Discussion
I'm probably being a bit daft here but I'd like to get people's thoughts on asking car dealers for test drives. Insight from dealers would be very welcome too.
Basically I'm still not completely sure what I want, although I do have a short list. All I do know is that I'd like to change my car at some point in the near future. It seems that the only thing left to do is get out there and drive some cars, if only to rule some of them out and narrow the field. Thing is I feel quite conscious about wasting people's time. This comes off the back of some ads I've seen where the dealers say test drives are only available after agreeing to buy, in other words no test pilots. My experience in the past is that following a test drive the dealer will usher you into their office to talk numbers and can get quite annoyed if you decline.
So is it generally best to be upfront from the start by stating that you'd like a test drive but are just browsing so to speak? Or do you make out that you are seriously interested in buying that particular car only to walk away after the drive?
I have 3 or 4 different cars I'd like to try before making any decision. Seems reasonable to me given the money involved. What do others tend to do?
Basically I'm still not completely sure what I want, although I do have a short list. All I do know is that I'd like to change my car at some point in the near future. It seems that the only thing left to do is get out there and drive some cars, if only to rule some of them out and narrow the field. Thing is I feel quite conscious about wasting people's time. This comes off the back of some ads I've seen where the dealers say test drives are only available after agreeing to buy, in other words no test pilots. My experience in the past is that following a test drive the dealer will usher you into their office to talk numbers and can get quite annoyed if you decline.
So is it generally best to be upfront from the start by stating that you'd like a test drive but are just browsing so to speak? Or do you make out that you are seriously interested in buying that particular car only to walk away after the drive?
I have 3 or 4 different cars I'd like to try before making any decision. Seems reasonable to me given the money involved. What do others tend to do?
If you are talking about new cars then most dealers will have demonstrators which they should be very happy for you to take out, I recently did this with an Alpine, no real pressure from the dealer when I came back, I initiated a discussion about the best deal he could do a couple of weeks later and ended up buying one.
Used car dealers can be trickier, a few years ago I looked at a BMW M135i and the dealer clearly didn't want his time wasting unless I said I was very serious about buying the car which I could have said, in that case a good look around the car in the showroom made my mind up it wasn't the one for me.
Used car dealers can be trickier, a few years ago I looked at a BMW M135i and the dealer clearly didn't want his time wasting unless I said I was very serious about buying the car which I could have said, in that case a good look around the car in the showroom made my mind up it wasn't the one for me.
I have test driven two cars recently, we talked money, and trade-ins, but I declined and kept my current car.
Would you not try a suit, a jacket, or pair of trousers before buying?, or at least be assured you can return it?
Why on earth would you accept an insistence on buying as a condition of a taking a test drive?
There are some niggling things that only become apparent on a test drive, reflections, ability to cope with rough roads, or sustained speeds, awkward switches.
Would you not try a suit, a jacket, or pair of trousers before buying?, or at least be assured you can return it?
Why on earth would you accept an insistence on buying as a condition of a taking a test drive?
There are some niggling things that only become apparent on a test drive, reflections, ability to cope with rough roads, or sustained speeds, awkward switches.
Yes sorry, its used cars I'm talking about.
I did test drive a car late last year at a local Ford dealership. They were okay with it but did go through all the numbers with me afterwards. So many add ons! Even without them I decided the deal wasn't that great so walked away. I did quite like the car but also think there is better out there. At the time I think cars were selling pretty well and they didn't bother to contact me about it afterwards.
I did test drive a car late last year at a local Ford dealership. They were okay with it but did go through all the numbers with me afterwards. So many add ons! Even without them I decided the deal wasn't that great so walked away. I did quite like the car but also think there is better out there. At the time I think cars were selling pretty well and they didn't bother to contact me about it afterwards.
It's good that you want to avoid wasting other peoples' time. To address this, perhaps you could select candidates to test drive that you would buy if they drove well enough. It is possible that even after test driving all the other options, that the car you decide you want, and previously test drove, might still be for sale.
trevalvole said:
It's good that you want to avoid wasting other peoples' time. To address this, perhaps you could select candidates to test drive that you would buy if they drove well enough. It is possible that even after test driving all the other options, that the car you decide you want, and previously test drove, might still be for sale.
