Dealerships and Test Drives

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Hey all,

I am currently looking to replace my car. I am just wondering what the ethics are on test driving cars from dealerships.

I took out a BMW 116d and a Skoda Yeti 4x4 170 BHP recently. They are both 2013 and incredibly nice to drive. I was cautious enough driving both cars and I didn't push either vehicle too hard. Actually I was extremely reserved. We took the BMW out in a residential area so we didn't get to go too fast. We got to take the Skoda on the motorway so was able to open up the throttle a little more. I guess I was in the car for about 10 mins and my partner was in it for a little more. She really tested the acceleration in the Yeti which was quite nice.

Do you push the car when testing? Is it normally frowned upon or would a sales person expect this? I am also looking at the Seat Leon FR 2l TDI 150BHP. I really want to get to test this properly but without scaring anybody :P

Between the BMW and the Skoda, I would prefer to drive the Skoda, but the MPG is a fair bit higher, which is to be expected from a 4x4. The Skoda had more extras, it has so much more room and the view was pretty good. Reversing in the 1 series wasn't so nice. Skoda was more expensive though at about 33K and the tax is also higher.

The FR is the cheapest out of the 3 and has a lot more extras. Before it was released I was interested in it but I thought it was only available in petrol so it didn't appeal to me. That stuck in my head and I didn't even consider it.

Depending on the test drive of course, I would say it's going to top the three. Any opinions on this car or test driving it?

crispyduck

you are the guy with the money, drive it whatever way you want and buy the car that puts a smile on your face!

Del2005

I test drive as I drive normally.

MuppetCheck

If I test drive a car car I try and get a mix of roads. Some garages seem to have preset routes and insist you take them. Best is when they hand you the keys and you can test it as you see fit.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

MuppetCheck wrote: »

If I test drive a car car I try and get a mix of roads. Some garages seem to have preset routes and insist you take them. Best is when they hand you the keys and you can test it as you see fit.

"Ah just turn left at the lights there"

"Right it is so. ...."

Which is what I would do just to annoy them.

I wouldnt put the foot to the floor with the sales guy in the car but would give some welly !

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Thanks for the advice.

When I test drove the car I am driving now the dealership told me to put the boot down to see how she drives. :P

I would definitely like to test out the acceleration and how she handles a corner and reversing.

Anan1

The purpose of a test drive is to answer the question 'Is this the right car for me?'. Drive accordingly.

NobodyImportant

I was in sales for a few months back in the early noughties and I have seen all the driving types. From nervous nellies going on the wrong side of junctions to people who treated it as a joyride (once ended up shouting at a customer doing three figures in a 30mph zone).

If you are honest with the sales person, say you want to test the acceleration (not a 0-60 from the lights) and do it in a quiet & safe place, they dont mind. If you go rallying around a town they will not be impressed.

djimi

I would always look to drive the car hard enough and also build up a decent bit of speed if possible. The last thing you want is to test drive a car at 40mph max then discover that there is a wobble or the likes the minute you go over 60mph after you buy it.

I greatly enjoyed test driving my car; ensuring that the VTEC was working properly etc!

crispyduck

You are not test driving the car to impress the salesperson, it is to test the car, so best advice is to drive it on similar roads and in a similar manner to your normal driving, whilst also testing for less often required performance and I agree, good idea to forewarn the salesperson. I bought a car after a spin around the block and was very disappointed with it afterwards, when I found it could not handle speed bumps at all, even at very low speeds! Unfortunately I have to drive over these bumps every day. Don't feel obligated for getting a test drive, you are the customer and they want the sale, it is their job and their business to give you test drives. If they don't want the business there are plenty that do.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

I test drove the Seat Leon FR.

It's pretty nice. Not too fond of the seats though.

Anyway, the price I got for my car I believe to be a too low. Dealer is saying that a 1.8 and a 1.6 TDCI are the same price. From what I was looking at online, the 1.8 is a more expensive car.

He also said he will give me the price when we are ready to buy. I don't understand this part at all. We are going to purchase a car based on the price. He's not interested in discussing it further until I have a deposit with me. I have a deposit ready but not going to buy the car immediately. I mean, I only test drove it and he's looking for a deposit. Trying to rush me into it and i'm in no rush.

I might just go to a different dealership.

blindside88

Emmalynn Blue Tadpole wrote: »

I test drove the Seat Leon FR.

