Women And Test Drives.

[CT]

Tin hats on for this one!

Talking to the car dealer the other day he remarked that it's virtually unheard of for women to seek a test drive when buying a new car. They're quite happy for their significant other (assuming it's a feller ) to do the test drive , but unattached ladies, even when they're buying very expensive cars, will sometimes go out with the salesman driving, but always respond to invitations to drive with a polite "No thank you".

Surprised me a bit. Comments ladies!

Perhaps I should have done a poll.

 

[Toothie]

i test drove my car before i brought it, why wouldn't i?

 

[Breezy]

I always do the test drive, scares the crap out of the salesman when I do the handbrake turns though

Can't imagine, if the car is for them, why they wouldn't. How do you know if the mirrors in the right place for putting lippy on, how do you know your heels won't get scuffed because the pedals are in the wrong place, how do you know you won't chip a nail trying to indicate, use wipers etc - all these things are so important

 

[CT]

I always do the test drive, scares the crap out of the salesman when I do the handbrake turns though

Can't imagine, if the car is for them, why they wouldn't. How do you know if the mirrors in the right place for putting lippy on, how do you know your heels won't get scuffed because the pedals are in the wrong place, how do you know you won't chip a nail trying to indicate, use wipers etc - all these things are so important

LOL. Quality!

 

[Jim.R]

My O/H always test drives hers before she buys them, and spells out to the salesman exactly what sort of route she wants to do (suburban, dual carriageways, country lanes etc...)
It always seems to make the seales person very nervous when they're faced with someone who knows exactly what they want and are determined to make sure they're happy with it before parting with their hard-earned. I guess they see there's no real chance of pushing upgrades etc... to them.

I won't mention her negotiation techniques, but I once sat in awe as she managed to get £3k knocked off an £8k car

 

[rugrat]

I do 2-3 test drives in any car I choose and I don't take anyone with me - after all, I am the one that will be driving it all the time, why do I need someone else to test drive it!?

 

[Nod]

My wife always test drives any car we get, either for her or for me. We both drive all the vehicles either of us owns so there's little point in either of us having something the other doesn't fit into or finds uncomfortable. Having said that, she did buy a Sierra many years ago with a sunroof. I'm not that tall (6! 1") but I do have a long body (short fat hairy legs!) and I did have problems on long journies with headroom. I blame my thinning crown on that car!

 

[CT]

So far this is the exact opposite of what the dealer said. To be fair the dealership is right in town, so you come out of the dealership straight into traffic mayhem, so that could have a lot to do with it I suppose.

 

[Yv]

Not in our experience CT.... if she is buying for herself, she nearly always test drives just to 'see if I can park it ok' and if its a joint car, then its about 50-50 which of them does the driving. :shrug:

 

[CT]

Not in our experience CT.... if she is buying for herself, she nearly always test drives just to 'see if I can park it ok' and if its a joint car, then its about 50-50 which of them does the driving. :shrug:

Are you a car sales person then Yv?

 

[Yv]

Are you a car sales person then Yv?

good god NO!!




















We have a Sales Manager to do that

 

[Flash In The Pan]

Not in our experience CT.... if she is buying for herself, she nearly always test drives just to 'see if I can park it ok' and if its a joint car, then its about 50-50 which of them does the driving. :shrug:

I thought that as long as it was a pretty colour the rest was immaterial

 

[dod]

To be honest, the last twice I bought I didn't bother with a test drive. Just went in, worked out the deal and said I'll have it :shrug:

Different models both times. Just can't be bothered.

 

[Yv]

I thought that as long as it was a pretty colour the rest was immaterial

Aye, that was why I went with Nikon over Canon, that pretty red flash on the grip

 

[AllyB999]

TBH would not dream about buying a car without the better half having a test drive and being happy with it, even though she normally says oh thats a nice colour lol

 

[staffitaxi]

I had to go out of the way to test drive mine. Was buying from Vauxhall in Kendal and had to go to Lancaster for the test drive as they didn't have the diesel engine that I was interested in at Kendal.

I would never buy a car without a test drive and have not bought cars before due to the test drive.

