Its definitely not an issue now but a huge case of Deja vu.

Back in 2008 we were swapping the Focus and I fancied an Auris 2 litre diesel. Looked great value for money, bigger inside than a Focus and plenty of kit. Toyota were offering 24 hour test drives so I booked one and was given the contact name at the dealer. So phoned him to be told that they had sold all the demonstrators and would not be getting any more until after the 24 hour deal was over. So I contacted Toyota only to be told that dealers can do whatever they like and at the time they could not (or would not) book me with another dealer. So I bought another Focus.

Now to the past hour and armed with a decent CarWow price and an excellent Broadspeed price I contact my local dealer (not the one above, we have moved since) for a test drive and an appointment to discuss a deal. Tell them what I want and they tell me sorry, just sold the demonstrator and no idea when we will be getting another. But once they realised I was serious and would probably go elsewhere they offered to see if they could find us a car. 10 minutes later they ring back, he had made a mistake, they had not sold the demonstrator after all, its still on site, when did we want a drive. Date and time arranged, details of PX taken, told me we would have to take driving licences and passports, told him we did not have passports, said they were a legal requirement then he said he would ring back after he had found out if they could work round the requirement. 5 minutes later, bring 2 utility bills if no passports. So all OK, I thought. He then told me the test drive would be unaccompanied (they are currently?) and they provide a route. its about 4 miles in total 50% on urban 40mph dual carriageway, 50% on 70 mph dual carriageway with a option to loose 1/2 the 70mph part and drive through town over a myriad of speedbumps. I said that I could not make a decision based on such a short drive and would like to include a decent A road drive as well as some motorway, plenty of both within 5 miles of the garage. Told me it was illegal to test drive a car on a motorway and would not accept we have always asked and been given such drives. I told him we had a 48 hour unaccompanied drive earlier in the year in a Volvo and he all but called me a liar.

It was clear to me at this point I would get nowhere and said it was pointless me having such a short drive and would not take up any more of his time, his reply was "you have wasted my time already".

Nice people. Do they not want to sell cars now Covid is in retreat, they keep telling us to go out and spend and this is the reception you get.

Thankfully we have 2 good cars and do not need to spend but this garage like all businesses needs to trade and if they treat all customers this way they will go under.