Questions About Test Driving

damish003 · May 2003

I have to share my test-drive experience of late. Since early March, I've been looking at Subarus to replace my Jeep G.C., which comes off lease in mid-July when I have to turn it in. I've driven the Outback, the Forester and the Impreza Outback Sport. All of the drives were with the salesman, and were the typical "four right turns" type of test. Mostly, I wanted to see how they compare to my Jeep in comfort, room, handling, etc. I've never been pushed by the salesman, no pressure at all. I think that's because I let him know, very first thing, that I wasn't buying immediately as I have no intention of returning the Jeep early from the lease. I simply wanted to see if a Soobie would suit my needs. Anyway, I eliminated the Outback (too expensive) and the Forester (no particular reason), leaving me with the Outback Sport. I stopped by the dealership this past Saturday morning, found my salesman, and asked if I could drive one of the OBS's for at least a couple of hours to see how it would handle on the highway and through more things than you would put a car through on the short, typical drive. He suggests that I just take one and bring it back on Monday. No copy of license, just puts my name on an insurance coverage form, hands me the keys, that's it. I leave my Jeep at the dealership. So I had a tester for over two full days. I put about 70 miles on it, through all kinds of driving I usually do. I brought it back Monday night, had a good talk with the salesman, and let him know I was seriously interested in that model. He knows I need to have something decided by end of June...still no pressure to buy. Absolutely amazing! This dealership understands that the typical sales tactics won't go over on me, at least it seems that way. Such a different atmosphere in this place, it's tangible. Will I buy one of the OBS's? Sure will. Mostly since I'm convinced the car is the right one for me, but also because of the way I've been treated. For me, the long test drive is necessary, mostly because since I'm in sales, I drive 15-20k miles a year. Comfort and handling for a couple hours at a stretch is a HUGE deciding factor. A short drive won't tell me much, never has. Of course, your mileage may vary

landru2 · May 2003

We recently had to ban all test drives that were not accompanied by a salesman for insurance purposes. The insurance deductible for such drives had been increased to $30,000. Yes, that's right, $30,000. We will be instituting a policy where the only way such test drives will occur is if the customer will transfer his own insurance coverage for the duration of the drive once the legalities of doing so are completed. So if someone shows up without a valid car insurance policy they will not be allowed to drive alone on a test drive.

A rural dealership in the area had to shut down recently because of a huge liability after an accident during a remote test drive. The powers that be have decided that risking the dealership wasn't worth the benefit of letting people drive by themselves.

kmag · May 2003

I have taken 4 test drives in 4 different cars at 4 different dealerships in the past week.

I went alone each time. Last night the salesman didnt even want to see my license.

Maybe we are more trusting here in the Midwest.

msstrikehr1 · May 2003

CarMan@Edmunds · May 2003

sysop · May 2003

isellhondas · May 2003

Get burned once and the program will change.

risman · May 2003

madfoot · May 2003

penske_fan · May 2003

tdp05 · May 2003

gregoryc1 · May 2004

My wife and I purchase and / or lease all of our Honda vehicles from one dealer and one salesperson. We make an appointment with the salesperson, and the three of us "walk the lot" where the new cars are stored. When we find a vehicle that we like, our salesperson gets the keys, and my wife and I take the car out for a 20 minute test ride. If we are happy with the vehicle, we park the car in the appropriate space, hand the keys to the salesperson, and make the deal. The whole process takes about two hours. (This includes financing and purchasing an extended warranty). We never go into another office to talk to the finance manager. Everything is done at the salesperson's desk. They know what we want from previous purchases, so the whole process is simple. We have a "GREAT DEALER" and a Great Salesperson!

dcsupplier · May 2004

Once I decided I was in the market for a new vehicle purchase, I immediately came to edmunds to refresh myself with the industry and current vehicle pricing.

It just so happened that I caught the article "Confessions of a car salesman" http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying/articles/42962/article.html
where edmunds sent a new editor undercover to be a salesman at two dealerships to get the inside scoop. I read it twice-so should you!

