I see quite a few threads on this and other forums where people have bought cars and are very unhappy with some aspects of the car.
One theme that comes up quite often is the question of clutches that are too fierce, or the automated manual clutches that don't really allow you to close manoeuver. Obviously there are lots of niggles other than those but they are an example.
One particular car supermarket, which i wouldn't use ever due to the hard sell methods they employ, is situated just off a dual carriageway, their idea of a test drive is up the road one junction, back to the dealer and sign here.
My question is why do we allow ourselves to be bullied into only having a 5 minute test drive instead of an hour or so on all road surfaces and in traffic and close manoeuvering?
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 13/01/2008 at 12:18
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Fair point GB. I think that for many people, the test drive is just to confirm to the buyer that this is the car for them. For whatever reason (usually cost) they have already sold themselves on the car and are not placing too much emphasis on the drive.
There is an article in Auto Express this week, a complaint from a reader who could only get a test drive with a car from Arnold Clark if he agreed a deal in principle first of all. AE thought this was ridiculous and approached AC who said no, that in fact was their policy.
I bought a Seat as the salesman gave me the keys, told me to take it away for a few hours. I tested a Honda but got a "one juction and back" drive and didn't think that was enough.
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As one who got it wrong after too short a test drive (Mercedes B-class) I totally agree with Gordonbennet. Some dealers offer unaccompanied test drives; others you have to ask, and of course some won't so it at all. Not allowing a drive at all unless you commit to buying is clearly unacceptable - I hope the mods will allow the post above to stand, given that it's the company's policy, so it wasn't really naming and shaming.
I think I've done this before, but naming a few dealers who will let you go out on your own in my area might help others.
Newbury Audi
Ashmore Green Skoda, Newbury
Wood Odiham (for Mini if you ask them, not sure about BMW)
Reading Saab
Octagon Toyota Reading and Bracknell
Cooper BMW Reading (if you ask them)
Cross Roads Renault in Oxfordshire
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 13/01/2008 at 12:31
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Last year I took a test drive from a Suzuki Main Dealer in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
I was allowed out on my own and was able to get the feel for the car on a dual carriageway, in town, and on country lanes. I was away about 35 minutes.
Unfortunately, the dealer was not able to give me a good deal on price.
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If the car hasn't got any tax on it, then it will need to go out with trade plates. In which case an employee of the garage will need to go with you.
However, I have a good relationship with the garage that I and the family have used for the past 25 or so years. Last time I took a car out on a test drive (with no RFL), I was told that if I was stopped by the police, to tell them I worked for the garage.
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Which new car I buy in future will, to a large degree, be governed by how generous the dealership is in giving a decent test drive. In this respect, Vauxhall haven't got a chance as they insist on being with you for a very mean and short test drive. Toyota, on the other hand, gave me the keys and said bring it back before 2 hours is up, as someone else would like to try it.
It's about time dealers realised that cars are ubiquitous and are a common everyday commodity and should not be enveloped in mystery and hype. A friend bought a Suzuki after having had the test car for a whole morning or afternoon.
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Having said that, Vauxhall regularly do 3 day test drive promotions?
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I was actually egged on by the dealer to do a bit more! But, this was a case that I have a TD5 Defender and have now ordered one with the latest engine and gearbox combination. By the time I'd moved off twice, been up, down and block shifted the gearbox I got the answers I needed.
I'd almost never buy a car without a test drive. Nor would I commit to buying one, befroe the test drive as that renders the matter moot! You should know from the brochure/reviews that the car is a serious bet for you, and the purpose of a test drive is to see whether you can live with it.
I cough to having bought my three wheeler without a proper test drive, but I knew darn well that two speed dog engagement gears, hand throttle, manual (hand) ignition advance, 270 degree lock to lock steering, and hand front and foot rear brakes would take days to get used to. A driving licence is the paperwork needed, but in no way does it qualify you to drive one.
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Test drives are important, but there are a couple of different reasons towards attitudes.
1, depends if its brand new or 2nd hand and if 2nd hand how old the car is. As at brand new the dealer is far more likely to give a test drive for various reasons including, comission level on the sale is generally better, the dealer will want to encourage people to the brand, and the person buying is far more likely to be labelled as definite prsopective purchaser. (not an exhaustive list but hope you understand the idea)
2 At 2nd hand (newish) typically from main dealer then the above is likely but will depend on how likely a purchase is deemed. (and yes I know some sales wont happen because not enough effort was put in)
3 At 2nd hand (older) typically from car supermarket then most purchasers willbe expected to know what car they are after and a short drive is sufficient in their view to satisfy the driver the car is ok.
4 At 2nd hand (older) typicaly from sole trader then a test drive will be very dependant on how the prospect is viewed as whether a test is even allowed. Same as 3 above, they would generally expect a purchaser to knowwhat sot of car they are after before asking for any drive. If anybody turns up to a site like this and says can i test 3 or 4 cars to see what I like they are generally not going t get any tests at all.
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This year when I start trying to make my final decison about what new car Im going to buy, any dealer who refuses a decent test drive will be, in my opinion, uninterested in selling the car although I will try the next most local dealer if that happenes and mention that I didnt buy from my local on account of the stingy test drive, it should sen dthe right message to the salesperson.
