How can I get a proper test drive?

HBC08

I'm looking to change car in the spring.
I'm having a midlife crisis so will be getting an SLK,a Z4 or a MX5 RF.
I realise these aren't the most common cars about and as the title suggests im wondering will I be able to get a proper test drive if I find one I like? When I bought my current car the garage I bought it from only let me take it up and down the road outside,rush hour traffic,completely pointless.I bought the car anyway as I'd already test drove a few of the same model elsewhere.Is this a common thing?
I know Mini were doing a thing where they let you take the car for 24 hours,a great idea I thought.

Water2626262

HBC08 wrote: »

I'm looking to change car in the spring.
I'm having a midlife crisis so will be getting an SLK,a Z4 or a MX5 RF.
I realise these aren't the most common cars about and as the title suggests im wondering will I be able to get a proper test drive if I find one I like? When I bought my current car the garage I bought it from only let me take it up and down the road outside,rush hour traffic,completely pointless.I bought the car anyway as I'd already test drove a few of the same model elsewhere.Is this a common thing?
I know Mini were doing a thing where they let you take the car for 24 hours,a great idea I thought.

My experience to date was being let away with the car with no pressure on where I was going etc. They took my car keys each time. Probably took it for 20-30 mins tops but got a good mix of roads as the garages I’ve bought from were near motorways etc. If you knew a garage owner well I’d say you could get a loaner of car.

I was in a garage recently where they wouldn’t let customers test drive the vehicles on account of covid. I can understand the logic but how can one part with a big sum of money to buy a car they haven’t driven. Hope this isn’t a common thing now.

aFlabbyPanda

Mate of mine had a similar issue recently albeit in the UK. He was looking at a 5 series or merc alternative. Neither garage would let him do more than a drive up and down the road so he hired them instead from hertz or wherever. It wasn't 100% the spec he was looking for but it allowed him to live with the space, size, ride, etc for a few days.

My dad had a long relationship with one garage and they left him take a loaner car over a weekend on his own insurance, would be worth asking at least anyway.

HBC08

Water2626262 wrote: »

My experience to date was being let away with the car with no pressure on where I was going etc. They took my car keys each time. Probably took it for 20-30 mins tops but got a good mix of roads as the garages I’ve bought from were near motorways etc. If you knew a garage owner well I’d say you could get a loaner of car.

I was in a garage recently where they wouldn’t let customers test drive the vehicles on account of covid. I can understand the logic but how can one part with a big sum of money to buy a car they haven’t driven. Hope this isn’t a common thing now.

Thanks for reply.As the cars on my list aren't too common its hard to find any to test drive even though I do know a few garage owners.
I agree with you,it's mental that a dealer would expect for somebody to hand over 20k after taking a car for a 5 minute spin.I guess some people are happy enough with that?

micks_address

HBC08 wrote: »

Thanks for reply.As the cars on my list aren't too common its hard to find any to test drive even though I do know a few garage owners.
I agree with you,it's mental that a dealer would expect for somebody to hand over 20k after taking a car for a 5 minute spin.I guess some people are happy enough with that?

The best experience i had was when buying my skoda octavia. Dealer give me the demo car for two days and said do all your normal driving, kids, shopping etc and drive to work and see how you go... was a really great way to seeing if the car suited....

my current car (tiguan) i actually ordered before even driving..

Thoie

Unfortunately it really comes down to the garage. About 15 years ago I was looking at a particular (non-high end) model. A garage near me had one. The test drive was literally 3 minutes "around the block", dictated by the salesman. "Turn left, left, left, left, are you going to buy it?" Barely got past 3rd gear the whole time. Traffic wasn't heavy, it was a weekday morning, so it's not like he couldn't spare a bit more time.

Travelled to another garage about 40 minutes away and went on a 45 minute drive with the salesman suggesting a route with varied road types. Obviously enough, I bought from the second guy.

I think in your case when calling the garage to enquire about it, just state up front that you'd like to hire the car for 24 hours, or failing that, expect at least a 40 minute test drive on a variety of roads. If they can't agree to that, try somewhere else.

Henry Ford III

Tell them you need a 25 mile/35 minute test drive in a variety of environments to properly evaluate the car, but make sure they know you are a serious punter.

