by "DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
Published 11/16/2017 at 00:31
by "DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
Published 11/16/2017 at 00:31
Tags: Goal Stuff
; The Road to Becoming a Journalist
; Test Drives
STARS: 1
As a car enthusiast, I, like many others, have a hankering to drive everything I can get my hands on to see what it’s like. However, unlike some enthusiasts, the means I have for doing so are very slim, and most of them require taking trips out of state or involve cars that are less than stellar. So, in conclusion, the only way I could even get behind the wheel of the latest and greatest of the industry is going to a dealership and asking for a test drive.
That, however, creates an obvious problem: how do you do this without coming off as nothing but a time-waster? That’s the question on my mind.
I’ve driven a handful of cars in my lifetime, ranging from mundane crossovers like the 2012 Nissan Murano to exciting sports sedans like the new Giulia. Most of these encounters have been through the means of actually purchasing a new vehicle or renting one for a period of time, with a handful being an actual test drive. Those test drives, such as the Giulia and the Stelvio, were mostly just lucky occasions brought on after buttering up the salesmen with vast knowledge about the cars (it also helped that they were enthusiasts themselves).
However, as someone who’s interested in expanding into possible car journalism, I feel as though I need to expand my horizons and get into more cars to experience them and subsequently talk about them. I obviously cannot afford to rent cars, and I can’t really buy them all either. I also don’t see one of those programs who give manufacturer cars to journalists knocking on my door any time soon, which leaves me to the cheapest and easiest way of doing it: test driving.
So, I suppose that leaves me to the question that I ask of all of my fellow Opponauts, some of you who I know may or may not have experience as a car salesmen, is it a good idea to ask for test drives without buying? And if so, how should I go about doing it?
"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
11/16/2017 at 00:40, STARS: 1
“I’m interested in purchasing this vehicle from you. Tell me about it, then let me drive it around. If I like it after that, I will buy it from you if we can come to terms.”
“Here’s the keys.”
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
11/16/2017 at 00:46, STARS: 5
Uh, I drive up to the dealership, I say I’m there to check out whatever car it is, they ask me some stuff, I give them my license, I drive the car. Then I make up some shit about I’m not in a rush to buy anything, or I have a few more options to test drive before I decide, and then I leave.
"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
11/16/2017 at 00:46, STARS: 1
That works to a point. You can’t just pull a Homer and test drive super cars and stuff pretending to be rich.
"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
11/16/2017 at 00:52, STARS: 0
See, that just sounds like I’m gonna end up buying every car I drive because I can be easily pushed into caving in.
"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
11/16/2017 at 00:54, STARS: 0
Sounds pretty solid. I read something similar on another website, they also included that you should keep a super firm and unappreciative face during the test drive so you don’t seem like you’re ready to buy that thing.
Kinda hard to do when one of the places on your radar is a Mazda dealership to test drive an ND. Also hard when that dealership is right next door to a solid curvaceous mountain road.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
11/16/2017 at 01:10, STARS: 3
I feel like you’re overthinking this. Sending cars out on test drives is very much part of the normal stuff that happens at a car dealer. Unless you’re looking at something particularly special they’re going to let you drive the car. You might as well be asking how to talk the guy at Foot Locker into letting you try on a pair of running shoes.
"Spasoje" (Spasoje)
11/16/2017 at 01:13, STARS: 1
Book in advance! You’ll be taken more seriously, meaning you’ll actually get to drive the car.
"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
11/16/2017 at 01:16, STARS: 0
Maybe I am, I guess the only fear is leaving a feeling of, “This guy is just a waste of time, don’t let him around here anymore.”
"415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)" (415s30)
11/16/2017 at 01:27, STARS: 1
I would drive my 240Z to the dealership, not my CRV... which would tell them I might know something about cars and spare me the BS. I don’t buy new cars so I’ve had that in my mind for awhile.
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
11/16/2017 at 03:38, STARS: 1
“I’m shopping. If you won’t let me try this model, then competitor XYZ will end up in my garage. All your competitors let me try their cars.”
Try to be specific, like name obvious competitors that you’re also considering.
I’ve test driven countless cars, and encountered very little resistance in doing so. The most unreasonable dealer was reluctant with a Challenger 5.7 (not even an SRT). I told the sales guy I already drove a Mustang and next up is the Camaro. He quickly realised he was making the wrong move.
Of course, specialty cars are usually out of question unless the car has tons of miles on it.
"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
11/16/2017 at 07:20, STARS: 1
Drive it, then find a reason why you suddenly don’t like it. “Are all the seats like that in this model car, or is this one just messed up?”
Wasting a salesperson’s time would be if you spent longer than 15 minutes with them. This... not that bad.