As has been mentioned above, my local Suzuki dealer in Kettering also does unaccompanied test drives or a lengthly one if you ask, as does a Proton/Daihatsu dealer in Leicestershire.
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I've used dealer test drives to get an initial feel but then sort out 48 hour test drives. You need to drive at various speeds, on different roads and I made sure I tried it at night on unlit roads - I wanted to be sure of the Xenons.
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I got a whole weekend with a Mitsubishi Colt some years back (I bought it) and the local Fiat dealer said recently there would be no problem with "two or three days" for a Punto. Even the MG dealer gave me "two hours or so" for the Tf sports model when it came out (I bought it). Sampling is a very persuasive marketing tool and there is too much competion for dealers to get high handed.
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A lot of it depends on how much time and money the seller has in the car. A new car from a main dealer you should really expect a decent drive, a car from a used car supermarket and the buyer is oviously more interested in price and a long test drive would be highly unusual and probably unviable from the seller's point of view.
You really wouldn't believe how many people take the complete pink fluffy dice with test drives though. Let an estate out and it quite common to see it down the tip an hour later with the "purchaser" emptying out the garage.
Similarly, anything sports oriented and expect to get vetted very carefully. Insurance on unaccompanied drives can also be a complete nightmare for the dealer so if you do want a long drive sorting your own insurance may help a lot.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 14/01/2008 at 00:24
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Having a car for a test drive is not just about driving the thing it is also about whether it might fit into one's garage easily assuming that is want you do, nowadays. Also it might be needed to assess storage and seat adjustments especially if a car/estate is wanted to carry a large family or equipment. These things cannot always be assessed by just a short spin to the next roundabout and back.
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So what do you offer your punters HJ ?
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no test drive = no sale... when i'm buying
if we all did that there'd be no problem
it's the same with poor service in other fields...it's only because as a nation we are dreadful at challenging poor service and accept what we really shouldn't..and on it goes
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My recent experience - Honda, Saab, Toyota, Citroen: 24 hours, run up as much mileage as you like. Renault, Vauxhall, Ford: Accompanied run 1 mile down the road and back. Seat, Volkswagen: No offer. Skoda: Accompanied for one hour anywhere. Audi /Peugeot: Gave up after waiting 20 minutes for a salesman to attend to me.
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MX-5 - In return for leaving our driving licenses and passports, we were given the keys to the demonstrator, and told to take all morning if we needed to! We had a good 2 hour drive over all manner of roads with no sales pressure at all. It worked - we bought the car.
Grand Scenic - 1 hour unaccompanied test drive offered with no hassle at all. The salesman just asked us to leave the Mondeo keys with him.
S-Max - 4 mile "fixed" test route with salesman in the back, and no opportunity to get above 4th gear.
Corolla Verso - Helpful salesman, test drive offered on the spot which we didn't take (as SWMBO didn't like the car just from looking at it - ho hum). No idea of length or whether accompanied, but I got the impression they'd have accommodated what we wanted.
The Volkswagen dealer couldn't even be bothered to talk to us.
I even got an hour on the ZX7R when I bought it (from a franchised dealer). I guess he could tell I was deadly serious as I turned to walk out when told they didn't do test rides but that I could have my money back if I didn't like it.
Cheers
DP
Edited by DP on 14/01/2008 at 09:45
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When buying the Golf (from a local independent garage who deal in 10-15 cars at any point, including a £150K Bentley, and a £50K Range Rover at the last time of looking..!), I was given the keys, the car was filled up and informed that I could take it out myself!
All I needed was a blast up the dual carriageway, around a couple of roundabouts and back to the garage to know that it was fine, but it was nice knowing that if I'd wanted longer with it I could have had it!
I don't really like main dealers precisely because of the having to book a test drive, and its likely that I will not return to them in the future, and will try to stick to buying 3/4year old cars.
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How times have changed!
13 years ago when SWMBO wanted to buy a VW Polo she told the dealer she wasn't sure how easy it might be to get it into the garage. No problem he said. Go home, give me 10 minutes and I'll bring the car round to your house. Which he did.
Sign of the times (1) would a dealer do that now ?
Sign of the times (2) we wouldn't even dream of using the garage for a car now.
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My latest experience (6 months back though) - all for 1-yr old used cars
Honda - 1 hr accompanied drive
Suzuki - 30 min to 1 hr accompanied drive (depending on dealer)
Kia - same but 30 min
Mitsubishi - same but 45 min
Hyundai - same but 30 min
Toyota - 1 hr unaccompanied drive with £500 excess in case of damage
A car supermarket - 10 min unwilling accompanied drive
Finally I bought the Suzuki who offered me 1-hr drive (mainly because price suited me). All dealers were willing to offer a 2nd test drive though.
When I sold my car privately, I never allowed anyone to drive more than 15-20 mins.
I personally find 30 min test drive is required at a minimum level. 1-hr is preferable and anything beyond that is a bonus. I also won't buy a car unless I've tested it on dual carriageway/motorway (70 mph).
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