How do you test drive?

[DarkSubRosa]

In My Parents defense BOTH Salesmen Encouraged Them to "Drive" the Cars and Not to be Afraid to Get On It. They Didn't "Beat On Them"
When You're Spending the kind of Money on a Car You want to know how it performs.

I agree that you want to know how it performs in a test drive. It's perfectly possible to drive a car fast without beating on it. Before I bought my 335i back in 08 I test drove one very spirited. I wasn't about to drop that much money on a car without knowing something beyond how it drives at 55mph.

I just don't find it necessary to do burnouts and bark through gears while sideways to be able to understand what I'm about to buy.

I'm honestly surprised if anyone has trouble with a Ford dealer letting them take a mustang for a test drive considering I was thrown the keys to multiple 03-04 Cobra's including the Mystic ones when I was working at the dealer in college.

Last year when I started seriously considering a Mustang I went and drove a 14 to see if I wanted to buy then or wait on the 15. Needless to say I'm waiting and hope my test drive in the 15 is better than my 14 experience.

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[T8stang]

When I went into preorder my 15 Mustang I told the sales rep I wanted to get in one just to make sure I was making the right decision. He knew I was driving a super crew lariat and I wanted to see if the vehicle was comfortable for me. He gave me the keys to a 2014 GT and told me to have fun.

 

[Feeshta]

In the last 7 times I've gone to look at a car, 4 times they just took a copy of my license and gave me the keys, once the sales guy insisted on riding along, and twice they denied a test drive at all. the time the salesman insisted on coming along was for an Acura RSX back when they were new. I didn't like the car at all, but he kept trying to push it. The two that they wouldn't let me drive were a 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R and 2009 Mazdaspeed 3. Both times they claimed it would ruin the value of the car if it had miles on the odometer. Both times I told them I will not buy a car without a test drive, and they didn't care because someone else would buy it.

For the new Mustang I need to find a friendly dealer with good roads nearby. Wasn't much choice of dealers when I bought the 135i or 540i, but I managed to find some decent roads. Don't need to thrash the thing if you can find a road with the right features. 45 mph can be easily sufficient to explore the handling limits on the right roads.

 

[stilesg57]

I've had mixed success with test drives; won't go into all the stories here. But most of the above advice is good.

Suffice it to say, I understand why dealers don't want to do one, and I make sure they understand why I won't buy a car without one. Once that understanding is in place, it's just as simple as either I get a test drive or I move on to another dealer.

 

[REX-RACER]

I've had mixed success with test drives; won't go into all the stories here. But most of the above advice is good.

Suffice it to say, I understand why dealers don't want to do one, and I make sure they understand why I won't buy a car without one. Once that understanding is in place, it's just as simple as either I get a test drive or I move on to another dealer.

THIS! I would NEVER spend $30K on something I'm going to have to live w/ for several years w/ out test driving it first. I won't even buy a pair of jeans or a suit w/ out trying it on first, why should something as major as a car be any different?!

There used to be an adage among car sales people "if they drive, they'll buy" which meant typically the overwhelming majority of people that took a test drive would end up buying. I guess a lot of dealerships don't follow that anymore?

I remember a few years ago I was intent on buying a certain but when I took it out for a test drive I discovered the way the door handle was made dug into my thigh in a very uncomfortable way and no amount of adjusting the seat could remedy the issue. It was a very short test drive but w/ out it I would have ended up w/ something that would have made me miserable for the entire time I had the car.

A dealership that won't let you test drive a car is a like a real estate agent that will only show you the outside of a house and tell you to imagine what the inside looks and feels like. If they won't let me test drive I automatically leave and go find someone that wants to sell me a car!

 

[Tim Hilliard]

THIS! I would NEVER spend $30K on something I'm going to have to live w/ for several years w/ out test driving it first. I won't even buy a pair of jeans or a suit w/ out trying it on first, why should something as major as a car be any different?!

There used to be an adage among car sales people "if they drive, they'll buy" which meant typically the overwhelming majority of people that took a test drive would end up buying. I guess a lot of dealerships don't follow that anymore?

I remember a few years ago I was intent on buying a certain but when I took it out for a test drive I discovered the way the door handle was made dug into my thigh in a very uncomfortable way and no amount of adjusting the seat could remedy the issue. It was a very short test drive but w/ out it I would have ended up w/ something that would have made me miserable for the entire time I had the car.

A dealership that won't let you test drive a car is a like a real estate agent that will only show you the outside of a house and tell you to imagine what the inside looks and feels like. If they won't let me test drive I automatically leave and go find someone that wants to sell me a car!

My Boss would stab me in the throat with a pen if I let someone leave the lot without driving a car. Sold a lot of cars that people were not interested in after I worked on them into a test drive. It's all about overcoming objections, if they drive it you just knocked out a huge one.

 

[tbonez3858]

Three rules I have about my car and dealerships...

1) I test drive before I buy

2) I watch my car roll off of the transport and watch it until I take delivery

3) I record the miles before service and talk to the service manager about how my car should be treated before every service engagement. I will buy and install a video camera and GPS unit in the Mustang before service.


