Questions About Test Driving

msstrikehr1 · November 2002

Well, the good news is that my husband and I were actually able to take a Mazda 6i (the type we were really looking at as opposed to the 6s, which we got the tiny test drive of) out for an at least reasonable test drive tonight. We were able to go a few miles, get on the highway and take it out on a test drive much more reminiscent of the ones I've received in New Orleans as opposed to the short Chicago area ones.

I think tiny test drives (no highway, just around the block) versus minimally reasonable ones (a few miles, at least some highway time) might have something to do with random luck of dealership and salesperson.

I totally agree that knowing the dealer and having brought from them before helps. Unfortunately, that's not the case for us, since this is going to be the first car we've bought (got lucky as kids and had long-lasting cars).

And trying to look at a hot car (as Mazda 6 is supposed to be) doesn't help.

I was just looking for tips from anybody to make sure that it didn't look like we were joyriding and that we seriously did want to look at the car since we hadn't been through the process before. I didn't know if making an appointment or saying the right (or not saying the wrong) thing helped. And what would those right and wrong things be. I did try some of those earlier tips, emphasizing that we wanted to by in the next few weeks, tonight and it did seem to help.

I think if it comes to it, we might rent the Corolla and the Matrix. The cynical side of me though wonders though if car dealers are limiting the length of test drives more than before though to try to push potential buyers into having to rent a car to get a test drive. (When I called to find out about renting a Toyota from a dealer, the person I spoke to was all to eager to point out how short test drives are and that you're made to feel lucky if you get to go around the block, which is exactly how I feel on most test drives.)

fdthird · November 2002

Never road tested a car before buying

brianw220 · November 2002

Talk about over-complicating the car buying process! You've got three cars you like and can afford. You have an immediate need for a vehicle. You now what a good price should be on those cars based on your fact-finding. Find out which one presents the best value and buy it.

ccotenj · November 2002

wanting an acceptable test drive so you can see if you can live with the car is "over complicating the car buying process"?? explain please?

-Chris

zueslewis · November 2002

but who have they asked for this test drive. If they spent as much time driving a car and closing a deal as they do on Edmunds griping about short test drives, they'd be driving their new Matrix now!

spright · November 2002

Contained the only "griping" I've seen on this thread.

brianw220 · November 2002

Maybe it's just me, but A 10 to 20 mile test drive on a surface street, a little run up the highway gives me ample time to get a feel for a vehicle. People who want to take a vehicle for the weekend are typically the same folks who want huge discounts if a new car has 100 miles on it. Addtitionally, dealers dont't usually like these extended test drives because frequently, these test drive hounds don't end up buying. Moreover, on another thread in F & I, a customer is complaining because they wrecked the dealer's car on a test drive and they think it's unfair that the dealer expects their (the customer's) insurance company to pay for it. Just as a few bad dealers have made car dealers as a whole look bad, so too, have a few customers made all customers look bad.

zueslewis · November 2002

If the dealership's used car guy wrecked their car while appraising it, you'd better bet the dealer would be responsible. People simply don't understand the concept of "personal responsibility".

brianw220 · November 2002

I pointed out the same thing in that thread. There are some wild customers out there.

msstrikehr1 · November 2002

Let me clarify, we were just looking for more than around the block (no highway) test drives. Until last night, that was all we were able to get with any car. Fortunately, it turned out to be with the Mazda 6, b/c we can rent the Corolla and Matrix. Originally, though I was stumped as to why test drives seemed so short (around the block and no highway) since this is our first time buying a car. I came here looking for advice and then saw people posting about being able to take overnight ones and wondered how to get longer than around the block ones.

mney6 · November 2002

3 months ago we had a person test drive a Pathfinder.The sales person went with him the first time and then he wanted to take it by himself.(3 hours go by)
The police call us and tell us our car is in the ditch against a tree.
We call the customer at home and he proceeds to tell us what a piece of ---- it is and he is not interested in it.
Now I have a damaged disclosure vehicle and trying to get him to pay 1000.00 for the deductible.

nippononly · November 2002

both sides of this one - the dealership does not want its new cars messed up or substantially depreciated. That is why I think it is fair to ask the customer to rent one if they would like (like me) to have an extended drive in it - I drive 40K+ miles a year, and am often driving this darn car for 8-10 hours at a stretch or more, so I want to know it is comfortable for the long haul.

BUT I think every test drive should include at least one exit's worth of freeway driving - you need to know how the car is at speed, especially how well you can accelerate at speed to pass.