Yes that's a really obvious idea thanks. The simple ones are the best!Shortlist some cars and clear some diary space to drive them all in a week. Then just get one bought.
I'm over thinking it!
Just be up front with the used car dealer and tell them that you are interested but you are looking at other cars as well. That way if they have a problem then you don't buy from them as if they see this as an issue, who knows what they'll be like to deal with if you have problems with the car.
I can't think of a time when have used test drives to sort out a short list. Maybe that's just me.
When looking always make clear to the salesperson that I don't want to waste their time, am sorting out a short list and that will only get to think about a test drive in the very last part of the decision process to buy 'that' vehicle.
When looking always make clear to the salesperson that I don't want to waste their time, am sorting out a short list and that will only get to think about a test drive in the very last part of the decision process to buy 'that' vehicle.
FiF said:
I can't think of a time when have used test drives to sort out a short list. Maybe that's just me.
Yeah my used car shortlists tend to be done on a spreadsheet and then I go and look at a specific car (with the intention of buying). Sometimes the car doesn’t live up to the expectations and it’s back to the drawing board. For new cars, I’ve found dealers have bent over backwards to let me drive stuff, but again I’m going in with the intention of placing an order.FWIW, I found car supermarkets quite good for relatively low pressure browsing if you want to check out a few different cars at the same time to see if you fit, boot is big enough, etc, before starting the hunt for the actual car.
Chris
Doing as much homework online as you can is crucial. If you read up enough you'll have a very good idea of what to expect. I've never been surprised on a test drive as I always do exhaustive research beforehand. In fact, I mostly just buy without a test drive these days, as I know in advance exactly how the car will drive.
And this is why it's completely meaningless for people on 'what car' threads to say 'just drive one', given that test drives of used cars are difficult to source without inevitably wasting someone's time.
And this is why it's completely meaningless for people on 'what car' threads to say 'just drive one', given that test drives of used cars are difficult to source without inevitably wasting someone's time.
FiF said:
I can't think of a time when have used test drives to sort out a short list. Maybe that's just me.....
Not just you. But then I don't have any specific requirements on size/space/etc. I'm also realise I am no Lewis Hamiltons so every car I've ever driven, other than a Corsa rental car in the 90s, have been acceptable enough. You aren't going to learn a huge amount from a brief run up the local bypass. When you have rental cars for a few days you spot things you like/dislike that you'd not spot that on a test drive.
You can work out most things like interior quality from just sitting in one in one - if a salesman won't let you do that then F-em, they need you more than you need them.
FiF said:
I can't think of a time when have used test drives to sort out a short list. Maybe that's just me.
Same here, I think the OP should post up the short list and we'll narrow it down for him in true PH style, never understood why people don't put up the short list on these kinds of threads..odd. Easy on a new car. More difficult on a used. If the car is a current model I would test drive a demonstrator of it at a local dealer. I’ve just been thrown the keys to cars in the past after a photocopy of the licence is taken and asked to be back in 30 mins. On at least 2 occasions I didn’t like the car. The dealer was ok with it. I hadn’t wasted much of their time. We didn’t talk numbers.
I used to work at a place that had a fleet scheme where you could test cars from Friday to Monday. I had a lot of weekends away in all sorts of stuff quite often driven to me from the other end of the country. You really get to fully test it then and make an informed decision.
Can you hire the cars you are considering for a day?
Or join an owners club and see if anyone will let you have a go in their car. I think you can generally tell whether it’s for you in 60 seconds of driving it.
What kind of cars are we talking about? An independent dealer will probably be more wary of test pilots. A main dealer will see it as a cost of business.
I used to work at a place that had a fleet scheme where you could test cars from Friday to Monday. I had a lot of weekends away in all sorts of stuff quite often driven to me from the other end of the country. You really get to fully test it then and make an informed decision.