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
11/16/2017 at 07:44, STARS: 1
What everyone else said, plus one more thing — do this when it’s slow. Don’t go on Saturday afternoon, but go during the week, when salespeople are standing around anyways. That way you’re not preventing them from a sale to someone else, and they’ll be more accommodating.
"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
11/16/2017 at 08:04, STARS: 1
If I want to avoid being pestered about a sale I just say that this is the first car I’m looking at but I plan on comparing it to its competitors. Then I say well I’m glad I drove this, there’s some things I like but before I buy it I need to try *other car in class*.
"Nerd-Vol" (Nerd-Vol)
11/16/2017 at 08:06, STARS: 4
As a someone who sold cars before, I would be annoyed by someone who just wants to joy ride around. It’s wasting the sales persons time, and putting needles miles on a car that someone else is going to buy.
That said I can understand wanting to just try something out.
Just please don’t go in on a Saturday, where a sales person’s time is most valuable. Go in on a Wednesday morning. As soon as the place opens up.
"marshknute" (marshknute)
11/16/2017 at 08:21, STARS: 3
Test drives are so commonplace, and prospective customers walk away from a deal often enough that you won’t be turning any heads when you try it yourself.
Just be aware that you are wasting the salesman’s time and try to prioritize your visit. Go on a lazy Tuesday morning and make it clear you’re just there for a quick test drive. Maybe make up a story about how you’re visiting several dealerships that day to compare competitor products.
Also be aware that certain cars like the WRX/STI and Golf R typically aren’t available for test drives unless you’re a serious buyer (aka, one who negotiates a price in advance).
"E92M3" (E46M3)
11/16/2017 at 08:38, STARS: 0
I find it’s easier if the car in question isn’t brand new. They hate to have miles pile on new inventory, and in a lot of cases they’ll have just 1 demo car of that model for test drives. If that car is already out on a test drive, you may have to wait. A lot depends on the vehicle too. They know a lot of people will just want to joy ride a Focus RS, with no intention to buy it. But a Ford Fusion is common enough, that if you want to test drive one, you’ve probably narrowed down your options already.
"ateamfan42" (ateamfan42)
11/16/2017 at 08:47, STARS: 1
Unless you’re looking at something particularly special they’re going to let you drive the car.
I’d revise that as “unless you’re looking at something the dealership thinks is particularly special”....
I’ve had a Subaru dealer act like an STI was a million dollar supercar and insist they only let people drive it after they bought it.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
11/16/2017 at 09:44, STARS: 0
Show some interest, ask about history of the car, things like that. When I went to go drive that 911 turbo I had them run the car fax and acted interested. That’s about how I approach every test drive. I was going to say pulling up in the M3 helps, but then again, I pulled up to a Mercedes dealer in a rental corolla and the dealer handed me the keys to both a 2013 e350 and 2016 c300 and told me to have fun.
"Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!!" (eurylokhos)
11/16/2017 at 09:58, STARS: 1
Don’t know how old you are, but the process gets exponentially easier as you age. Especially if you are with your wife or kid. In the last year I’ve driven a C7, Mustang GT, A5, Cayman, 911, 440i Grand Coupe, GTI, Golf R and a Model S P100D. All aside from the Tesla the salesman copied my license and handed me the keys. Tesla the guy came with us, and I’m glad he did, no way you’re figuring that damn thing out without a chaperone.
About the time I hit my mid 30s it got easy. It doesn’t waste the time if they aren’t riding along.
"Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!!" (eurylokhos)
11/16/2017 at 10:00, STARS: 0
Haven’t found that to be true at all. I’ve driven STIs and Golf Rs as someone who is just looking.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
11/16/2017 at 10:13, STARS: 2
Try driving cars of your friends and family first... ones that trust you enough, anyway.
Or do something like Turo.
I don’t really support intentionally misleading people and wasting their time. I know used car salesman isn’t the most popular profession on FP or to some extent Oppo, but they’re still people trying to make a living. Spending an hour on you takes their attention from someone who might actually walk on the lot with an intention to actually buy.
"Nerd-Vol" (Nerd-Vol)
11/16/2017 at 10:22, STARS: 0
Selling cars deserves the reputation it has to an extent. As a salesperson, I tried to opperate in the most honest and ethical manner I could. That said, there is a saying in the car business “buyers are liars.”
A lot of buyers will be just as willing to bend the truth or outright lie to get a deal. Making up other dealers offering outrageously low prices on a new car, to faked emergencies, as you see them leave and turn into another dealer lot.
I understand why it happens and at this point it seems to be the way of things with the current dealership sales model.