I'm very picky about the interior as well. It has to be nice and dark with no bright colours (I would make an exception for cream leather though ). Looked at a car once which had bright blue seats and every seatbelt and door knob was a different colour, just couldn't have lived with that.

 

[CT]

Aye, that was why I went with Nikon over Canon, that pretty red flash on the grip

Yes- but did you test drive it?

 

[Flash In The Pan]

Tbh, I never go for a test drive before I buy a car. I might do so before buying my next car though as I've read mixed reviews about the one I fancy, but normally I just go to the auction and stick my hand in the air....

 

[TheNissanMan]

We insist all of our customers drive the car they are looking to buy before they hand over there hard earned, it's better for the customer and reduces the worries about not liking it after signing up.

All of my Sales Team will drive the car in question to a quiet location just outside the town centre so the customer can get used to the car/controls before hitting any traffic, in contradiction to what your sales person said I've always found the ex-business car using male to be the worst, aka I've driving them all it doesn't matter sort of bloke!

Always drive a car before buying, too late once you've paid for it

 

[Yv]

Yes- but did you test drive it?

Of course not, why on earth would you need to test drive them, they all do the same thing don't they?

Tbh, I never go for a test drive before I buy a car. I might do so before buying my next car though as I've read mixed reviews about the one I fancy, but normally I just go to the auction and stick my hand in the air....

Apparently that IS the only way to buy a car

 

[Yves Geza]

Tbh, I never go for a test drive before I buy a car. I might do so before buying my next car though as I've read mixed reviews about the one I fancy, but normally I just go to the auction and stick my hand in the air....

Apparently that IS the only way to buy a car

Not the only way, just the man's way!


On the other hand, I bought a car from a second hand car dealer a couple of weeks ago and didn't ask for a test drive and wasn't offered one ...









... I just looked round the corner of the shed where the little treasure had sat for the last ten years and agreed I'd trailer it away

 

[Cobra]

When I bought my last (albeit second hand car)
I had 3 or 4 makes / models in mind and a budget between 5k-7k
and trying to get a test drive from the thieving gits Sales persons was
like trying to get blood out of a stone :shake:
Excuses ranged from
You're not insured
you might chip the windscreen
you might chip the paint work
you might have an accident
and the best one? ..................
You might not like it and don't buy it.........
Well flippin'eck......................

So don't garages want to sell cars anymore?
I bought one privately in the finish and saved about 1.5k into the "bargain"
so everyone was happy
(apart from the sales men in the various garages I guess )

 

[CT]

When I bought my last (albeit second hand car)
I had 3 or 4 makes / models in mind and a budget between 5k-7k
and trying to get a test drive from the thieving gits Sales persons was
like trying to get blood out of a stone :shake:
Excuses ranged from
You're not insured
you might chip the windscreen
you might chip the paint work
you might have an accident
and the best one? ..................
You might not like it and don't buy it.........
Well flippin'eck......................

So don't garages want to sell cars anymore?
I bought one privately in the finish and saved about 1.5k into the "bargain"
so everyone was happy
(apart from the sales men in the various garages I guess )

You know what, I can believe that, incredible though it might seem that they'd expect you to buy a car without a test drive.

A few years back in a moment of complete madness, I was considering buying a very late model Porsche 911 from a very posh dealership. I tried to haggle the price down a bit but got "I'm sorry sir, it is a Porsche after all...we don't do discounts"

I asked about a test drive and got " I'm sorry Sir we don't encourage test drives and we never allow them when it's raining anyway." (which it was).

Needless to say, I went elsewhere.

 

[AndrewA123]

When I was looking to buy my last car I knew what I was looking for and had it down to one of 2 models. A local garage (well known for being difficult) had one of the cars listed so I went to have a look. Colour, mileage, age everything ticked all the boxes. A couple of bits of trim needed replacing but that was ok, they would do that. so then I asked "so when can I take it for a test drive" the response was a classic.

"well, why do you need to"

"I want to ensure the car runs smoothly, and there are no issues with how it handles or drives"

"well I'm not in the habit of hiring cars out, I'd much rather you test drove one elsewhere then come back if you're happy. We sell cars and don't hire them"

"But I'm looking to buy THAT car not someone else's"

"OK, give me £50 and I'll get it out for Saturday for you, if you buy it I'll knock the £50 off the price"


Needless to say I told him where to stick it and walked away!