The funny thing is, Toyota is the first manufacturer that I know of that has started a program of making all its cars (almost all, amyway) available for rental, and this fact has actually steered me towards buying from them, because I can get a good feel for the vehicle before purchasing.

msstrikehr1 · November 2002

Does anybody from Mazda (dealership owner, dealer staff, salespeople) know if it's going to be possible in the next few weeks to rent a Mazda 6 or even get an extended test drive? I felt fortunate to get a one exit on the freeway test drive already when some people haven't even been able to see the car yet. And I think I am going to just go ahead and rent the Corolla and Matrix as we get down to final decision time. But I don't even know if that's going to be a possibility with the Mazda 6. Since I do sometimes have some long hauls in the car, I would like to get an extended feel in my final choices before buying if possible. Is Toyota the only manufacturer that does this rental thing?

rroyce10 · November 2002

..... ** Toyota is the first manufacturer that I know of that has started a program of making all its cars (almost all, anyway) available for rental.

We need to get you out more .l.o.l.. -- Ford, GM and Chrysler has been doing it for Yeeeaars .. Toyota is very limited in their line up, but I'm sure in the next couple of years or so they will have it fully marketed ...

Terry.

zueslewis · November 2002

rented a Town Car from the Ford Dealership I worked at for my Junior/Senior Prom - in 1981 - they had been renting cars (the whole line) through the Ford Rental Program since 1974.

tblazer503 · November 2002

beginning to slip away.... for the first year or two of ownership, anyway... =oP

Probably not in my area, though... they still try to sell 8 yr old Corolla's for 8,0 w/80k on it. The salesperson laughed when I offered him 3,0 for it...

nippononly · November 2002

back when I was looking, I wanted to take out a focus for a longer drive, and I asked the salesman at my local dealership if there was a way for me to have the car overnight, and he said no.

perhaps the ford rental program is not at all dealerships?

zueslewis · November 2002

the cost of the rental or didn't want to ask you for the money. Since most dealers are franchised, there are a few dealers out there who don't dabble in the rental arena.

mackabee · November 2002

test drive...or maybe he was afraid that with the 11 recalls that car has had it might have broken down on you and sour the deal!
; )
Mackabee

P.S. Don't get me wrong, I've driven one and it drives very nice and has received many accolades from the car mags, however the NHTSA is now conducting an investigation on why so many safety related recalls have been made.

nippononly · November 2002

this was back in early 2001, before the recalls on the focus had become a daily media item and the 21st century embarassment of the Ford name.

All the mags said it was nice (he said wistfully)...it drove nice for the two minutes I was in it.

landru2 · November 2002

Let's remember those recalls were for 2000 and 2001 models. I wouldn't buy one of those now.

The 2002's have had one recall and I believe it has been named to Car & Drivers 10 Best list for the 4th year in a row.

I spent some time in an SVT Focus last week. Great driving car!

Now if you want to take a jab at a car how about any of the various GM's that were just recalled for problems with steering to the left. The salespeople prefer a test drive route with only right-hand turns for a reason. :^)

gacman99 · November 2002

I haven't had any problem getting dealers to let me test drive where ever I want to go. As a basic course they include a short interstate loop, then back through city streets to the dealer.

Both the Saturn and the VW dealers let me do these no problem. The VW dealer offered to let me take home the car I wanted overnight if I wanted. Guess it may depend on where you are and waht the dealership's experiences have been.

Joel

mackabee · November 2002

I'll only let them go overnight after proper qualifying; i.e, how close are they to making a decision, have they narrowed it down to this car, etc. If someone is still in the "shopping" mode, looking at 4 different cars, just starting not buying till 6 months from now, etc..normal test drive will do. 9 times out of 10 the ones I put out riding overnight end up buying the car.

: _)
Mackabee

zueslewis · November 2002

to make them a buyer.

I find it annoyingly funny that people are griping because the can't easily get an overnight demo ride.

I used that when I wanted to really hook someone. Once a person takes the vehicle home and shows their neighbors, relatives, boss, buddies etc, how are you going to explain it when you don't have the car the next day and you're back to riding your old hoss?

Most people will assume you either couldn't afford it or couldn't qualify for credit - either way, you'll buy the car to save face.