Edmunds 2004 minivan comparo prompted me to call a Toyota dealer to set up an appointment for a Sienna test drive. I settled on one close to my work. My family and I went there, did the meet and greet and were intro'd to a seemingly nice salesman-lets call him Joe. Joe pulled a van out and proceeded to show us its features. The van was a higher trim level than I was interested in and not the color I wanted, but the only one available. To show me the fold-into-floor seating, he proceeded to take the bag of wheel covers sitting in back and drop them face down onto the asphalt(ouch). Joe was pretty knowledgeable and sensitive to my needs. He had to drive the vehicle off the lot on the short drive to the turnover spot. We proceeded to get acquainted and small talk ensued. I was kinda taken aback when on that short trip Joe asked me if I was good at math("Are you good at math?"). After the fact, the only reason I could figure he asked was to see how easy it would be to befuddle me with numbers later. My wife and I both drove his test drive circuit. Halfway through, Joe seemed to get bored chawin' on his gum and yawned several times.

Back at the dealer I told Joe that the van drove nice, and it did. Joe asked me if I could ignore the color of the vehicle and buy it today if he could get the price right. I said sure(and would have) but I told him the price (MSRP) was out of my range and that it would be impossible for him to get it into my range. There were no rebates or other incentives available(edmunds showed me that). Joe asked several times "Would you let me try?"(to get the price right). I responded I know its not possible, but in a moment of weakness said ok. Since this is about test drives I'll cut it short by saying I was next introduced to several of the tactics mentioned in the Confessions article - the 4 square, number jumbling, turn over to the "closer", repeating things several times to make things go his way, pressure and guilt trips. Needless to say I left there without buying and will not return.

I must say that in the past I have had salesmen go with me, get my info(license and address-etc) and let me go by myself, and even give me the keys and let me go without even seeing a license.

My advice is to be prepared as much as you can about the vehicles you want to test drive(options, pricing, incentives, loan pre-approval if possible) before you go on one. You will feel more confident in yourself and be prepared for any falsehoods should any be presented. Ask to go alone, and if you can't, ignore the salesperson and focus on your test drive(let the salesman know this when you get behind the wheel). If he prompts you to do a simple drive around the block, tell him you'll need to drive a real world route to get a feel for the vehicle. Also if everything goes your way and you are made a great offer on a great vehicle(preparation will enable you to know this) you will be ready to close the deal.
I hope to be in my new minivan this week!!! Thanks for all the help Edmunds!

jasmith52 · May 2004

Well I can relate to your story. I had a very similar unpleasant experience about 25 years ago at a Chrysler dealership when looking for a car with my girlfriend. Guido the closer got my head in a hammerlock and wouldn't let me go. There was absolutely no pleasant way to say no thanks at that dealership.

Now that I am smarter about the car sales process I can point out a couple of things that may not have occurred to you.

1) They have nothing to lose by being rude to you. Only a small percentage of people who test drive a car come back and buy from the same salesman. So in their mind - It's now or never.

3) If you don't intend to buy a car NEVER go into their sales office. That's where all of the nonsense takes place.

2) Don't fall for that - "If we... will you..." gimmick. The profit margin is about the same on most of the units. So find the actual car that you really want and then bargain hard for it. You'd be surprised at how hungry these guys are if you play hard to get.

weaselinsuit · May 2004

I stopped into one of the local Toyota dealers to pickup a brochure on the Sienna. Made it clear I just wanted the brochure. In passing the salesman, who frankly was great, no high pressure etc., mentioned that they have a 24 hour test drive program where you can take the vehicle for 24 hours to give it a thorough testing. First I had ever heard of with respect to Toyota. He said they are the only one in town that does it. It's a great idea from the buyer's perspective but I'm thinking it's got to be an expensive program for the dealer just on insurance alone. Then again, we didn't get into the details so maybe as was alluded to in an earlier post, you have to have it placed on your own insurance as a temporary substitute.

boomchek · October 2004

I had a guy and his 10 year old son come in with slurpees on a Saturday for a test drive. It was his 10 year old son that wanted a ride in the odyssey, and the father wanted me to drive them around the block while they sip slurpees.

I'll gladly chat with you about cars if you come in, even if you have no intention of buying, but I am not here for entertainment or amusement, or to be your personal chauffeur.

edklein · November 2004

I know it's been a year and a half, but I'm surprised that this link is no longer good and I can't find this article any where on the site now. Can it be reposted?

Kirstie_H · November 2004

I couldn't get a good link to that article either. I'll report the broken link and hopefully it'll be fixed soon!