Can you hire the cars you are considering for a day?
Or join an owners club and see if anyone will let you have a go in their car. I think you can generally tell whether it’s for you in 60 seconds of driving it.
What kind of cars are we talking about? An independent dealer will probably be more wary of test pilots. A main dealer will see it as a cost of business.
The only caveat I would add is that one time I'd really done my research, found the specific vehicle, had a good look round, sat in it, then took a test drive to confirm it didn't have square wheels, or a dodgy gearbox or whatever, with the full intention of buying only to find 10 minutes up the road that despite sitting in it in the showroom I couldn't get comfortable when driving it.
Salesmen and I fiddled around with the seat, was there something wrong with the lumbar adjustment? Not sure, left it decided to look at another to check it out. Another dealer, yep OK sitting in showroom, driving it was a deal breaker.
Back to spreadsheet.
Which made me realise all those years of just picking company vehicles off the permitted list without a test drive I'd been lucky, though most were Volvos so no issue on seating dept.
Salesmen and I fiddled around with the seat, was there something wrong with the lumbar adjustment? Not sure, left it decided to look at another to check it out. Another dealer, yep OK sitting in showroom, driving it was a deal breaker.
Back to spreadsheet.
Which made me realise all those years of just picking company vehicles off the permitted list without a test drive I'd been lucky, though most were Volvos so no issue on seating dept.
I'm test driving cars at the moment and I wouldn't be too concerned about wasting the selling dealers' time - my experience is that it'll be your time that's wasted not theirs.
Now admittedly I am shopping for a 5 door petrol hatch in the £3k - £4k so lower end of the market hence non-franchised dealers but here's a quick run down of what I've experienced in the last two weeks.
Astra SRi 1.6T - Advertised as a 1 owner car, turned out to be demo plus one so no dramas there but flat front tyre, boxed in behind three cars and rows and rows either side. Clear evidence of front impact and a poor repair. Didn't bother asking them to get it out.
Subaru Impreza RX - Four different brands of tyre, engine light on, missing the retractable parcel shelf, found the previous owners presecription for anti-biotics in amongst the paperwork. Asked for a drive and got funny when I suggested I needed some trade plates and instead told me to avoid being seen by the police!
Toyota Auris 1.6 - Advertised as full Toyota dealer history, turned out 4 services were are back street garages and had missed 2014 - 2017. Water in the rear light, missing the engine cover, found paperwork in the file for a recovery to a bodyshop after an RTA. Dead slow too which was a surprise given 132hp and a 6 speed box. Wasn't allowed to take it beyond the business park as no trade plates.
Plus many more phonecalls where the car has sold that morning/isn't on site/isn't ready yet. I've always promised myself I'll pay the asking price of any car I'm interested in if it's exactly as it is described. Never happened yet....
Now admittedly I am shopping for a 5 door petrol hatch in the £3k - £4k so lower end of the market hence non-franchised dealers but here's a quick run down of what I've experienced in the last two weeks.
Astra SRi 1.6T - Advertised as a 1 owner car, turned out to be demo plus one so no dramas there but flat front tyre, boxed in behind three cars and rows and rows either side. Clear evidence of front impact and a poor repair. Didn't bother asking them to get it out.
Subaru Impreza RX - Four different brands of tyre, engine light on, missing the retractable parcel shelf, found the previous owners presecription for anti-biotics in amongst the paperwork. Asked for a drive and got funny when I suggested I needed some trade plates and instead told me to avoid being seen by the police!
Toyota Auris 1.6 - Advertised as full Toyota dealer history, turned out 4 services were are back street garages and had missed 2014 - 2017. Water in the rear light, missing the engine cover, found paperwork in the file for a recovery to a bodyshop after an RTA. Dead slow too which was a surprise given 132hp and a 6 speed box. Wasn't allowed to take it beyond the business park as no trade plates.
Plus many more phonecalls where the car has sold that morning/isn't on site/isn't ready yet. I've always promised myself I'll pay the asking price of any car I'm interested in if it's exactly as it is described. Never happened yet....
