simonb Posted November 22, 2006 Report Share Posted November 22, 2006 Why has it become so hard to get a test drive?? Been looking at three cars today. Car One - Battery dead, salesman not interested so not today pal. Car Two - Managed to get keys - battery dead. Car Three - Yes, it starts! Salesman however wants me to agree to sign an order form prior to taking it out for a spin. Remember the old days when you could drive a car and walk away if you didnt like it??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted November 22, 2006 Report Share Posted November 22, 2006 I suspect what you're suffering from here is a surfeit of "test pilots" and the inevitable results for "real" punters who are genuinely interested in buying a car. Not suggesting it's fair, but once you've had 20 lads out ragging your cars about over the course of a month before saying "cheers" and fecking off, when the 21st walks in asking for a drive you're probably not quite as enthusiastic as you were the first time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted November 22, 2006 Report Share Posted November 22, 2006 Don't know what you mean. In the last few weeks, I've tested: DB9 .. turned up, chatted, went for a drive Alpina B5 ... chatted, called back, booked a trip 535d ... given the car for the weekend E63AMG ... ditto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted November 22, 2006 Report Share Posted November 22, 2006 Just out of curiosity, Ari: Did you test drive your boat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashleyadam Posted November 22, 2006 Report Share Posted November 22, 2006 I would not be surprised if Audi dealers start doing that with S3 the amount of people having test drives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted November 22, 2006 Report Share Posted November 22, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I would not be surprised if Audi dealers start doing that with S3 the amount of people having test drives. [/ QUOTE ] ....Really? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s4_sat Posted November 22, 2006 Report Share Posted November 22, 2006 That's just madness. Who would have thought that was a good thing to do!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotdog Posted November 22, 2006 Report Share Posted November 22, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Why has it become so hard to get a test drive?? Been looking at three cars today. Car One - Battery dead, salesman not interested so not today pal. Car Two - Managed to get keys - battery dead. Car Three - Yes, it starts! Salesman however wants me to agree to sign an order form prior to taking it out for a spin. Remember the old days when you could drive a car and walk away if you didnt like it??? [/ QUOTE ] Well if you keep turning up in a burberry cap and hoodie what do you expect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v15ben Posted November 22, 2006 Report Share Posted November 22, 2006 I must admit that in recent months every single test drive I have been on of a used car has had one thing in common... ... the fuel warning light coming on at some point during the journey! This is on anything from an Impreza Turbo to a Saxo 1.1 for a new driver friend of mine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted November 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Ben - how the feck did you blag a test drive of a Scooby??? you're under 25 like me and probably suffer from 'under 25 no test drive' syndrome!! The cars i tried to test were: Car One - Citroen C2 VTS Car Two - Fiesta ST Car Three - Citroen C2 VTR (Was up for £6400, found it online - same car - KU04*** for £5700 last night, then went onto a trade only site and found it for £5000! Good work even if i say so myself!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
330dcoupe Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 A friend of mine pulled up outside of Porsche with is van once and asked to book a testdrive of a Carrera 4 s - the salesman took one look at the van and said he couldn't - my friend then returned the next day in his Bently and asked again and got one! tw4ts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kermitfrog Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 [ QUOTE ] my friend then returned the next day in his Bently and asked again and got one! tw4ts! [/ QUOTE ] Due to the Conti being SORNed at the mo (yeah right!), I usually find that the wearing of a suit usually appeals to the baser instincts of the 'sales associate'. Extremely handy these 24 hr test drives - especially come servicing time with my own car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 I've been told categorically by a Merc dealer that unaccompanied test drives are 24 hours max, and cannot be longer under any circumstances. Except, I found, when I turn up in a 911 on a Friday morning and seem a bit uncertain after an accompanied test drive. Then, the E63 AMG is available all weekend, can I bring it back on Sunday or Monday morning please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torino101 Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Always the way... Went solo to an Audi dealership to look to get a test drive in a 3.2 A3 and the salesman was not interested. Turned up 2 days later, and the Same bloody guy suddenly turned into stereotype brown nose as this time I had arrived with my father in a Merc SL....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Just out of curiosity, Ari: Did you test drive your boat? [/ QUOTE ] I did actually...! Interestingly, most brokerage boat sales operations (bit like estate agents, they sell second-hand boats they don't own on behalf or the boats owner) won't do a sea trial unless they have a signed order form and 10% deposit. The deal is then subject to satisfactory sea trial and (if required) survey. This means that if the purchaser is unhappy with either of those things he has the right to pull out (or renegotiate) and have his deposit returned. Not many "test pilots" want to put down £25,000 on a £250,000 yacht unless they're serious about buying it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v15ben Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Ben - how the feck did you blag a test drive of a Scooby??? you're under 25 like me and probably suffer from 'under 25 no test drive' syndrome!! [/ QUOTE ]Haha it was with a friend who got a rather large inheritance pay out. She said that I would be driving it if she was to buy it and the salesman actually offered me a drive! I think I had asked the right questions and sounded very interested in the car! I have also been in a few other interesting cars, but would be accused of ride blagging and tyre kicking if I listed them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 reminds me of taking a 350Z out for a test drive, arrived at the dealer and he was too busy so just threw me the keys and said for me to be back before they closed - it was lunch time I was back within 10-15 mins - handed him the keys and could only manage to say that it was nice, my boat was not floated. By the way, I put down the deposit on my Boxster without a testdrive - in fact, without seeing it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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