big picture.
 
I got this when I tried to go test drive a new v6 Hyundai Coupe. Dealer looked me over, asked me how I intended to buy it then doubted that I could afford it. I told him I've just got a job with British Gas paying over £25k and left in disgust.

Went to the Vauxhall dealer down the road to look at a Monaro. Guy asked if I could afford the insurance (which is fair enough, it is group 20 afterall). I told him I wasn't willing to buy one there and then as I couldn't afford it but said that I was wanted to check it out to see if it's worth saving up a huge deposit for and coming back in 12-18 month when I've got more NCB. I was expecting him to tell me to come back when I had the cash. He offered to book me in for a test drive for next weekend :D
 
So if a spotty 17 year old teenager pulls up at a Ferrari dealership in a clapped out 1L Nova, the Ferrari dealership should fall over their feet to get their custom?


If they let everyone drive their cars, everyone would just take the ****.


Making you commit to the buy before you've test driven the car is a bit silly though. :D
 
Scuzi said:
it's none of their ****ing business what I earn :mad:
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i think that when you consider you're there to potentially buy a very expensive product, and one that 99% of buyers purchase on credit, then "what you earn" is very much their business.
 
Scarfacé said:
If they let everyone drive their cars, everyone would just take the ****.
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a lot of people already do and there have been threads in the past started by people doing exactly that, namely test piloting cars they have neither the intention nor the ability to buy.
 
I've had problems myself and I'm 30.

BMW refused to let me drive a 760li unless I commited to buying it. I told them where to go and bought an Audi instead.
 
Scuzi said:
If you go to a nice restaurant for example and were asked to prove that you could afford the meal before you were served by showing your payslip would you be impressed? I wouldn't, I would be fuming mad.
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and you'd be right to be mad, assuming you were in a restaurant that charges over £30k for a meal.
your example is irrelevant as the amount of money we're talking about is the only pertinent thing here.go test drive a Fiesta and it's extremely unlikely a dealer will behave the same way the Boxster dealer did towards you.
 
The_Dark_Side said:
a lot of people already do and there have been threads in the past started by people doing exactly that, namely test piloting cars they have neither the intention nor the ability to buy.
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Indeed.


I think some people just get too offended by situations like this. The dealership just wants to make sure you're able to afford the product before they let you drive around in their £30,000 car. If you're not showing you can afford £30k with the car you drive or how you dress etc then it's pretty obvious they're going to ask for other methods.


I'd just take my pay slip along or bank statement what ever, yep, sorted.... "ok sir, so you'd like to test drive the....", simple as that. Pointless cutting your nose to spite your face at the end of the day!
 
I fail to understand how any salesman can demand you commit to buy in order to test drive a car. I mean, how on earth are you meant to know whether you want to buy it or not without driving the damn thing? :confused:

I'd be immediately having words with their manager, and possibly putting in a formal complaint were I asked any such thing.
 
Scarfacé said:
I'd just take my pay slip along or bank statement what ever, yep, sorted.... "ok sir, so you'd like to test drive the....", simple as that. Pointless cutting your nose to spite your face at the end of the day!
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many people take a payslip along when discussing a mortgage way before they have a specific home in mind....and lets be honest you only have to go back 5-10 years ago and some of these cars cost more now than a nice flat did back then in many areas of the UK.
 
This will become an emotional thread I warn you, most people seem to have a view of dealers and how they treat their prospective customers and there are no easy answers or solutions to your dilemma I am afraid. You will not change bad attitudes or educate stupid people, but you will find plenty of both in the motor trade, it is the nature of the beast I am afraid, though there are some good guys out there.

You should also remember the world is full of idiots who take great pleasure driving cars for fun, though a good salesperson should have no trouble establishing these people from the genuine punter. What I would say however is the wrong thing to do is walk into a car showroom and ask to take a car for a test drive as your opening line. To me the correct approach is to sit down with a salesperson and explain what you’re looking for. Spend sometime to demonstrate you have done your research and you are clear how you are looking to buy your car and what the options open to you are.

Once you have done this I think you will find car sales people are much more receptive to allowing you to test drive their cars. Walking into a showroom without any form of intent or commitment to discuss your needs and buying criteria is likely to leave you with a cold reception, and to be honest I can see why. The test drive really should be the last thing you do. If you have no idea if/how you plan to buy the car, how much the insurance will cost you and which cars are in your shortlist you are not ready for a test drive, and could be called a test pilot.

If a young lad you had never met before walked into your house, said nothing to you other than I may buy your car can I have the keys for a test drive, what would you say? If you still get attitude from the salesperson after spending time to explain what your looking for ask to speak with the Sales Manager or even the DP. Buying anything is a 2 way transaction and if you are open and honest with people you will usually get a better deal. Bad salesmanship is disgraceful however and should be stomped on from a great hright when it occurs!
 
I had LOADS of similar problems. Many that DID let me drive allowed me to take it around the block. The only properly decent place was Ford, who chucked the keys to the ST220 and said enjoy it.

Makes me want to go round all the garages again, park the 530i up and say, hahahaha :p
 
Give anyone who sniffs down their nose at you a bit of attitude.

Ask them if they are in the business of selling cars or just sitting around drinking coffee all day, etc. failing that ask to see the sales manager.
 
[TW]Fox said:
Makes me want to go round all the garages again, park the 530i up and say, hahahaha :p
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meaning what?
unless there are dealers that have examples of the 5 series similar to yours including mileage, age and price then they haven't lost a sale with you, plus to be specific you had problems and rightly so as you could not afford to buy many of the cars you've test driven.
 
I personally like the comparison between a private sale. If you were selling a valuable car and someone dressed in jeans and a burberry cap came round I think everyone would tell them where to go! Equally though, turning up in an old reasonable car doesn't really demonstrate any sort of financial credibility.
 
If I ever get refused a test drive im just gonna say ah well crappy (car here) is slower than my (random number over 300bhp) MR2. ;)
 
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