Getting the dealership run-around on test driving

m4a1mustang · 11-17-2011, 07:22 AM

How were you dressed?

I find it hard to believe they would deny a test drive on a 370 just because you look young.

Red__Zed · 11-17-2011, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

How were you dressed?

I find it hard to believe they would deny a test drive on a 370 just because you look young.

He was wearing this:

SS66 · 11-17-2011, 08:21 AM

I am a bit older and if a sales rep told me sorry here is my card or like call me when your serious I would quitely say to myself. BlowME....

I test drove a new leftover 2010 Z and ended up not even buying the car. The salesman asked if I really like the car? I replied yes and he said let me get the key and we can take it for a ride. Ended up buying a 2011 from another dealership.

awkwardturtle · 11-17-2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

He was wearing this:

Dude, I'm not gonna lie, I find it pretty sad/pathetic that you stalk me on other forums. Way to rip off a picture of a spoiler that I was mocking up... the same spoiler a member on the other forum offered me $600 for after I spent $250 making it.

As for the other questions/comments, I think I was dressed fairly well. I certainly didn't walk in with ripped jeans and a hoodie, just average everyday clothes. I drove in in a decent car that's very clean/excellent condition that's worth a solid 15-16k on a trade-in. The only reason I told him I hadn't started my job yet because he was insistent on running a credit check to make sure they would finance me the money, and I told him I'd probably not get approved since I'm not going to have any income coming in for 3 weeks. I even told him I had multiple people readily available to co-sign, so it wouldn't be a big deal. I realize that's not the answer he wants to hear, but c'mon, any person in sales should have the foresight to recognize that you can't make all of your sales THAT DAY. How can he expect me to even bother coming back to him when I walk in to buy one now?

And yeah, I can understand wanting to keep mileage low, which is why a lot of dealerships tend to have a designated test car. This is exactly why when I bought my SI when I was 17, the 'new' car I drove had almost 300 miles on it, and the salesman told me to romp on it.

And not to mention, I live in a town with literally the highest Physician to non-physician ratio in the country. You HAVE to expect a lot of young people with rich parents that are willing to buy them anything. I had a relatively crappy car in high school, and I drove a brand new Civic SI. I would think anyone with half a brain would instantly assume a younger-20 year old guy driving a nice/decent car in this city either had the means to buy the car, or had parents who were willing to.

What I do find funny, however, is that their internet sales guy just got back to me about a quote request I sent in a week ago and asked me to come in and test drive a Z

I truly hope that other guys sees me when I do.

theDreamer · 11-17-2011, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awkwardturtle

Dude, I'm not gonna lie, I find it pretty sad/pathetic that you stalk me on other forums. Way to rip off a picture of a spoiler that I was mocking up... the same spoiler a member on the other forum offered me $600 for after I spent $250 making it.

People are on multiple forums, not hard to find others. Especially if you spend more than five minutes looking at people posting.

As for the other questions/comments, I think I was dressed fairly well. I certainly didn't walk in with ripped jeans and a hoodie, just average everyday clothes. I drove in in a decent car that's very clean/excellent condition that's worth a solid 15-16k on a trade-in. The only reason I told him I hadn't started my job yet because he was insistent on running a credit check to make sure they would finance me the money, and I told him I'd probably not get approved since I'm not going to have any income coming in for 3 weeks. I even told him I had multiple people readily available to co-sign, so it wouldn't be a big deal. I realize that's not the answer he wants to hear, but c'mon, any person in sales should have the foresight to recognize that you can't make all of your sales THAT DAY. How can he expect me to even bother coming back to him when I walk in to buy one now?

You made your own mistakes, you told him you had no job, you were not going to pass the credit check. Why would you tell him this? Never discuss finance until after you are happy with driving a car and testing it first. You dug your own grave.

And yeah, I can understand wanting to keep mileage low, which is why a lot of dealerships tend to have a designated test car. This is exactly why when I bought my SI when I was 17, the 'new' car I drove had almost 300 miles on it, and the salesman told me to romp on it.