I bet that £50 would have ended up in his pocket and not through the books!

 

[CT]

LOL Unbelievable!

Actually my sales geezer was pretty sound, but I said "Can you just open the bonnet?"

"What for?"

"I just want to look at the engine"

"Well it's got one"

Seems it's very old fashioned to want to see the engine these days.

 

[Yv]

LOL Unbelievable!

Actually my sales geezer was pretty sound, but I said "Can you just open the bonnet?"

"What for?"

"I just want to look at the engine"

"Well it's got one"

Seems it's very old fashioned to want to see the engine these days.

Yes but in fairness Cedders, how many bonnets can you lift these days and actually see ANYTHING that remotely resembles an engine? Well, not without removing a load of shields and fancy covers first

 

[CT]

Yes but in fairness Cedders, how many bonnets can you lift these days and actually see ANYTHING that remotely resembles an engine? Well, not without removing a load of shields and fancy covers first

Yv, that's absolutely true, but I started my motoring life when you daren't go out without a full toolbox, spare water, spare top hose, and you reasonably expected to be on the side of the road under the bonnet at some stage in your journey.

But they don't make 'em like they used to. Thank God!

 

[Rob_W]

Women drive ???? ...

When the hell did this happen ??? ....




Hard hat on heading for the bunker ....


.

 

[Flash In The Pan]

... I just looked round the corner of the shed where the little treasure had sat for the last ten years and agreed I'd trailer it away

So when are going to tell/show us what you've bought :shrug:

Oh and could you keep your eyes out for something for me, I'm on the hunt for a late (cheap) "classic"....

 

[TheNissanMan]

Christ I'm working in the wrong garage, couldn't get away with pretty much all posted on here!

No wonder we still have a bad reputation as a trade, I do hope most of these were from non-main dealers!

 

[tiler65]

I test drove a woman once, took me 10 years to realise she wasn't the one.

 

[Yves Geza]

So when are going to tell/show us what you've bought :shrug:

Oh and could you keep your eyes out for something for me, I'm on the hunt for a late (cheap) "classic"....

When she lets me

Test drives aren't what they used to be anyway. Once upon a time, my old man bought himself a Mercedes 38/250SSK. He went all the way to New Brighton and when he got there, he said "I'd better drive it then" and they said "We don't dare start it up! Every time we do, it spits back through the carb and sets itself on fire!!"

Then again around the same time he was selling a Riley 9 and giving the guy a test drive when the bloke said 'is that fire?' and pointed and my old man looked and there were flames licking up through the floorboards. Apparently by the time he'd bashed the flames out, the guy had wandered off and never bought the car! Bloody time wasters! :shrug:

I test drove a woman once, took me 10 years to realise she wasn't the one.

Well duh! Don't you know, if it flies, floats or f***s ... rent it!!

Edited to add -
Oh and could you keep your eyes out for something for me, I'm on the hunt for a late (cheap) "classic"

G! It's a bit difficult to PM and ask w o t you want? when your ruddy inbox is full! :bonk:

 

[AndrewA123]

Christ I'm working in the wrong garage, couldn't get away with pretty much all posted on here!

No wonder we still have a bad reputation as a trade, I do hope most of these were from non-main dealers!

I can confirm, my "Event" was from a non-main dealer, if that makes you feel any better

 

[Cobra]

You know what, I can believe that, incredible though it might seem that they'd expect you to buy a car without a test drive.

.........I asked about a test drive and got " I'm sorry Sir we don't encourage test drives and we never allow them when it's raining anyway." (which it was).

Needless to say, I went elsewhere.

And I swear that every word was true !
( BWankers!)

Yv, that's absolutely true, but I started my motoring life when you daren't go out without a full toolbox, spare water, spare top hose, and you reasonably expected to be on the side of the road under the bonnet at some stage in your journey.

But they don't make 'em like they used to. Thank God!

And I do know exactly what you mean here as well CT
Ah the good ole days

......... I do hope most of these were from non-main dealers!