It's pretty nice. Not too fond of the seats though.

Anyway, the price I got for my car I believe to be a too low. Dealer is saying that a 1.8 and a 1.6 TDCI are the same price. From what I was looking at online, the 1.8 is a more expensive car.

He also said he will give me the price when we are ready to buy. I don't understand this part at all. We are going to purchase a car based on the price. He's not interested in discussing it further until I have a deposit with me. I have a deposit ready but not going to buy the car immediately. I mean, I only test drove it and he's looking for a deposit. Trying to rush me into it and i'm in no rush.

I might just go to a different dealership.

I'd tell him in no uncertain terms where to shove it. I'd also make it known to him and the dealership that you were going to deal with another dealer because of this

crispyduck

Name and shame. That is disgraceful, he was clearly subjecting you to high pressure sales techniques and telling you a whole load of rubbish at the same time. You are perfectly entitled to get prices from as many garages as you want. This is also an anti competitive practice, not allowing you an opportunity to shop around. I think you should name the dealership and warn people off them, as clearly less asertive people than yourself could be very intimidated by this sort of behaviour.

AltAccount

Emmalynn Blue Tadpole wrote: »

Anyway, the price I got for my car I believe to be a too low. Dealer is saying that a 1.8 and a 1.6 TDCI are the same price. From what I was looking at online, the 1.8 is a more expensive car.

Do you have links to back up your prices/opinion? Are you looking at the new or used prices?

Emmalynn Blue Tadpole wrote: »

He also said he will give me the price when we are ready to buy. I don't understand this part at all. We are going to purchase a car based on the price. He's not interested in discussing it further until I have a deposit with me. I have a deposit ready but not going to buy the car immediately. I mean, I only test drove it and he's looking for a deposit. Trying to rush me into it and i'm in no rush.

There are circumstances where it'd be ok to say that to a customer, but in a professional manner. You'd need a bit more detail of the conversation to tell if it's poor customer service or not.

You won't get a salesperson's best price until you're sitting there, staring them in the face with cash in your hand, saying "I'm buying now, or I'm walking out".
"Give me your best price and I'll think about it" doesn't cut the mustard.

AltAccount

crispyduck wrote: »

Name and shame. That is disgraceful, he was clearly subjecting you to high pressure sales techniques and telling you a whole load of rubbish at the same time. You are perfectly entitled to get prices from as many garages as you want. This is also an anti competitive practice, not allowing you an opportunity to shop around. I think you should name the dealership and warn people off them, as clearly less asertive people than yourself could be very intimidated by this sort of behaviour.

Holy crap...

Padraig Mor

Emmalynn Blue Tadpole wrote: »

Anyway, the price I got for my car I believe to be a too low. Dealer is saying that a 1.8 and a 1.6 TDCI are the same price. From what I was looking at online, the 1.8 is a more expensive car.
.

If anything I would have thought that the 1.6 would be more expensive - as a newer, cleaner, more efficient engine, surely it would be in more demand?

crispyduck

And you wonder why the new car sales are so bad. Surely it is the customer who dictates the way the deal is done.

AltAccount

crispyduck wrote: »

And you wonder why the new car sales are so bad. Surely it is the customer who dictates the way the deal is done.

Nope, you reach a deal with the other party.

If either of you tries to "dictate" the situation it leads to crappiness for everyone.



Edit: as for "And you wonder why the new car sales are so bad", probably more to do with a catastrophic global recession and a 14% unemployment rate than a customer service issue.

YbFocus

I'd be thinking along the lines of this during a test drive
Funny and Jeff Gordon is welll able to act it out

HandsomeDan

AltAccount wrote: »

"Give me your best price and I'll think about it" doesn't cut the mustard.

Why should a person be obliged to make a decision under pressure?

Surely they're entitled to have some time to think about it?

They are the person with the money after all. They should be let buy the car however they want to, not how some berk of a salesman thinks they ought to.

HandsomeDan

AltAccount wrote: »

If either of you tries to "dictate" the situation it leads to crappiness for everyone.

I'm sorry but the market/customer is king. With an attitude like that no wonder you guys are struggling.

Henry Ford III

Emmalynn Blue Tadpole wrote: »

I test drove the Seat Leon FR.

It's pretty nice. Not too fond of the seats though.

