Rude to test drive EVs when you just go thru lease comp?
Discussion
Very many EVs are sold via lease companies or salary sacrifice. Just wondering how you go about test driving the cars when you know theres no intention of buying from that particular dealer? Do you go through all the hoops leading them on before ghosting them? If you're straight up with them, then surely they're not going to want to waste their time on you.
kryten22uk said:
Very many EVs are sold via lease companies or salary sacrifice. Just wondering how you go about test driving the cars when you know theres no intention of buying from that particular dealer? Do you go through all the hoops leading them on before ghosting them? If you're straight up with them, then surely they're not going to want to waste their time on you.
If they suss you out, they may still let you test drive, but expect to be accompanied (if they nothing else to do), and short. If you seem to be a genuine customer for them, you may get longer and unaccompanied.Pica-Pica said:
If they suss you out, they may still let you test drive, but expect to be accompanied (if they nothing else to do), and short. If you seem to be a genuine customer for them, you may get longer and unaccompanied.
I'm not fussed about being accompanied, but I do find it a bit awkward to try feign interest in the "lets go through the numbers" bit afterwards, when you know whatever they produce finance-wise its going to be in a different ballpark to what you can get just by browsing the best broker rates that the time. Then you have to find excuses in the follow-up calls.Grapevine226 said:
If you're test driving a Tesla, there's zero hard sell and they're not bothered whether you're leasing or getting a company car etc. Just set up the appointment online.
No, not Tesla. BMW, Audi, Lexus etc. I had done a Tesla test drive before though, and I know what you mean. Very aloof!
kryten22uk said:
No, not Tesla. BMW, Audi, Lexus etc.
I had done a Tesla test drive before though, and I know what you mean. Very aloof!
Not sure what you mean by aloof? My experience of a Tesla test drive was basically being thrown the keys (keycard) and told “see you in an hour”. Happy to answer any questions afterwards but absolutely no attempt to sell at all. I had done a Tesla test drive before though, and I know what you mean. Very aloof!
Near me there is an Arnold Clark “Innovation Centre”. They have nearly every EV and you can test drive with (I believe) no attempt at hard selling since it’s not a traditional dealership.
https://www.arnoldclark.com/innovation-centre
I test drove an EV a few months ago when it appeared on the company car list, was up front with the dealer and totally fine - nearest one to me so will be getting the servicing / accessories etc trade from me.
They are representing the brand as well as selling cars for the dealership owner.
Similar when I last leased - test drove a Ford Kuga from a local ish garage, at the time, stock was quite sparce, the one I test drove still had the protective wrappers in most places - I did say that if they could match the numbers I had, Id be happy to go via them as also did leases, but they couldnt.
They are representing the brand as well as selling cars for the dealership owner.
Similar when I last leased - test drove a Ford Kuga from a local ish garage, at the time, stock was quite sparce, the one I test drove still had the protective wrappers in most places - I did say that if they could match the numbers I had, Id be happy to go via them as also did leases, but they couldnt.
kryten22uk said:
Very many EVs are sold via lease companies or salary sacrifice. Just wondering how you go about test driving the cars when you know theres no intention of buying from that particular dealer? Do you go through all the hoops leading them on before ghosting them? If you're straight up with them, then surely they're not going to want to waste their time on you.
When I had a company car previously I was upfront when I went for test drives that I wouldn’t be buying. VAG didn’t entertain it but the local BMW were super helpful and threw me the keys to go on an unaccompanied test drive. Guess what I opted for 
When I came back they asked that I get the company to put so the servicing through them (although that was out of my hands)!Chris
Our old company car provider would organise two test drives once you’d whittled your choices down to that level.
The new salary sacrifice scheme provided? Nah… Have to liaise yourself with the local dealer and try to get a test drive. Can’t even ‘reward’ said local franchised dealer with the service work, as the skinflints use independent garages for routine service work and Kwik Fit for tyres and whatever else they can.
The new salary sacrifice scheme provided? Nah… Have to liaise yourself with the local dealer and try to get a test drive. Can’t even ‘reward’ said local franchised dealer with the service work, as the skinflints use independent garages for routine service work and Kwik Fit for tyres and whatever else they can.
kryten22uk said:
Very many EVs are sold via lease companies or salary sacrifice. Just wondering how you go about test driving the cars when you know theres no intention of buying from that particular dealer? Do you go through all the hoops leading them on before ghosting them? If you're straight up with them, then surely they're not going to want to waste their time on you.
