Getting the dealership run-around on test driving
 

I stopped by my local Nissan dealer the other day.. totally blown off on wanting to check out and test drive a Z.

I'm 22 years old, and realize I'm young and look even younger than I am, but I'm still pissed about this. I brought in my car, indicating I wanted to trade that in, which knocks about 16 grand off of what I would need to acquire in a loan. With savings, I can almost buy a new Z base package outright.

I explained to the guy that I'm starting a job in about a month from now, I have my trade-in fully paid off, etc. He flat-out told me that dealerships do not allow test drives of 'sports cars'. Surely you guys took out your Z before buying it, right? I told him that I couldn't spend 30-40k on a car in good faith without knowing I would enjoy it, first. He basically gave me his card and told me to call him if I changed my mind. Anyone else have this experience, or do I just need to go to a different dealer? I neglected to bring any parents along because I'm financing this on my own, but my dad seems to think I need to bring him along to be taken seriously. I hope that isn't the case...

Thanks

Find a new dealer.

I had a few dealers try and force me to take a test drive before negotiating prices.
(I didn't want test drive until I was fairly certain I was buying from that dealer' and this depended on the price).

I wasn't much older than you.

I bought my Z when i was 23,, I had 3 dealerships practically beg me to test drive the Z.

I would try finding another dealer, I would never buy a car w/o taking a test drive. I didn't take the ca i bought for a test drive but i did at least take one out that had the options i wanted.

I sell cars for a living, and I hate when sales reps do this why because I was in the same position as you when I tried to buy my Z. I went to one Nissan dealer 6 blocks away from where I lived, I was in shorts and sandals didn't look like I sell cars. So I ask the lady what do I have to do to get to see the car or order it? And she said how old are you I said I was 23 she said bring your parents and we can talk. I been selling cars for about 6 hrs already never judge the book by it's cover. So I left she didn't know that I'm a home owner for a yr had financed 3 cars already and knew the business real well. So I told my manager I was interested in that car luckily to my advantaged he knew the general Mngr to a Nissan dealer and he refer me to him. So my point is go to another lot don't let those a*%^#holes get the commission, until u feel that they are treating you right do business. Your not spending 4k on a beater btw if your getting yourself a new one you can knock off 3000 grand of the invoice. I got 2010 Magnetic Black Touring Nav and Sport Package for 36k with 10miles.

Good Luck

Well when I was shopping for my Z the past couple months, I went into a couple Nissan dealers and called before hand and made sure I can drive the car before I waste my time and drive there. I am fairly young and look younger than I am. Anyways I get to the dealer, Smithtown Nissan in NY and I speak to the guy that told me to come down. He showed me all the Z's he had and telling me nonsense about the car I already knew.

So sitting at his desk, I said before we talk numbers can I drive the car as I have never driven it before. He thought I wasn't serious as I look young and all. His excuse for not letting me test drive "I ran out of dealer plates, I'm truly sorry". I laughed in my head and told him have a good day. Wasted my time and I hate that.

Ageism.

Make sure you drive up to that dealer in your new Z just long enough so they see you :)

^ Exactly what I did in 2007 when I bought my Civic SI after a Chevy dealer refused to work with me on getting a cobalt SS :D

Thanks for the info guys, just sucks because they're so convenient - now I have to drive an hour to the next one. I'll make sure to call this one ahead of time..

:bowrofl:I was totally thinking about doing that. Another dealer actually gave me a hard time also and that's where my car came from off THEIR dealer floor haha.
They couldn't sell it to me when I was standing in front of it, but it took me to get another dealer to take it from them lol. I'll do a drive by one of these days and just walk in the showroom for no reason, maybe I'll go sit in a Nissan Cube or something lol. :stirthepot:

Its really not that hard to get to test drive a new car. Your first wrong move was telling them you are starting a job next month.. Its all on how you present yourself.

I say just swallow ur pride and go to the same dealer with ur dad. Then u can test drive without having to drive 2 hours roundtrip. Once you decide u like it, come back online and find the best price near you by emailing local internet sales managers, carsdirect.com, 370z forum vendors, etc.

Man, thats an f'd up dealership you went to. My dealer forced me to test drive the car.

And it totally sucks that your other Nissan dealer is so far away.. If you end up returning to the same dealer, make sure you deal with a different salesperson.

Good luck with your buy.

Bring your mom or dad? :icon17:

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:

http://i55.tinypic.com/w70xvt.jpg

Infiniti pretty much did the same thing to me. The salesman wasnt interested in selling me a G37. I had to relate several questions an it was too much of a chore for hum to look up 6mt at area dealers. I didn't get to ask for a test drive because they didn't have 6mts on the lot.

Yes I think the salesman took one look at you and thought you were a waste of his time so he wasn't gonna help you. They work on commission and their time is money. So what ever you do do buy from that guy be he already wasted your time and it just as valuable.

I've never had issues with getting a test drive, usually the dealers are forcing me to take one. I'm 21, but I usually have one of my parents with me so maybe that's why. Though I got the feeling they would not have cared even if I was by myself there.

Believe or not that has happened to me and I'm over 40 yrs old, especially in the Lexus', BMW's and Infiniti's dealers.

They will judge you by the way you dress and the car you arrive at the stealership. ;)

I've had no issues test driving cars in "hood" clothes since I was 15....











...but then, people sometimes act different at gunpoint.

A salesman once sent me on a test drive in a G37 coupe with just me and my mom in the car :icon17:

Maybe you look too old to be 21?

No I pretty much look my age. Just ask Steve or Dan, they've met me in person.

Steve, Dan would you say that Blades looks 21?

File photo of blades:

http://edge.ebaumsworld.com/picture/menimbalam/hehe.jpg

:bowrofl: :bowrofl: :bowrofl:

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.... :mad:

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.

I've been test driving new cars since i was 17. I never had a problem they would just make a copy of my drivers license and give me the keys. So i'd say go to a different dealership. If/when you do get a Z i'd go back the the dealership that gave you a hard time and tell the guy, "looks like you missed out on a sale d1ck."

I'd ask to see the sales manager next time. Although if the sales guy was allowed to act like a d-bag, the manager probably is, too.

Go someplace else. Not worth wasting your time.

As mentioned, you probably messed up when you told them you hadn't started your job. Leave that out next time. Tell them the time frame of when you might be purchasing instead.

Also, as I'm sure you know, research the car before hand. I had a saleman trying to convince me the NISMO put down 390 hp. Don't we all wish. :tup:

Some dealers are jerks. End of Story, take your business some where else.

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.

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.

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

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

Like it was a new born baby.:icon17:

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

:bowrofl::icon18::inoutroflpuke::roflpuke2:

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.

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.

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?

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.