Anyway, the price I got for my car I believe to be a too low. Dealer is saying that a 1.8 and a 1.6 TDCI are the same price. From what I was looking at online, the 1.8 is a more expensive car.

He also said he will give me the price when we are ready to buy. I don't understand this part at all. We are going to purchase a car based on the price. He's not interested in discussing it further until I have a deposit with me. I have a deposit ready but not going to buy the car immediately. I mean, I only test drove it and he's looking for a deposit. Trying to rush me into it and i'm in no rush.

I might just go to a different dealership.

You will be sat in those seats every single yard of your ownership. If they are not to your liking don't consider that car for another second.

TDCI is a Ford term I think.

Tell him you want the price right now, or to forget about it. Price is always an important consideration.

AltAccount

HandsomeDan wrote: »

I'm sorry but the market/customer is king. With an attitude like that no wonder you guys are struggling.

A) I'm sorry, but the customer is not always right

who's "you guys"?

C) I've read it twice, it's a good book.

HandsomeDan

AltAccount wrote: »

who's "you guys"?

You know who you are.

L-M

YbFocus wrote: »

I'd be thinking along the lines of this during a test drive
Funny and Jeff Gordon is welll able to act it out

I was on a test drive with an older chap before, had I being playing Grand Theft Auto I would have drove calmer.

AltAccount

HandsomeDan wrote: »

You know who you are.

Grow up.

I'm trying to give the OP a bit of insight into the salesperson's negotiation process, you're happy to chip in with I'll-informed cliches.

AltAccount

HandsomeDan wrote: »

Why should a person be obliged to make a decision under pressure?

Surely they're entitled to have some time to think about it?

They are the person with the money after all. They should be let buy the car however they want to, not how some berk of a salesman thinks they ought to.

No salesperson, in any industry, will give you the best price until you're ready to buy.

Exceptions being crap salespeople or simple sales transactions.

HandsomeDan

AltAccount wrote: »

No salesperson, in any industry, will give you the best price until you're ready to buy.

But I'll only know if I'm ready to buy if I know the price I'll need to pay.

AltAccount

HandsomeDan wrote: »

But I'll only know if I'm ready to buy if I know the price I'll need to pay.

If a salesperson gets you to a stage where you can say "I'm happy with everything else about the deal, if we can get the price right I'll sign the order form today", you have a shot at getting their best price.

If you can't say that, then price isn't your true concern and they need to do more work to address your other objection(s) first. .

HandsomeDan

AltAccount wrote: »

If a salesperson gets you to a stage where you can say "I'm happy with everything else about the deal, if we can get the price right I'll sign the order form today", you have a shot at getting their best price.

If you can't say that, then price isn't your true concern and they need to do more work to address your other objection(s) first. .

Sounds convoluted.

I hear in the UK they're far more transparent about margins and the like, but of course there's not much give in the asking - I think I'd prefer that over the slimeball approach.

AltAccount

HandsomeDan wrote: »

Sounds convoluted.

I hear in the UK they're far more transparent about margins and the like, but of course there's not much give in the asking - I think I'd prefer that over the slimeball approach.

Again with the childish cliches!


Try another negotiating situation:

You can walk into the boss and say "I'd like a raise please"
"I've been researching jobs online and I'd like a raise because other companies are paying more than here"
or
I've been offered a job elsewhere, I need €x or I'm going to take it".

Which will give you the best salary increase?
How does the immediacy of your willingness to act affect the strength of your negotiating position?

HandsomeDan

AltAccount wrote: »

Again with the childish cliches!


Try another negotiating situation:

You can walk into the boss and say "I'd like a raise please"
"I've been researching jobs online and I'd like a raise because other companies are paying more than here"
or
I've been offered a job elsewhere, I need €x or I'm going to take it".

Which will give you the best salary increase?
How does the immediacy of your willingness to act affect the strength of your negotiating position?

Not really the same thing.

My point is that the thought of having to negotiate with salesmen possibly puts some people off going near a dealership, and possibly hurts sales.

The internet generation are used to clear pricing and a straight forward purchase process, and I think the motor sale industry are a little behind in that regard.

AltAccount

HandsomeDan wrote: »

Not really the same thing.

My point is that the thought of having to negotiate with salesmen possibly puts some people off going near a dealership, and possibly hurts sales.

The internet generation are used to clear pricing and a straight forward purchase process, and I think the motor sale industry are a little behind in that regard.