The idea of 'low' mileage is nice, but really it is a 30k car. Now if the car has 500-1000 miles already then that could be an issue as the dealership at that point will want to get it out quickly.

And not to mention, I live in a town with literally the highest Physician to non-physician ratio in the country. You HAVE to expect a lot of young people with rich parents that are willing to buy them anything. I had a relatively crappy car in high school, and I drove a brand new Civic SI. I would think anyone with half a brain would instantly assume a younger-20 year old guy driving a nice/decent car in this city either had the means to buy the car, or had parents who were willing to.

You know what happens when you assume?

What I do find funny, however, is that their internet sales guy just got back to me about a quote request I sent in a week ago and asked me to come in and test drive a Z

I truly hope that other guys sees me when I do.

Internet sales guys usually are volume sellers so they will say anything to get you in and buy. Which is good for you because they will let you drive, can usually get the best price because they sell more and are more relaxed because they meet quotas quickly.

awkwardturtle · 11-17-2011, 10:14 PM

@ theDreamer.. I'm not even sure how to respond to you.

Yes, people are on multiple forums. My point is that it's pretty pathetic that this guy keeps coming into my threads and trying to make jibes at me based off of my posts in another forum. That's sad/pathetic. I dont' even see that kind of childish crap on a civic forum, where the average age is surely less than what is is over here.

And secondly, I didn't just announce that I wasn't starting my job for a few weeks just for the hell of it. He wanted a credit check before I test drove it. At that point, what do you really expect me to say? I had two options, decline and leave the dealership, or explain my situation. I chose option B.

I'm over it, though. Plan on going in and talking w/ the internet sales guy this sat. No harm, no foul.

theDreamer · 11-18-2011, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awkwardturtle

@ theDreamer.. I'm not even sure how to respond to you.

Yes, people are on multiple forums. My point is that it's pretty pathetic that this guy keeps coming into my threads and trying to make jibes at me based off of my posts in another forum. That's sad/pathetic. I dont' even see that kind of childish crap on a civic forum, where the average age is surely less than what is is over here.

And secondly, I didn't just announce that I wasn't starting my job for a few weeks just for the hell of it. He wanted a credit check before I test drove it. At that point, what do you really expect me to say? I had two options, decline and leave the dealership, or explain my situation. I chose option B.

I'm over it, though. Plan on going in and talking w/ the internet sales guy this sat. No harm, no foul.

You still picked the wrong option, option C is no credit check.
Never let them run your credit before you just test drive a car, at this level of price range. If they do not feel you are 'able' to purchase the vehicle then walk away because you are going to run into issues the whole way through with them. You honestly set yourself up and dealing with the internet sales guy might get you a test drive but he might still see you walk in and go, need to run your credit.

Jack370Z · 11-18-2011, 10:10 AM

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.

Armonster · 11-18-2011, 11:17 AM

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.

awkwardturtle · 11-18-2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armonster

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.

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

onzedge · 02-20-2012, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack370Z

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.

Pintsize725 · 02-20-2012, 07:54 PM

When I first started shopping around for a used Z, the salesman laughed when I told him I wouldn't take anything else. He tried to force an Altima coupe on me stating that "with the new engine, it's like having a V6. And FWD is what you want." I didn't back down and at the end of our conversation he said "I don't want to sell you a car that you are going to be street racing in and causing trouble." I am 25 and I guess due to my height I look like I'm younger.

Polymorphic · 02-20-2012, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pintsize725

When I first started shopping around for a used Z, the salesman laughed when I told him I wouldn't take anything else. He tried to force an Altima coupe on me stating that "with the new engine, it's like having a V6. And FWD is what you want." I didn't back down and at the end of our conversation he said "I don't want to sell you a car that you are going to be street racing in and causing trouble." I am 25 and I guess due to my height I look like I'm younger.

Haha they tried to force the new altima on me too. I said sure, give me a manual transmission and I'll take it. (knowing full well it only comes auto)

DYNAZOR · 02-21-2012, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack370Z

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.......... 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.