Take a bit of control.

km991148

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Tell them you need a 25 mile/35 minute test drive in a variety of environments to properly evaluate the car, but make sure they know you are a serious punter.

yeah, that's the case, don't turn up looking/sounding like a tyre kicker and let them know you are serious, show some knowledge and state what you want.

MrCostington

Not really helpful to the OP but I'll post an interesting second hand car buying experience I had about 15 years ago. Saw a Merc C class on carzone for 8k. Rang the dealer and he told me about the car and said one thing, if you put it into 1st quickly (a manual) it will crunch, but only if you ram it in. I'll knock a grand off for you and warranty the box for 3 months, come up and have a look. The dealer was in Skerries I think and I spoke to a mechanic in Rathgar about it, he said he will check it out for me.

I got there and looked over the car it seemed fine to me. So, being very cheeky I asked if I could take it to Rathgar. No problem was his reply, take your time, we close at 6! He never took my ID or anything and I just left my old car there which I sold for 200 quid a few days later! Mechanic said car was fine don't worry about the box at all.

Got back and he gave me another grand off! Had 100% trouble free motoring for the next 5/6 years.

OP do insist on a decent test drive before handing over your hard earned!

HBC08

HBC08 wrote: »

Thanks for reply.As the cars on my list aren't too common its hard to find any to test drive even though I do know a few garage owners.
I agree with you,it's mental that a dealer would expect for somebody to hand over 20k after taking a car for a 5 minute spin.I guess some people are happy enough with that?

I bought a bike for 20k without even ever having driven it.

Would you not just buy whatever car you like the look of?
I've never driven a car I liked the look of and thought I won't buy this because I don't like the way it feels.

bazz26

Of course you need to test drive it to make sure it's ok and what you want. It's not like buying a pair of trainers online where you can return them for a refund if you don't like how they feel or they don't fit. Buying a car is the second most important purchase most people make in their lives behind a home. Would you buy a house or apartment just by looking at it from the street?

bazz26

bazz26 wrote: »

Of course you need to test drive it to make sure it's ok and what you want. It's not like buying a pair of trainers online where you can return them for a refund if you don't like how they feel or they don't fit. Buying a car is the second most important purchase most people make in their lives behind a home. Would you buy a house or apartment just by looking at it from the street?

Yes, I just told you that's exactly what I did with a motorbike and they are alot more specific than a car for driving style/comfort.

Unless someone is very tall and doesn't know whether they will fit in the car it makes no difference.

Also it's not like the buying a house analogy at all, you can still see the inside of the car and sit in it without having to drive it.

Heres Johnny

A main BMW dealer gave me an i3 for a week because I explained why a small test drive wouldn't tell me enough. I was semi serious about buying it, didn't in the end because a week with it told me I wasn't ready to go electric. Yet. On the i3 range.

HBC08

Lochlan Quiet Cashew wrote: »

I bought a bike for 20k without even ever having driven it.

Would you not just buy whatever car you like the look of?
I've never driven a car I liked the look of and thought I won't buy this because I don't like the way it feels.

Ah no,
I'd most certainly want a serious drive in it first and id say most would think the same

bazz26

Lochlan Quiet Cashew wrote: »

Yes, I just told you that's exactly what I did with a motorbike and they are alot more specific than a car for driving style/comfort.

Unless someone is very tall and doesn't know whether they will fit in the car it makes no difference.

Also it's not like the buying a house analogy at all, you can still see the inside of the car and sit in it without having to drive it.

Sorry but just because you see it like that doesn't mean everyone else does.

Del2005

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Tell them you need a 25 mile/35 minute test drive in a variety of environments to properly evaluate the car, but make sure they know you are a serious punter.

Take a bit of control.

You'll have to stop at a petrol station to do that, dealers never seem to put fuel into sales cars.

Don't know why but the last few times I looked at cars a lot of places just handed me the keys and off I went. Got lost on a test drive and got back after about 30 minutes and they weren't bothered.

shanec1928

Del2005 wrote: »

You'll have to stop at a petrol station to do that, dealers never seem to put fuel into sales cars.

So if someone does go off they won’t get far I assume.

Anytime I’ve went for a test drive I’ve always been given the keys and told see ya when we see ya.. With the exception of a certain vw dealer in west dublin.. done a circle, don’t think I got above 40km during that.