I know too many people that have worked in dealerships and I know how my car has the potential of being treated.

 

[Papaya]

Test driving a car? We bought a couple cars now and I mostly don't make a test drive. I don't know what it is. All my cars I bought "coming" to me somehow. I did check out in Feb. 2012 a used Audi A4 convertible in "showroom quality" as the salesman said to me on the phone. It looked like garbage also it was only 3 years old. Broken door panel etc.. Got mad, driving all the way to this dealer and ... there I saw the 2005 Mustang convertible with only 30,000 km on it and absolutely "showroom" quality. A Test drive - and I bought it.

After my accident in January, the doctors said I should get again an automatic car. Sold my 2005 the first day I put it for sale. Got to our Jeep dealer and asked for "my" sales guy. He wasn't in this day. So I got to deal with another guy. Explained that I sold my Mustang and I am in the market for a new car. He showed up with a brand new minivan. I thought only: "Are you serious?!" My wife said to me we are here so get in the minivan. I know I am getting 51 in October. But a minivan? I mean. The kids are out of the house or driving there own cars. What a jerk!

So we got home and I drove the next days around to find a dealer here in Canada where I could order the new 2015 Mustang. Test drive? I drove so many Ford cars in my life. I know I will love it like my 2005 Mustang. Maybe more... "Sorry, 2005!" :love:

P.S.: If I could make my own services on the new Mustang without void the warranty, I would do them. Butting a camera in the car and GPS? Not my thing to do. Writing down the mileage? Yes!

 

[RevvdMedia]

I've found likelihood of test drives come down to the following things:

1. Attitude of the salesperson (Nice guy or a prick)
2. Age/experience of the salesperson (Older/experienced guys don't usually like giving younger guys test drives, younger guys don't seem to mind the chance to "drive it off the lot for you" so they can have some fun too).
3. The way you look (Age, how you dress, how you speak, etc)
4. Business of the dealership that day
5. Time of the month / Quota situation

I've walked into some dealerships to randomly test drive Subaru STi's and whatnot and if I get the young guy, he easily hands over the keys. If I go to test drive a Korean car (like a Hyundai Genesis coupe), they grab the keys like nobody's business (they want to sell them, who buys Korean? Lol). But for "hot" cars, it can be hit or miss. They give the "we want zero miles on it" BS, but I gladly remind them that there are (usually) 10+ dealers within 50KMs that I'd gladly give my business to if they will not oblige. Usually, one will, unless of course they don't have an unsold one on the lot.

This time around with the Mustang will be a bit different for me. I want to test drive to spec out everything I want, and it needs to be done before snow hits the ground (and sticks). I don't plan on taking delivery of the car until Mid April of 2015, but I want to know as soon as possible every single option that I want, it'll likely need to be ordered. That said, I won't be telling the dealer that up front. I'll test drive a GT close to what I think I want, then sit in about 10 others with various options (like 401a, etc) to see what I really need/want. After I have it all sorted out, I'll let them know my plans for a mid April delivery, see if a deposit needs to be made now, or if I need to return within the "manufacturing lead time" to get delivery when I want, and work out details on my trade. So a little less "honesty" up front to ensure I get the test drive I need, when I need it.

 

[Fox9350]

My buddy (mid 30s) is successful in his career, he walks onto the porsche lot wearing jeans and a hoodie, although driving a audi S4 and he said most of the salesman ignored him. The oldest one who finally approached got a nice commission about an hour or two later on a 6 figure turbo. He's already traded up to the latest model that is over 160k.....Salesman who judge a book by its cover are fools.

 

[stilesg57]

My Boss would stab me in the throat with a pen if I let someone leave the lot without driving a car. Sold a lot of cars that people were not interested in after I worked on them into a test drive. It's all about overcoming objections, if they drive it you just knocked out a huge one.

You had a good boss then. Doesn't seem to be the norm anymore, especially on new models and high(er) performance ones.

 

[L8APEX]

This is how you should test drive a Mustang:

[ame]

You're welcome

 

[Tim Hilliard]

And people wonder why dealers won't let you test drive a car. I think this is fake, how does the salesman not do a worksheet on the guy before a test drive....oh that's right I took a Chevy sales guy on a hell ride in the only 1LE in Massachusetts earlier this year. #BadSalesman

 

[REX-RACER]

I've found likelihood of test drives come down to the following things:

1. Attitude of the salesperson (Nice guy or a prick)
2. Age/experience of the salesperson (Older/experienced guys don't usually like giving younger guys test drives, younger guys don't seem to mind the chance to "drive it off the lot for you" so they can have some fun too).
3. The way you look (Age, how you dress, how you speak, etc)
4. Business of the dealership that day
5. Time of the month / Quota situation

Heh, based on this I wonder what would happen if I showed up to test drive a new Mustang wearing this t-shirt?!

 

[REX-RACER]

Oh, and not to be the dick that brings up race, but being a black man I'd be foolish to think it isn't a factor in many parts of the U.S.

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