Kirstie_H · November 2004

OK, found out what the problem is with the article. It's temporarily down because we're in the process of creating a whole new section dealing with strategies for smart shoppers (just like the book). The article will be available again soon in this new section.

cdallen2004 · December 2004

Hello guys:

I am a 19 year old, and a Dallas-based business owner. I own a internet/web based IT firm. I work in a pretty upscale residential/commericial neighborhood and I consider myself to be a business professional.

Down the street from the office builing, we have a Porsche and Mercedes dealership named Park Place Motors. They have been in this area for many years and it is well known to cater to Dallas' upscale automotive clients (the rich...lol).

I am considering buying a Porsche Boxster soon (the new redesigned model) and I was wondering what you all thought about a 19 year young man buying a car of this caliber. The only reason I am asking is because of the possible skeptism when it comes to a test drive. Do you think the dealer will take me seriously when it comes to test driving the car? Or should I go ahead and purchase the Porsche without ever driving it?

Just wanted to hear some advice on this. I am thinking that the dealership will just brush me off and not take me seriously.

Please help me!

mirth · December 2004

Call them first and arrange a test drive. Let them know you're 19 and explain why you have the ability to purchase a Porsche. Should be smooth sailing from there.

dbauer · December 2004

i agree...also, they may ask for proof that you can buy it...like a credit app. or to verify funds if you are paying cash...be open about these things initially. once the deal happens, they will never question you again...they will kiss your feet...lol.

biancar · February 2006

Testing, testing....

As I've mentioned in another topic, I'm in the market for a new convertible. I'm most interested in the Volvo C70, and the dealer there will call me when they get their demo in, probably sometime around mid to late March.

In the meantime, I'm also interested in driving some of the competitive cars - Audi A4, Saab 9-3, perhaps the Solara. However, I will not buy anything until after I've driven the Volvo, since I *think* that will be top of my list.

So, what's fair - start test-driving now, and tell the other folks I'm interested in buying in a month or so, but not immediately, or wait and not drive anything at all until after I've driven the Volvo?

rroyce10 · February 2006

... **So, what's fair - start test-driving now, and tell the other folks I'm interested in buying in a month or so, ...**

Honesty is the best policy ... find a time that's convenient for both, *not a weekend* .. tell the salesperson the situation and get a good demo out of each and everyone of them, because these are 4 different vehicles doing 4 different things - and it's going to take you more than a day to decipher all the feely touch thing, maybe get a dealer to give you an "overnighter" ...

If you're going to purchase, you might consider leaving the Saab out of the picture .. their resale value is like 3 day old bagels and they're certainly not known for their reliability ....

Happy hunting ......

Terry.

biancar · February 2006

Interesting, thanks.

I've never shopped European cars before, have had Nissans almost exclusively for the last 26 years, with a couple detours to a Camry and a Grand Cherokee along the way.

I think the Volvo is absolutely gorgeous, but pricey. The Solara looks to be reliable, a good value, but a bit bland and maybe more prone to cowl shake. The Audi looks to be the sportiest of the bunch, also pricey and Audi dealers around here don't exactly have the best reputation for consumer service. So without even driving them, there are definitely pros and cons to each one.

jb_turner · February 2006

If you plan to purchase a month out most dealers will lose intrest in you.

british_rover · February 2006

Not at high line stores though.

We are used to people taking 3, 4, 5 or even 6 months to buy a car.

Last month I sold a car to someone who I first met and starting working with in July and he bought a car off our lot not one we special ordered for him

Audi and Volvo should hopefuly treat you like that depending no how there store is set up. If the Audi store is more an extention of a VW store and the Volve Store is more an extention of a Lincoln/Mercury store then perhaps not.

rroyce10 · February 2006

.... **Volve Store is more an extention of a Lincoln/Mercury store then perhaps not.**

Not too many Volvo Lincoln/Mercury stores around ..l.o.l...

Terry.

british_rover · February 2006

Oh there have to be a few.

I was talking to someone recently who bought there Rover down in Flordia at a new Land Rover/Jaguar frainchise. It was an extention of an existing Lincoln/Mercury store.

isellhondas · February 2006

Totally agree with you on the reliability and resale of a Saab but I would say even more so on a Volvo.