How do you do clear, Internet-style pricing when a trade in is involved?

HandsomeDan

AltAccount wrote: »

How do you do clear, Internet-style pricing when a trade in is involved?

I don't know, maybe combine this:

http://www.webuyanycar.com/

with this:

http://www.cargiant.co.uk/carsupermarket/carsupermarket.asp

save folk the 'cash price' vs 'trade price' and POA malarkey... you get the picture.

AltAccount

HandsomeDan wrote: »

I don't know, maybe combine this:

http://www.webuyanycar.com/

with this:

http://www.cargiant.co.uk/carsupermarket/carsupermarket.asp

save folk the 'cash price' vs 'trade price' and POA malarkey... you get the picture.

On mobile, so l can't check easily. How do they accurately value your trade in and judge for condition?

HandsomeDan

AltAccount wrote: »

On mobile, so l can't check easily. How do they accurately value your trade in and judge for condition?

From the site:

Step 1
Get a free no obligation valuation above
Based on the real value that cars are currently achieving in the market and the information you enter.
Step 2
Book your appointment
At one of our 100+ branches nationwide. You'll meet one of our experienced vehicle purchasers who will do an on-site inspection to check your car against the details you've supplied, take it for a test drive and confirm the valuation.
Step 3
Complete the sale
If you choose to sell to us we'll pay the money


The service is extremely popular, apparently.

AltAccount

HandsomeDan wrote: »

From the site:

Step 1
Get a free no obligation valuation above
Based on the real value that cars are currently achieving in the market and the information you enter.
Step 2
Book your appointment
At one of our 100+ branches nationwide. You'll meet one of our experienced vehicle purchasers who will do an on-site inspection to check your car against the details you've supplied, take it for a test drive and confirm the valuation.
Step 3
Complete the sale
If you choose to sell to us we'll pay the money


The service is extremely popular, apparently.

So you need to sit across from them to negotiate the final price?

How do you know they'll give you their absolute best, rock-bottom price at the outset? Do they swear on a bible or is it just a trust thing?

HandsomeDan

AltAccount wrote: »

So you need to sit across from them to negotiate the final price?

How do you know they'll give you their absolute best, rock-bottom price at the outset? Do they swear on a bible or is it just a trust thing?

Confirmation not negotiation.

You don;t like their price, you don't sell them the car. If they don't give you a half decent offer they won't be in business very long.

AltAccount

OP, ignore me, listen to HandsomeDan.

I'm done here.

:rolleyes:

Marcusm

HandsomeDan wrote: »

Confirmation not negotiation.

You don;t like their price, you don't sell them the car. If they don't give you a half decent offer they won't be in business very long.

They're quite notorious for getting the seller to bring the car in for final confirmation and knocking another decent bit off - most people have mentally sold and bought a new car at that stage and swallow the further knockdown. It's very hard to create a clear market price for what end up being bespoke buy/sells. The UK (where I live and have bought 4 cars) is no different than Ireland for that.

Muppet Man

When I was buying a new Golf GTI in 08, the sales rep in Belgard VW drove it first for about 1 mile around a chicane of roundabouts by the industrial units around Belgard. He frightened the bejaysus out of me. He let me drive it then for about 45 minutes out towards Blessington and encouraged me to drive it "enthusiastically". I obeyed.

I guess for such cars, it would seem legitimate to test them in the way they were purportedly designed.

I seem to remember undercover "punters" wanting to buy Porches from dealerships somewhere in the UK and many of the Sales Rep pushed to nearly 100 MPH in built areas. Madness...

Muppet Man

oregano

Emmalynn Blue Tadpole wrote: »

I test drove the Seat Leon FR.

It's pretty nice. Not too fond of the seats though.

Anyway, the price I got for my car I believe to be a too low. Dealer is saying that a 1.8 and a 1.6 TDCI are the same price. From what I was looking at online, the 1.8 is a more expensive car.

He also said he will give me the price when we are ready to buy. I don't understand this part at all. We are going to purchase a car based on the price. He's not interested in discussing it further until I have a deposit with me. I have a deposit ready but not going to buy the car immediately. I mean, I only test drove it and he's looking for a deposit. Trying to rush me into it and i'm in no rush.

I might just go to a different dealership.

Hi OP, does this mean the sales rep values your car (a 1.8 ford) the same as a 1.6 ford and you dispute this valuation?