That's why a discussion griping about overnight drives kills me.

mackabee · November 2002

that didn't buy the car fell into that category, couldn't afford it, or didn't want to step up to the plate.
Mackabee

alinda · November 2002

Hip hip hooray for the dehorse!
Worked three times last week, and probably once tomorrow.

zueslewis · November 2002

the come back to their trade and see the rock chips, soda stains and french fries under the seat and the Fat Lady starts singing!!

audia8q · November 2002

When can I get a 3 year test drive? haha

zueslewis · November 2002

just sign here and I'll run it by my manager.

alinda · November 2002

your social, dob, and your signature on these forms. Press hard, there are three copies.

(It'll be free as long as you keep the repo man at bay. Perhaps with generic beer and an alien in the trunk?)

zueslewis · November 2002

you can test drive as long as you want as long as you make your payments - you don't plan on keeping the car? We call that a "lease".

danf5 · November 2002

Back when Sterling cars were still being sold here, I got a nice letter from Sterling. They told me I was a wonderful person whose time was valuable and that I needed a Sterling. They were confident that if I tried one I'd buy it. To induce me to try one, they'd give me $100 for taking a test drive. Just go to my local Sterling dealer (Alfa/Sterling dual, not nice people), take a test drive, get my little form stamped, and mail it off.

So one Saturday not long after I got the nice letter, put on my scruffies, got in my aging Civic S, and went to the dealer. Walked in. The first salesmen I could find looked me up, looked me down, asked very pointedly if I sincerely wanted to buy a car. "Of course not, but I got this love letter from Sterling." "Gimme, I'll stamp it, geddoudahere."

Sterling eventually paid, too. Crazy way to sell cars, not effective. I used to own a Rover P6B, am still mad at Rover for stupid design decisions and choice of materials, took the money as reparations.

golic · November 2002

last year was looking at purchasing either a chrysler or an olds. Walk into a chrysler dealer at 7pm wanting to look at the concord and saleman took my license and handed me the keys and told me to have fun. Put about 7 miles on car and realized it was not for me.

At Olds, I almost needed a note from my mother in order to take the car out "with" the salesman, for the short 1 mile 'round the block.

I guess it all depends on who you get.

nippononly · November 2002

it is the individual salesperson, I think it is differing dealership policies on test drives...

jelhz43n · November 2002

Last year I was in the market for minivan. Honda was out as it was MSRP+$$$$ I was driving Toyota Camry so went to one dealer looking for Sienna, selected one with "Desert Sand Mica" color , did a test drive of 5-7 minutes guided by the salesperson ! Tried to negotiate and the deal failed to materialize.
Same day after lunch went to the dealer I had bought the camry from. Selected the van and asked the Salesperson for price. he told me that without test drive he is not going to sell me a vehicle ! So my wife told me let's go. We went with the salesperson with both our kids ( 10YO and 2YO). Salesperosn drove half way and I drove half way. On the way he told us everything about the van ( which I already knew, Thanks to Edmunds! And of course, Salesperson was very nice !

Came back, and in the show room saw another van , same color with Video Entertainment Center , negotiated the price and bought it !!
So technically I did not drive THE Vehicle I bought !

John

mackabee · November 2002

Why didn't you tell the salesman you had driven the van already at another store and were ready to make a deal in the first place? Just curious.
\ Mackabee

zueslewis · November 2002

though not throw it out the window, if the person had not driven the exact vehicle they were buying, or one just like it, perhaps in another color.

How can I ask you to pay ANYTHING for a vehicle you haven't decided is "for you" yet?

We had a policy at two dealers I worked at - you HAD TO test drive with the customer (letting them loose on their own after that is up to you, the manager and the consumer). If you didn't test drive with the customer, more than likely you have no chance of selling them anything, so you were directed to leave with them.

jelhz43n · November 2002

I told the salesperson that I have done it and he said "Each and every vehicle has it's own characteristics/bugs/handling etc" So I said OK. Or may be he was taking time to test ME out !!

manamal · November 2002

Particularly because my parents once did not test drive the specific car. They had been looking at Civics, and knew what they wanted. Well, my parents buy the car, and drive the car off the lot and it stalls. It was in the shop for several days...my parents were out of the money.
The car NEVER ran right...always had carb problems.

mney6 · November 2002

We had a customer who wanted to test drive a New Pathfinder and was very animated that he should be allowed to drive it alone.
Heck we live in Iowa.
We are still waiting for the Pathfinder to come back.

rroyce10 · November 2002

** I would hold up a sale .. l.o.l...

Your my kinda of guy .. No ticky, No washy.!