I can't think of too many cars that cause more trouble than Volvos do except maybe an Audi.

biancar · February 2006

I think that used to be more true of Volvos in the past than recent ones. On the other hand, I have known Volvo owners who have driven them for years and years, getting close to or even surpassing 200,000 miles. They are on the costly side to maintain, but like anything else, preventive maintenance is better than repair.

Audi and VW have always had reputations for quirky electronics, don't know if that's still true.

Honestly, I wish Nissan made a convertible I'd be interested in. (I'm no longer in the Z-car demographics, unfortunately!)

I think I'll make appointments to testdrive what I'm interested in after the first of the month. I don't want to take people's time when they're concentrating on closing out their month in a big way.

british_rover · February 2006

Yeah coming by thursday would probably be a good day.

If it is just going to be a fun car that you will probably only drive in the good months and not for many miles the who cares about reliability.

It is not your only car so you won't be out of a car. I would get the one with the longest warranty so Audi/Volvo and then secondly the one with the cheapest extended warranty if you plan to keep it.

biancar · February 2006

Interesting points. I looked at how long the warranties were but didn't really focus on that as part of the buying decision.

I'm looking for comfort, safety, fun, and reasonable utility (i.e., seats four, has at least enough space for a small suitcase and/or groceries, etc. in trunk). And good looks, of course.

For comfort, I'm guessing the winners would be Volvo and Solara.

For safety, Volvo, Saab, Solara.

For fun, Audi. Maybe Mustang, too, though that's not really on my list.

For utility, Solara and Volvo.

For looks, Volvo.

Oh, and forgot to mention the Eos. Worth a look but I'm not sure about the comfort level.

So it't not a foregone conclusion yet, although the Volvo is the most likely overall winner.

isellhondas · February 2006

Well, I disagree about the reliability of the newer Volvos. They are VERY expensive to maintain and it seems something is ALWAYS amiss especially the electronics.

This is proven by the tremendous COST of extended warranties. The warrant is basically an insurance policy and the companies that sell these price them accordingly.

Nice cars, but go in with your eyes open.

rroyce10 · February 2006

.... **Well, I disagree about the reliability of the newer ___________. They are VERY expensive to maintain and it seems something is ALWAYS amiss especially the electronics.**

Isell is a little jaded on his own product ..... fill in the blank for any Euro style product .. if you want cheap oil changes, buy a Buick ....

Terry.

perna · February 2006

I've never shopped European cars before, have had Nissans almost exclusively for the last 26 years, with a couple detours to a Camry and a Grand Cherokee along the way.

So you've driven Nissans forever, and want to try something different. Cool.

Please, though - lease the euros. Never buy. I learned that lesson the hard way. They hold their resale generally well (except for the Saab.. those have scary bad resale), but owning an aging euro car is like buying an old house. There is always something nasty and expensive to fix.

Personally, I'm on my first Nissan ('03 Max), and think I may be in your shoes 25 years ago. It's by far the most reliable car I've owned, solid, and fun to drive. I may be one of those nutbars you read about who have owned 5 Maximas. Still waiting to see what they do with the 7th Gen, though, the 6th Gen is kinda big for my taste.

biancar · February 2006

So you've driven Nissans forever, and want to try something different. Cool.

Honestly, if Nissan made a convertible out of the Maxima, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. We're keeping our current nearly 6 yr. old car; whatever convertible I buy will be an extra fun car. I've wanted a convertible for a long time, but it was just never the right time, or other priorities came in ahead. Now I'm at the point in my life when I'm thinking "If not now, when?" So, here goes.

Does anyone have any particular pearls of wisdom re test-driving a convertible particularly? Anything I should look for that will be a big change from the sedans I'm used to?

I know to check for rearward visibility with the top up, cowl shake over rough roads, wind and other noise transmitted to the cabin, ease of operation of the top (I don't want something with latches). Anything else I should look out for?

Perna, it wouldn't be a surprise if you end up being a long-term Nissan lover. My very first new car was a Datsun 310, then had another 310, then a Stanza (had for 8 years until someone ran a red light against me and totalled it - no injuries to people, thankfully), then had a Camry, then the GC, and then in 2000, back to the Maxima.

I would have bought a Maxima the year I bought the Camry except that the Nissan dealer, from whom I'd bought my previous cars, wouldn't meet my price, and the Toyota dealer did. I bought my current Max from a different dealer.

isellhondas · February 2006

Well, it's not that I'm so jaded toward the product I sell.

I just don't like european cars. Just too much trouble as far as I'm concerned. Seems like SOMETHING is always wrong with them.

isellhondas · February 2006

It sounds like you are aware of the downsides to owning a convertable. Cowl shake isn't really that big of a deal. My 1965 Mustang had this big time and I just ignored it.

Everybody should have onc at some point in their life.

You don't want something with latches??

I thought they all had latches?

biancar · February 2006

Well, perhaps I worded that a little incorrectly. Some are more "push button" open and closed, and some have latches that can be a pain to operate manually, especially if you don't have a second person around in the passenger seat.

I want something that opens and closes easily, is maybe a better way to say it.

stickguy · February 2006

I would recommend driving it on a sunny day so you can see how you like all that fresh air.

Also try to take it on the highway with the top down. Some convertibles are great putting around town, but don't work too well at higher speeds.

With your list, the VW (Eos?) will probably be too small. You might want to pick up the latest issue of Autoweek. They did a nice review on the Volvo (really liked it BTW), and said it was OK for adults in back. They also did a shorter review of the VW, and it was much more of a 2+2.

The other Euro I don't think you mentioned is the BMW 3 series, but evena cheap one might blow your budget.

The best Deal (straying OT here) is going to be the Solera, it just won't be fun, but it is roomy.

Straying back OT, also bring some friends to ride in the back with the top down. You may be confy, but they may get blown apart.

biancar · February 2006

Good idea about bringing along some back-seat passengers, I hadn't really thought about that.

I'm not interested in a BMW, for many reasons, but certainly price is one of them.

The more I look into it, it really does come down to the Volvo vs. the Solara vs. possibly the Audi. Reading the Solara "Problems and Solutions" topic gives food for thought, and not in a good way, unfortunately.

haspelbein · June 2006

This may be an odd question, but I noticed it being discussed on some CCW (concealed carry) boards.

Ohio allows its residents to apply for concealed carry licenses, but it also requires them to remove the firearm from concealment while in a motor vehicle. Most people then choose to simply carry the firearm openly in a holster while in a car.

Some folks are very insistent to carry all the time, and said they would do so during a test drive. My gut feeling is that it would probably scare the salesperson more than anything else.

So, either as a buyer or a salesperson, have you ever encountered this type of situation and how did you react?

tidester · June 2006

My gut feeling is that it would probably scare the salesperson more than anything else.

I am tempted to send you over to Purchasing Strategies - Questions & Success Stories but I think that might disturb the peace!

tidester, host

british_rover · June 2006

Well even as comfortable as I am with firearms, used to have a conceal carry permit and did competition shooting for several years, I would be very uncomfortable if someone pulled out a gun on a test drive.

I have had enough crazy drivers who I made pull over to the side of the road and give me the keys because of how they drove. I would hate to add the idea of a firearm into the mix as well.

If you are really so paranoid that you have to carry the gun all the time why don't you leave it in your car while you do the test drive.

haspelbein · June 2006

Thanks for the response. Your sentiment is pretty much what I expected. For some reason several CCW permit holders don't quite seem to understand what a test drive means to a salesperson, and the inherent potential of a conflict of interest between the test driver and the salesperson.

Ohio law limits the options that one has leaving the vehicle in the car. Unless somebody has a locking glove compartment or a lockbox in plain sight, the CCW holder would need to take all rounds out of all mags and lock the firearm in the trunk.

Thanks again, your feedback makes it easier for me to make my point.

isellhondas · July 2006

Have you looked into the "problems" forums for Audi and Volvos?

From my vantage point, I find these to be the most troublesome cars out there! Always something wrong, usually with the electronics. As used cars, I try to steer people away from them.

And horribly expensive to fix besides.

Toyota on the other hand, builds some of the most trouble free cars on the road!

isellhondas · July 2006

I've only made one guy pull over on a test drive. He was a total idiot and he drove like a maniac.

british_rover · July 2006

I have had three but none of that happend until after the Range Rover Sport came out. We didn't get those kind of people before then.

audia8q · October 2006

Salespeople are programmed to the fact that people who don't test drive don't buy....We all know the 1% that does buy without a test drive but for the overwhelming number of consumers...no test drive = no sale.

The biggest reason that folks don't want a test drive is related to commitment.

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