Getting the dealership run-around on test driving

6MT · 11-17-2011, 09:50 AM

Without trying to offend those of you who are rather young.... here's my take on this.

I really don't blame the dealer in a case like this. Here's why. I've seen plenty of 370's now that have been "test driven". I wouldn't want to own any of them. All of the ones I've seen have been very aggressively driven. Not great for long term ownership to have a new drivetrain maxxed-out. I've test driven two 370's in the past. I can tell you... I wasn't being an old granny driving them. I consistantly red-lined both and they had less than 20 miles on them. Would I buy the one I drove?.... not on your life. (I factory ordered mine.)

So... can you blame a salesman for not letting someone "test drive" a 370? I know, I know... age "shouldn't" have anything to do with it. Let's face it, I was 45 years old the first time I "tested" a 370 (far from "young"). And I wouldn't want to own the one I tried.

And, the ones I tried probably had a few more "test drives" done to them before someone actually bought them.

KaienZ34 · 11-17-2011, 09:57 AM

I ordered mine before they had even hit at my dealership, but i knew i wanted it. I did test drive a few while waiting on mine to come in.

b1adesofcha0s · 11-17-2011, 09:59 AM

I bought mine used so I didn't have any problems with that

6MT · 11-17-2011, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaienZ34

I ordered mine before they had even hit at my dealership, but i knew i wanted it. I did test drive a few while waiting on mine to come in.

And how did you "test" the ones you drove?

KaienZ34 · 11-17-2011, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6MT

And how did you "test" the ones you drove?

Like it was a new born baby.

I made sure i brought my wife with me so the salesmen couldn't come along for the ride.

6MT · 11-17-2011, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaienZ34

Like it was a new born baby.

I made sure i brought my wife with me so the salesmen couldn't come along for the ride.

nmjaxx9 · 11-17-2011, 10:51 AM

Ive expereinced that having facial hair helps...gives the illusion your older....op did you have a beard or a mustache? maybe even a peach fuzz would have helped your situation.

kielbasa16 · 11-17-2011, 10:55 AM

Just comes down to hit or miss with the dealer. One dealership told me they didnt have any test drive cars on the lot and gave me his card. As I left the dealership I saw somebody pulling back in from a test drive. A second dealership sent me on a test drive with just me and my girlfriend in the car. I was 23 when I bought my Z.

Lemers · 11-17-2011, 11:53 AM

Some salesmen are good at what they do and some not so much.

Some dealer policies are bad and some go out of their way to help you

It's your money and a lot of it. Spend it where your feel comfortable spending it. Remember a car purchase is not just a one time thing. If the salesman treats you bad how will the service department treat you?

sapsec · 11-17-2011, 12:13 PM

While it might happen to younger people (under 30) it also happens to us over 30. My wife and I stopped at a Chevy dealer in her Mini so I could test drive a 'Vette. I'm 37, make six figures and speak relatively intelligently.

The salesman was almost downright rude in answering my questions like he had better things to do and didn't believe I could afford the car. I know a lot about cars and especially the ones I am thinking of purchasing. It obviously rankled his double knit JC Penny trousers that I knew more about the car than he did.

We spent 20 minutes or so looking over and talking about the car- At this point all I wanted was to drive it as I had never driven a "Vette before. He didn't seem that interested in me test driving it, only talking about numbers. Any time I asked about the test drive, he would ignore my question and steer the conversation back to the numbers.

I'm a nice guy but can only take so much sh#4 from a salesmen. Finally took the car out on the road and really liked it. While driving it occurred to me that every time I stopped at the dealership for service, I would see him and want to beat the crap out of him for the attitude. So, my wife and I left, drove down the road three blocks where I bought a new Z.

The next day the Chevy salesmen called to check in and see if I was still interested in the "Vette. I said nicely but firmly, "Nope, your attitude aggravated me and offended me to the point where I am no longer interested in your product or dealership."

Not all salesmen are like this but I think the majority are. Porsche dealerships are the worst. When I bought my Cayman, after signing the paperwork I seriously considered driving into the dealership, hitting a few salesmen and calling a cab home.

NYBladeZ · 11-17-2011, 12:23 PM

:shrugs: I got a test drive

b1adesofcha0s · 11-17-2011, 12:24 PM

I got a test drive in the snow

Nixlimited · 11-17-2011, 12:32 PM

I don't know if anyone mentioned it, but a lot of us sports car nuts are particular about how many miles a "new" car has on it. I am sure that savvy dealers want to keep the mileage as low as possible because we buyers don't want to think that somebody came in just to joyride the car before we bought it.

jpritche · 11-17-2011, 12:42 PM

haha all my friends that want to test drive cars like Mazdaspeed 3, or used s2000, or cobalt ss, camaros, and things of that nature ask me if I can drive them there haha. For some reason they think just because I drive a 370z means my dad is loaded and will buy me whatever the heck I want... when in reality, yeah I got a nice car at a young age, but I have worked my butt off to help get my dads company where it is, and he recognizes that.

Lemers · 11-17-2011, 12:51 PM

When I got my Z I'd was talking to an out of town dealer over the phone. I did let them run a creadit report on me. Once they saw my creadit score they were falling all over themselves to help me.

11-17-2011, 09:50 AM	#31 (permalink)
6MT A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: ITU Zone 2 Posts: 22,459 Drives: Reliant Robin Rep Power: 1789	Without trying to offend those of you who are rather young.... here's my take on this. I really don't blame the dealer in a case like this. Here's why. I've seen plenty of 370's now that have been "test driven". I wouldn't want to own any of them. All of the ones I've seen have been very aggressively driven. Not great for long term ownership to have a new drivetrain maxxed-out. I've test driven two 370's in the past. I can tell you... I wasn't being an old granny driving them. I consistantly red-lined both and they had less than 20 miles on them. Would I buy the one I drove?.... not on your life. (I factory ordered mine.) So... can you blame a salesman for not letting someone "test drive" a 370? I know, I know... age "shouldn't" have anything to do with it. Let's face it, I was 45 years old the first time I "tested" a 370 (far from "young"). And I wouldn't want to own the one I tried. And, the ones I tried probably had a few more "test drives" done to them before someone actually bought them. __________________ Andrew 2009 370Z Sport/Touring 6MT sold 2013 Honda Civic Si coupe D/D Last edited by 6MT; 11-17-2011 at 09:52 AM.

11-17-2011, 09:57 AM	#32 (permalink)
KaienZ34 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: LA. not L.a. Posts: 21,652 Drives: Z34 Tour/Sport Rep Power: 177	I ordered mine before they had even hit at my dealership, but i knew i wanted it. I did test drive a few while waiting on mine to come in. __________________ *"These Violent Delights Have Violent Ends"* http://www.the370z.com/members/kaienz34-albums-z34.html

11-17-2011, 09:59 AM	#33 (permalink)
b1adesofcha0s A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: MD Posts: 40,963 Drives: HypeTrain Choo Choo! Rep Power: 141	I bought mine used so I didn't have any problems with that __________________ Project: b1adeZmobile (2009 370Z) \| Uprev Tune by AAM Competition \| Berk Exhaust Project: b1adeZmobile 2.0 (2014 C7 Z51) \| Corsa Xtreme Exhaust

11-17-2011, 10:55 AM	#38 (permalink)
kielbasa16 Track Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NY Posts: 770 Drives: 09 Blk Z Spt Rep Power: 16	Just comes down to hit or miss with the dealer. One dealership told me they didnt have any test drive cars on the lot and gave me his card. As I left the dealership I saw somebody pulling back in from a test drive. A second dealership sent me on a test drive with just me and my girlfriend in the car. I was 23 when I bought my Z. __________________ Mag Black Kielbasa

11-17-2011, 11:53 AM	#39 (permalink)
Lemers A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Izmir, Turkey Posts: 15,371 Drives: 2012 Traverse LTZ Rep Power: 52	Some salesmen are good at what they do and some not so much. Some dealer policies are bad and some go out of their way to help you It's your money and a lot of it. Spend it where your feel comfortable spending it. Remember a car purchase is not just a one time thing. If the salesman treats you bad how will the service department treat you? __________________ 2010 Black Cherry Touring/Sport/Nav Now - 2012 Travese LTZ until I leave for Turkey

11-17-2011, 10:51 AM	#37 (permalink)
nmjaxx9 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Middletown, Ct Posts: 5,853 Drives: 2011 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 25	Ive expereinced that having facial hair helps...gives the illusion your older....op did you have a beard or a mustache? maybe even a peach fuzz would have helped your situation.

11-17-2011, 12:13 PM	#40 (permalink)
sapsec Base Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 13 Drives: 2010 370z Touring Rep Power: 13	While it might happen to younger people (under 30) it also happens to us over 30. My wife and I stopped at a Chevy dealer in her Mini so I could test drive a 'Vette. I'm 37, make six figures and speak relatively intelligently. The salesman was almost downright rude in answering my questions like he had better things to do and didn't believe I could afford the car. I know a lot about cars and especially the ones I am thinking of purchasing. It obviously rankled his double knit JC Penny trousers that I knew more about the car than he did. We spent 20 minutes or so looking over and talking about the car- At this point all I wanted was to drive it as I had never driven a "Vette before. He didn't seem that interested in me test driving it, only talking about numbers. Any time I asked about the test drive, he would ignore my question and steer the conversation back to the numbers. I'm a nice guy but can only take so much sh#4 from a salesmen. Finally took the car out on the road and really liked it. While driving it occurred to me that every time I stopped at the dealership for service, I would see him and want to beat the crap out of him for the attitude. So, my wife and I left, drove down the road three blocks where I bought a new Z. The next day the Chevy salesmen called to check in and see if I was still interested in the "Vette. I said nicely but firmly, "Nope, your attitude aggravated me and offended me to the point where I am no longer interested in your product or dealership." Not all salesmen are like this but I think the majority are. Porsche dealerships are the worst. When I bought my Cayman, after signing the paperwork I seriously considered driving into the dealership, hitting a few salesmen and calling a cab home. __________________ *Past Rides:* 2006 Audi A4, 2010 Audi TT, 2010 Porsche Cayman S 2011 Audi TTS, 2011 Audi Q5, 2011 Mini JCW

11-17-2011, 12:23 PM	#41 (permalink)
NYBladeZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New York Posts: 2,158 Drives: Lotus Exige S Rep Power: 20	:shrugs: I got a test drive __________________ 2009 Carbon Fiber/Red 370z aka Trish: Sports Package, Meisterschaft full catback, Fast Intentions Longtube Headers, Injen Long Tube Intakes, UpRev Tune: Sold 2008 Lotus Exige S Club Racer aka Bella, always leaves me smiling

11-17-2011, 12:24 PM	#42 (permalink)
b1adesofcha0s A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: MD Posts: 40,963 Drives: HypeTrain Choo Choo! Rep Power: 141	I got a test drive in the snow __________________ Project: b1adeZmobile (2009 370Z) \| Uprev Tune by AAM Competition \| Berk Exhaust Project: b1adeZmobile 2.0 (2014 C7 Z51) \| Corsa Xtreme Exhaust

11-17-2011, 12:32 PM	#43 (permalink)
Nixlimited A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,235 Drives: 15 GT-R / 11 Prius Rep Power: 25	I don't know if anyone mentioned it, but a lot of us sports car nuts are particular about how many miles a "new" car has on it. I am sure that savvy dealers want to keep the mileage as low as possible because we buyers don't want to think that somebody came in just to joyride the car before we bought it. __________________ Car Sold! Pleasure being a part of the Z community. New ride: 2015 GT-R - 647 WHP / 641 WTQ (e85) & 543 WHP / 519 WTQ (91)

11-17-2011, 12:42 PM	#44 (permalink)
jpritche A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Cartersville, Ga Age: 32 Posts: 2,571 Drives: '15 RR, '14 IS250 Rep Power: 30	haha all my friends that want to test drive cars like Mazdaspeed 3, or used s2000, or cobalt ss, camaros, and things of that nature ask me if I can drive them there haha. For some reason they think just because I drive a 370z means my dad is loaded and will buy me whatever the heck I want... when in reality, yeah I got a nice car at a young age, but I have worked my butt off to help get my dads company where it is, and he recognizes that.

11-17-2011, 12:51 PM	#45 (permalink)
Lemers A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Izmir, Turkey Posts: 15,371 Drives: 2012 Traverse LTZ Rep Power: 52	When I got my Z I'd was talking to an out of town dealer over the phone. I did let them run a creadit report on me. Once they saw my creadit score they were falling all over themselves to help me. __________________ 2010 Black Cherry Touring/Sport/Nav Now - 2012 Travese LTZ until I leave for Turkey

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