"marshknute" (marshknute)
11/16/2017 at 11:48, STARS: 1
I’m genuinely struggling to believe you. It might be an age thing. I was 23 when I bought my WRX. The first 3 dealerships (two in Pittsburgh, one in CT) straight up said no test drives unless they ran a credit check and negotiated a price first.
I went to the 4th dealership with my dad. We had already negotiated a price beforehand with the online sales department and showed up in his brand new Audi S8, but it STILL took 30 minutes of arguing before they finally agreed to let us test drive without a credit check.
Can’t speak from experience about the Golf R, but several Opponaughts mentioned it happened to them DeMuro even wrote an article about it:
"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
11/16/2017 at 11:56, STARS: 0
These are all conversations I’ve had before. The problem is as I said in the OP, driving friends and family cars doesn’t leave me with very much options, as most of my family’s cars are older everyday cars that people aren’t necessarily flocking to see reviews of, and the interesting cars are all owned by people out of state.
Turo is something I’ve thought of before, but it costs money, which is always tight. Plus, there’s not very many interesting Turo options in my area. In fact, all there is is a Mercedes GLA and an S-Class, and the guy is charging $300 a day for the S-Class.
I don’t want to waste people’s time either, which is why I’m so hesitant about going through with this idea, but it’s literally one of few choices I have.
"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
11/16/2017 at 11:57, STARS: 1
Yeah, I figured not to go in on a Saturday. And I totally get the annoyance which is why I’m so hesitant about this, and why I wrote this up in the first place. To test waters to see if it’s a good idea or if I’m crazy.
Sounds like I’m crazy.
"Nerd-Vol" (Nerd-Vol)
11/16/2017 at 12:18, STARS: 1
I don’t think you’re crazy. In fact I think it speaks to your character that you have a reservation about it. Most people are more than happy to waste a person’s time on a whim.
I also completely understand your predicament. You want to drive some cars out of curiosity. Outside of turo there isn’t a great way to do so.
Just go in at a dead time and and say that you are looking at some cars and need to drive before you can really make some decisions. Never hurts to mention that you are a few months out for some reason(tax refund, new job, make it something that would absolutely preclude you from buying in the immediate future). I say this because if I was the salesperson I would be very unlikely to do a ton of follow-up with that person.
I would not call and make an appointment, because that takes a salesperson off the floor for about an hour or so before you are arriving. I also recommend not beating the hell out of the car on the drive. That is going to end up in someone else’s garage.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
11/16/2017 at 13:36, STARS: 0
Kind of the perks of working at a dealership. I have asked to test drive a car from the sales manager and he just tells me not to crash it.
"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
11/16/2017 at 14:27, STARS: 0
I still sort of wish I could get a job at a dealership. Every time I try fails.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
11/16/2017 at 14:45, STARS: 0
Get in on fixed operations. I could never do sales.
"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
11/16/2017 at 17:11, STARS: 0
I’ve applied as a porter and a detailer for a few dealerships, I believe only one actually gave me a firm reason as to why they didn’t hire me.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
11/16/2017 at 17:24, STARS: 0
Well that is shity, my dealership will pretty much hire anyone as long as they can do their job and not piss off customers. Sometimes it feels like even less than that.
"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
11/16/2017 at 17:44, STARS: 0
What’s your dealership and do you have any openings?
Asking for a friend.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
11/16/2017 at 17:50, STARS: 0
Well we are in CA...
"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
11/16/2017 at 17:54, STARS: 0
Anywhere near the Bay Area? I’ve got family I can stay with.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
11/16/2017 at 17:55, STARS: 0
About 200 miles south of that in San Luis Obispo
"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
11/16/2017 at 19:37, STARS: 1
Yikes, I’ll try my hand a little more local.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
11/16/2017 at 19:41, STARS: 0
Yeah sorry
"Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!!" (eurylokhos)
11/16/2017 at 21:41, STARS: 0
Dunno what to tell you. I’m in my 40s, drive a nice car and have the kind of job where I can afford pretty much any car out there. It makes a difference from being 23. I also don’t live in a major metropolitan area, so who knows if that has an effect.
"Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!!" (eurylokhos)
11/17/2017 at 05:35, STARS: 0
Follow up thought. I’d bet if your dad had gone in there by himself they would have handed him the keys. It was probably the fact that he was with a 23yo who was going to drive the car that did it.
"marshknute" (marshknute)
11/17/2017 at 10:05, STARS: 0
For what it’s worth, I had zero problems getting test drives of every other sub-$30K performance car...including the BRZ at the same dealership.
MINI and Fiat made a copy of my license beforehand. Ford didn’t even bother and just handed me the keys immediately for the FiST, FoST and Boostang (and even offered to let me try out the Mustang GT).