Terry :-))

zueslewis · November 2002

how am I going to high gross sales guy if my customer isn't committed?

cherokeelmt · December 2002

I sell Chevy's and Pontiacs 5 miles north of Boston. It is like pulling teeth to get a customer to drive a car sometimes! What are they afraid they might buy?! " If they don't drive, they don't buy"

zueslewis · December 2002

When I sold, the hard part was to get them in the car and willing to commit to a test drive, not trying to get them to stop driving!!

nippononly · December 2002

many people feel like they owe the salesperson something if they accept the test drive. Since they don't want to be obligated, especially not in the initial stages of what they expect to be a long decision process, they refuse the drive.

zueslewis · December 2002

by the "long decision process". I'm not one to take a long time with decisions and people who need to do 6 months of research, then drive everything on the lot,even having the salesman saddle up the old paint horse out back - it's ridiculous.

If you have 2.5 kids and an active lifestyle, there are many, many vehicles that simply will not fit your needs.

If you're a 20 year old single guy who like imports and a 5-speed, then looking at anything but an imported 5-speed car (maybe a domestic or two for comparison) is a waste of time.

Do the Ben Franklin close on yourself - read to your heart's content, do the pros and cons worksheet (BF close) and drive a car or two, then friggin' decide!

You really don't have to keep this thing for 40 years, since what's the big deal? You've obviously, at this point, narrowed your choices to 2-5 vehicles that will all fit your needs and none of which is a totally bad descision. I've found, both with myself and my customers, that some little thing usually puts them into one car over another, not some big blatant issue.

Go to Wal-Mart - they have spines on sale 3 for a dollar. Buy one, install it, make a decision, live with it and get out of car-buying mode so you can enjoy your weekends and evenings again.

rroyce10 · December 2002

***** Go to Wal-Mart - they have spines on sale 3 for a dollar. Buy one, install it, make a decision, live with it and get out of car-buying mode so you can enjoy your weekends and evenings again.

Yeah, but which Wal-Mart should I go too ..l.o.l.

You are killing me ..

hahahahahahahahahaha ........>again, tears rolling down face< ~ You made my day .!

Terry, the laughing idiot. ;-)

zueslewis · December 2002

I started in the Air Force.

Go to (insert your fave dept store here) and buy them, etc,etc.

Also works for telling someone to purchase male equipment necessary to stand up for yourself, only then it's 2 for a dollar.

astorey1 · December 2002

First of all, does anyone know Nissan's policy on taking vehicles home overnight and if you must have a salesman with you on the test drive?

Secondly, I read the following on a website recently regarding test drives:

Don't give them your Drivers License or Social Security number!

You'll need it to break off negotiations and leave. Many dealers photocopy your license before a test drive. Tell them there is no reason for them to. They'll say insurance regulations require it. The attorney general says NEVER let anyone copy your license. Car rental agencies don't copy your license and you're taking their car for a week! Some dealers copy your license "in case you rob the salesman and take off with the car". If you put up enough resistance, they'll let it slide. If not, I have the perfect solution:

How to prevent them from taking your license
Make copies of your license and when they ask for your license, hand them the copy, get it back when you leave. Write on the copy the dealer may NOT run a credit check. Remind them the FTC fines $2500 for unauthorized credit checks. Many dealers are honest and will photocopy your license on a copier at the front desk and give you your license right back. But some, while you're out on the test drive, run a credit check on you. Then they give your info to local banks, who run credit checks. Now you have 5-6 credit checks on your record. This will bite you in the [non-permissible content removed] later when you buy furniture and apply for credit. You'll get rejected for 5-6 checks on your credit with no credit issued. Bottom line: Don't give up ANY personal info until you have a signed the buyer's order and are ready to pursue financing. Show them you have a valid license, and insurance, and that is sufficient. Don't give ANY reason to prevent you from leaving. You'll have to fight to get your license or check back.

So, when asked for my driver's license should I give it to them or not?

zueslewis · December 2002

driver - how you handle that is up to you. Copying your license is easier than, and less pressureful, than holding your license while you're driving, which is illegal for you.

Unless I can see your license and get a copy from you or copy it, I would worry about someone stealing the car. Don't take that personally, but they did just meet you. Would you loan your car to someone you just met?

Not trying to be smart-alecky, just showing you the dealer's perspective.

It would never be a "Nissan" policy - Nissan has no real control on how their franchised dealers handle their insurance issues.

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