I have a similar story. When I was about 35 I was interested in buying a new Corvette. One cold, sleety day at the beginning of winter of '86 I went to a local Chevy dealer to see if I could make a deal on a new '87 coupe. I was dressed according to the day's weather, i.e. faded jeans, ratty winter coat, and the same type of work boots I wore when I used to drive a truck (at this time I was a technical support engineer for Sony). The dealer had a convertible on the floor, same color as what I wanted in the coupe. I walked right to the 'Vette and walked around it, checking things out for a few minutes, and not a single salesman acknowledged my presence despite every one of them looking at me when i walked through the door. They quickly went back to reading their newspaper or whatever (it was a very slow day due to the crappy weather). Finally, one salesman came up and asked if I had any questions he could answer for me. I told him I was ready to buy if they came up with the right price. This salesman was a tall, thin, near-the-end-of-middle-age black man named Wally, the only non-white person in the place. We retreated to Wally's cubical and after about 30 minutes and several trips to the sales manager's office I wrote aout a check for $1,000 to order the car I wanted. The other salemen who neglected me were watching me like hawks writing out that check, in total disbelief. After making the deal Wally confided to me that he had been laid off at another dealer and was at this dealer for only 2 weeks and had not sold a single car until I came in, and he said it with a big grin on his face while his hands were shaking.

I guess reading the newspaper on a cold wet day and whatever was more important to the other salesmen then tossing me a simple "Hi, can I help you with something" when I came in.

junior_jam · 11-20-2011, 07:31 AM

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

11-17-2011, 07:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	How were you dressed? I find it hard to believe they would deny a test drive on a 370 just because you look young. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

11-18-2011, 10:10 AM	#8 (permalink)
Jack370Z Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 128 Drives: 09 370Z Plat SP 6MT Rep Power: 16	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. __________________ Jack 09 370Z

11-18-2011, 11:17 AM	#9 (permalink)
Armonster Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 270 Drives: 2010 370z t/sp/6mt Rep Power: 15	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. Last edited by Armonster; 11-18-2011 at 11:23 AM.

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11-17-2011, 08:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
SS66 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 165 Drives: 2011 370Z SP m6 Rep Power: 15	I am a bit older and if a sales rep told me sorry here is my card or like call me when your serious I would quitely say to myself. BlowME.... I test drove a new leftover 2010 Z and ended up not even buying the car. The salesman asked if I really like the car? I replied yes and he said let me get the key and we can take it for a ride. Ended up buying a 2011 from another dealership.

11-17-2011, 10:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
awkwardturtle Base Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: minnesota Posts: 98 Drives: 07 Civic SI Rep Power: 14	@ theDreamer.. I'm not even sure how to respond to you. Yes, people are on multiple forums. My point is that it's pretty pathetic that this guy keeps coming into my threads and trying to make jibes at me based off of my posts in another forum. That's sad/pathetic. I dont' even see that kind of childish crap on a civic forum, where the average age is surely less than what is is over here. And secondly, I didn't just announce that I wasn't starting my job for a few weeks just for the hell of it. He wanted a credit check before I test drove it. At that point, what do you really expect me to say? I had two options, decline and leave the dealership, or explain my situation. I chose option B. I'm over it, though. Plan on going in and talking w/ the internet sales guy this sat. No harm, no foul.

02-20-2012, 07:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
Pintsize725 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Austin Posts: 14,196 Drives: 2016 Mazda 6 Rep Power: 211845	When I first started shopping around for a used Z, the salesman laughed when I told him I wouldn't take anything else. He tried to force an Altima coupe on me stating that "with the new engine, it's like having a V6. And FWD is what you want." I didn't back down and at the end of our conversation he said "I don't want to sell you a car that you are going to be street racing in and causing trouble." I am 25 and I guess due to my height I look like I'm younger.

11-20-2011, 07:31 AM	#15 (permalink)
junior_jam Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: NC Posts: 93 Drives: 09 370Z Rep Power: 16	Wasn't denied a test drive. But then again, I'm fat, old, and bald.