Totally get where you are coming from as I had a similar dilema recently wehn buying my current car, a 2020 Volvo S60.
I drew up a shortlist of cars first of all, went round various dealerships and TBH just sat in them, felt the build quality, initial comfort and weighted up costs versus spec/age etc.
From that I narrowed to a choice of 3 - BMW 420 GC, 320 estate and the Volvo (3 different dealerrships). I was totally honest with the dealers whom I'd phoned first of all to make appointments, that I was going to be buying a car but wanted to be sure between the 3. Both BMWs were 30 minute accompanied test drives.
Volvo was heres the keys, theres a coupld of hundred miles in the tank, let me know what you think when you get back.
Turned out the S60 was spec and comfort wise leagues ahead of the 2 BMWs and together with the much more relaxing test drive I did the deal there and then. I was also honest that I was driving each car same day and would be doing the deal on the right car same time.
I drew up a shortlist of cars first of all, went round various dealerships and TBH just sat in them, felt the build quality, initial comfort and weighted up costs versus spec/age etc.
From that I narrowed to a choice of 3 - BMW 420 GC, 320 estate and the Volvo (3 different dealerrships). I was totally honest with the dealers whom I'd phoned first of all to make appointments, that I was going to be buying a car but wanted to be sure between the 3. Both BMWs were 30 minute accompanied test drives.
Volvo was heres the keys, theres a coupld of hundred miles in the tank, let me know what you think when you get back.
Turned out the S60 was spec and comfort wise leagues ahead of the 2 BMWs and together with the much more relaxing test drive I did the deal there and then. I was also honest that I was driving each car same day and would be doing the deal on the right car same time.
Wills2 said:
FiF said:
I can't think of a time when have used test drives to sort out a short list. Maybe that's just me.
Same here, I think the OP should post up the short list and we'll narrow it down for him in true PH style, never understood why people don't put up the short list on these kinds of threads..odd. This is a car that 90% of the time will be used by just me for getting to work. Low mileage but used year round and kept outside on the drive. I currently have a mk7 Fiesta ST which has been fantastic. I should keep it really but I'm itching fir a change after 4 years. The ST is booked for service and MOT in a couple of weeks which may have an impact on what I do with it. Hopefully it'll fly through and could be sold privately for good money.
Main choices so far...
Heart - Mazda MX5 RF sport nav+. The one with the newer 184bhp engine.
Head - Hyundai i20N
The i20 is the sensible choice and would be easy to live with. Having rear seats makes it more usable. It is the more expensive car mind. The Mazda is a car I've always liked but I would like to test the refinement to check I could live with it day in, day out. Both will be excellent to drive I'm sure so it would come down to which puts more smile on my face.
The only other car I'd like to drive but haven't is the F56 Mini cooper s sport. It could be a good half way house and can be had with a big panoramic roof for some open air motoring. But the Hyundai feels like a more exciting option for a hot hatch.
Personally, I can rule out a lot of cars just by sitting in them.
I've found that chatting to most dealers in the £4k to £10k market, they've been more than generous with offering test drives.
Even when I said I'd never buy that particular car, because I really won't have a white one.
Probably helps that I turn up on a weekday.
I've found that chatting to most dealers in the £4k to £10k market, they've been more than generous with offering test drives.
Even when I said I'd never buy that particular car, because I really won't have a white one.
Probably helps that I turn up on a weekday.
FiF said:
The only caveat I would add is that one time I'd really done my research, found the specific vehicle, had a good look round, sat in it, then took a test drive to confirm it didn't have square wheels, or a dodgy gearbox or whatever, with the full intention of buying only to find 10 minutes up the road that despite sitting in it in the showroom I couldn't get comfortable when driving it.
That's a good point. I like to sit in a reclined position, and the Alfa 4C I drove simply didn't have enough seat adjustment for me to feel comfortable. And I've never seen that mentioned anywhere by anyone except me.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff