Years ago when I mustered out of the US Coast Guard in Mobile, AL I went to buy a new VW. Well, I was 21 yrs old wearing flip flops, cut offs and a t-shirt. When I walked into the showroom no one even looked up so I asked "do you have any other colors". One sales guy finally said something about more out back. I went back there and picked out one. Went back to the showroom and said "I'll take the orange one". At that point they all looked up and I looked at the guy that sent me "out back" and said, again, "I'll take the orange one". He said did I plan on financing...I said "no" and pulled out a wad of cash. The other sales guys heads all fell down (chin on chest) and I smiled. Paid cash and drove it home. I really wish I had gone to the GM and asked him to help me. You just never know until you qualify a person. They just might have a pocket full on money. For as far as my Z they asked if I was planning on paying cash...I said no and handed the guy my AMEX card. They panicked...lol. :icon17:

Here's what you do:

1) find a new dealer
2) be serious about buying the car (without talking about finances at all)
3) test drive car

Also, just for your own knowledge/benefit, your credit report only shows your debt. Credit cards, student loans, car loans, mortgage, etc. Your income plays NO part in your credit score. There is no reason to discuss your income, especially if you don't have one.

Edit: I just noticed the "credit check before test drive" situation that you were in. First of all, for your own financial well-being you need to go get a free credit report. Most states allow you to get one or two free per year (maybe its a federal thing, I can't remember exactly). Anyway, you need to get a better understanding of what a credit report actually is, just as a general life skill. Search online and you should be able to find it. If you have an American Express card, they give you one a year as well I think.

After you check out your credit report, you may decide that it's actually pretty good. If you always pay your bills and don't have revolving credit card debt, it probably is. In that case you can let them check it if you really want. OR, you could do what someone who KNOWS they have a good credit score would do, and tell them no. Honestly if someone told me they needed to check my credit before letting me test drive a 30k car, I would laugh at them and then either leave, or wait for them to stop being retarded and let me drive the stupid thing.

Im the same age as you and was in the same spot:

Usually when I went to test drive the Challenger, the guy let me and my dad go by ourselves. Gave us a 45 minute tag or something and said have fun.

At the Nissan me and my friend went and the guy just gave us the keys and said be back in 30 minutes. I wasnt comfortable driving stick yet so the first time I went the saleman (younger guy and into cars) took me out and waled on the thing. It was fun. The second time me and my friend went.

All depends on the salesman

Thanks for the info, didn't know that. Next time I'll just decline

You never know what yer gonna get. I say find a new dealer....

For the Z my wife and I took the sale's manager's personal car (a loaner he was using) with about 4k miles on the clock and was told to go crazy with it. (Which I did). In the end the dealer was trying to sell that car as "new" because it had never been registered. It had 4k miles and EVERY single sheet metal panel had a ding or dent on it and 3 of the rims had curb rash.

I took a Subaru STI out by myself even though I was clear with the dealer that I was not buying soon.

Drove a Mazda 3 Speed and the sales guy came with me. Same with a few other cars.

Who knows what goes on in their heads?

Save up more money. Then walk in with a suitcase full of cash. They'll have their nose so far up your a$$ that you will swear they must be Pinnochio.

The 370Z is pure sex! It is hot, loud, and rough!

grow a mustache. :icon17:

Yeah.. **** this dealership. I specifically told them I wanted a black Nismo. Guy tells me in an email that he did a nationwide search and found one, but he'd need a deposit from me to do a trade. I go in today and there's a friggen black Nismo sitting right there. Guess next time I should actually walk around the lot instead of stopping at the first Z I see.

a pedo stache? :bowrofl:

I've had it both ways. When I was 18, I wanted to test drive a 1974 Z28 (I know, I'm old) and the dealer told me to go get my dad and come back. In front of many people in the showroom, I said, `f you, my dad's not buying the car, I am!` While the salesman was thinking about a comeback, I walked out the door while giving the one finger salute.

On the other side of the coin, I was interested in a 1994 Pontiac Formula and wanted a test drive. When I asked the salesman, he threw me the keys and said, I'll see you when you get back! When I asked him if he wanted my driver's license, he said, why, you gonna steal it? Needless to say, I didn't buy the Z28, but I did buy the Formula.

So, it's all about the salesman and dealership.

I would bring my dad back to the dealership, and have my dad yell at the salesperson AND the manager, "why the hell you want to waste my time when my son is buying AND paying for the car!!!"

You can drop the 'F' bomb, it's your personal preference.

heheee

:icon18:

Ron Swanson mustache, the manliest mustache there is.

http://static.tvfanatic.com/images/g...wanson-pic.jpg

Wasn't denied a test drive. But then again, I'm fat, old, and bald.

My dealer forced me to drive it too. Im only 22 as well but he knew I'm military so he knows I have a gaurunteed paycheck haha

Bought my 350Z i had when i was 21... ITs not age it may have been your approach sounds like he thought you were wasting his time.

Go to a different dealer and talk less about the final deal and more about you are adiment about test driving the car before you sign the papers. Throw some buying words out to the salesman.

Walk in there like you own that dealership brotha! :happydance:

Im 30 now and go and test drive cars a good amount just for fun :)
Test drove an EVO X and 2011 Mustang GT for the hell of it 2 weeks ago.