It wouldn't work with SS but for private or company direct lease, I have solved the problem! The last three cars I have gone back and fourth among the big leasing companies to get the cheapest possible price - then I've headed to the dealer, shown a bit of interest in leasing the car (they'll immediately say PCP is cheaper/better value, which is generally b
ks, but they want to sell you finance in addition to a car..), be firm and say you just want to lease, they'll still want your business.The moment they suggest looking at prices give them the quote form the online leasing company. The last three times I did this the dealer almost instantly agreed to match or beat it. They would never offer such rates normally, but faced with evidence that you really can get the car via anther channel they have a simple decision: Either do the deal themselves and make a few quid, albeit less than they would normally hope for, or make no money - because they know for damn sure you really will walk if they can't match the offer.
And of course, once you've come to a vague understanding about the financials, you'll get whatever length test drive they can afford to make the car available for.
My current car has 20" wheels and metallic paint at no extra cost because BMW actually beat the lease price I had, which was for a stock car with those options and had been discounted, I assume a cancelled order. So they actually beat a price that the leasing company wouldn't normally offer.
My advice is to just be honest.
Have driven nothing but company leased cars for many years so always have to try out cars from dealers that I'm not personally going to buy from.
I've been to many dealers including BMW / Peugeot / Kia / Lexus etc and almost every sales person has said "Thanks for telling me and not wasting my time"
If I have ever wanted an extended test drive or something more in depth then I've asked our management company which dealer they source their cars from, got the name of somebody on the fleet sales team and then booked an appointment / test drive and been welcomed like a regular customer.
But maybe I'm lucky that our cars are managed by a company based only 40 mins away which makes that easier.
Have driven nothing but company leased cars for many years so always have to try out cars from dealers that I'm not personally going to buy from.
I've been to many dealers including BMW / Peugeot / Kia / Lexus etc and almost every sales person has said "Thanks for telling me and not wasting my time"
If I have ever wanted an extended test drive or something more in depth then I've asked our management company which dealer they source their cars from, got the name of somebody on the fleet sales team and then booked an appointment / test drive and been welcomed like a regular customer.
But maybe I'm lucky that our cars are managed by a company based only 40 mins away which makes that easier.
This is the advantage of car companies selling direct, like Tesla does, or through 'agency', ie the dealer is just a sales agent. They're not bothered about being the one to sell the car, because it doesn't matter which channel the car is sold through, online dealer, lease etc etc, the fee comes back to the dealer anyway.
Mercedes is the biggest carmaker that does this after Tesla, but it's a shame that car makers now seem to be moving away this model after being initially keen. Would overcome this exact problem of dealers not being remotely interested if they think they won't get the sale.
Mercedes is the biggest carmaker that does this after Tesla, but it's a shame that car makers now seem to be moving away this model after being initially keen. Would overcome this exact problem of dealers not being remotely interested if they think they won't get the sale.
malaccamax said:
This is the advantage of car companies selling direct, like Tesla does, or through 'agency', ie the dealer is just a sales agent. They're not bothered about being the one to sell the car, because it doesn't matter which channel the car is sold through, online dealer, lease etc etc, the fee comes back to the dealer anyway.
Mercedes is the biggest carmaker that does this after Tesla, but it's a shame that car makers now seem to be moving away this model after being initially keen. Would overcome this exact problem of dealers not being remotely interested if they think they won't get the sale.
BMW now have their 'experience centre' or whatever they call it, essentially hubs that can relatively quickly send a car out to a dealership for a test drive - I'm thinking this is in preparation for less reliance on the dealer network but still being able to offer test drives.Mercedes is the biggest carmaker that does this after Tesla, but it's a shame that car makers now seem to be moving away this model after being initially keen. Would overcome this exact problem of dealers not being remotely interested if they think they won't get the sale.
It's a route all manufacturers seem to be headed down now, the days of the dealership are numbered. JLR recently announced plans to sack off almost all of theirs.
Dealerships have struggled with modern cars being annoyingly reliable so the service side has struggled. EV's are an even bigger problem for servicing and repair as they require so little attention. I can easily see it becoming 'normal' to configure a car online, have a remote chat with a sales guy and then the following day a test car is delivered to your home for a spin.. Or satellite 'shops' with a few test cars ala Tesla.
malaccamax said:
This is the advantage of car companies selling direct, ... Would overcome this exact problem of dealers not being remotely interested if they think they won't get the sale.
It would certainly reduce the problem, but the actual feet-on-the-floor salesman will still be on a commission structure, so will be less inclined to allocate their time on someone that is of no financial benefit to them directly.kryten22uk said:
malaccamax said:
This is the advantage of car companies selling direct, ... Would overcome this exact problem of dealers not being remotely interested if they think they won't get the sale.
It would certainly reduce the problem, but the actual feet-on-the-floor salesman will still be on a commission structure, so will be less inclined to allocate their time on someone that is of no financial benefit to them directly.Old habits in this industry are hard to break however. If they don't have commission from the sale they'll probably still be incentivised to pushing F&I (finance) as well as other extras, so they'll likely remain grumpy if the sale isn't theirs
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