Yep they were, the (albeit upmarket), Arfa Daley type garage.
Besides the main (franchise) dealers are so bloody expensive,certainly around here,
for "pre loved" (what a great expression PMSL) cars

 

[TheNissanMan]

Yep they were, the (albeit upmarket), Arfa Daley type garage.
Besides the main (franchise) dealers are so bloody expensive,certainly around here,
for "pre loved" (what a great expression PMSL) cars

Some good deals out there this month, been a hard quarter so most main dealers will do silly deals for new cars available this month

 

[seriousrikk]

My last car purchase I was surprised at how helpful the salesman was after previous experiences.

Lift the bonnet & have a listen to the engine? fine
Make sure everything inside works? fine
Go for a drive? fine
Go somewhere quiet to make sure it pulls ok in all gears. Fine, was even happy for me to give it some serious beans.

I bought the car, couldn't have been more helpful. Even got money off.

 

[TheNissanMan]

Can normally tell a good dealership as the sales exec should...

Have a chat about what you want the car for/how you use it to check your looking at the right car (no point buying a 2 seater if you have 5 kids)!

* Show you around a specific car, under the bonnet, in al the doors, all the buttons etc.

* Check your happy and it does what you need

* Test Drive with you driving your normal sort of conditions

Thats obviously a greatly shortened version but definately the bare basics! If Part Ex's are involved I would be expecting them to have a good look around the PX and drive it whether it's worth £50 or £50k, how else can they give accurate price for it unless they're offering way to little money to cover their backs!

 

[Cobra]

I test drove a woman once, took me 10 years to realise she wasn't the one.

Well at least it only took 10 years, it could have been a lot worse

"We don't dare start it up! Every time we do, it spits back through the carb and sets itself on fire!!" ................

..................... Bloody time wasters! :shrug:

LOL to both

Well duh! Don't you know, if it flies, floats or f***s ... rent it!!

All I can say is that its a bloody good job yours Mrs doesn't "come on here"
otherwise you would be right in the brown stuff!

Some good deals out there this month, been a hard quarter so most main dealers will do silly deals for new cars available this month

Ah well, I am sorted now.


Another funny story from a few years ago,
A "certain" Sports car franchise near Barnet.
A Chinese friend, well more of a very good acquaintance really,
is a right scruffy sod! ( but his "family" are loaded).
Walked into said said garage and asked to test drive a virtually new TVR.
with quite a hefty price tag
( the figures escape me this was many years ago)
The salesman politely declined and said something along the lines of I think this maybe a little out of sirs price range.
The guy then put his hand inside his jacket pocket pulled out a very large wedge, indeed, waved it under the salesman's nose and said
Well I guess I am a **** sight closer to it than you are you [PLEASE DON'T TRY TO BYPASS THE SWEAR FILTER] and walked out with a silly grin on his face.
With me close behind almost PMSL

 

[TheNissanMan]

Unfortunately to many sales people stereotype (ironic in itself). My Sister and Brother in Law have 5 little 's and every choice they make is based around them including car purchases.

A couple of years ago they went into a Mercedes Dealership to look at their vans, with the kids in tow to be told that kids were not allowed inside the vehicles and could they not touch the car, not a good idea as the car was for the kids in the first place so they walked next door to VW. The sales guy in VW spotted them a mile away, blipped the doors open remotely and talked to the kids for a while before speaking to sis/bro in law...

They ordered a top of the line Caravelle with all the toys, alloy upgrade, bodykit, quad exhaust etc to the point the car was used by VW for photoshoots as there were only a handful in the country when it was bought lol...

Same as were stereotyped as car sales people, customers are wrongly stereotyped by the naive as well

I had a family of what could only be described as pikey looking people on the forecourt that noone wanted to speak to, I went up and said Hi and found out they had just inherited a stupid amount of money, they left buying 8 of the most expensive cars we sold, all brand new My sales managers mouth was on the floor when I requested that deal to be approved...

 

[Nod]

(no point buying a 2 seater if you have 5 kids)!

If Part Ex's are involved I would be expecting them to have a good look around the PX and drive it whether it's worth £50 or £50k, how else can they give accurate price for it unless they're offering way to little money to cover their backs!

I'd have thought that having 5 kids was a perfect reason to get a 2 seater!

Last time we PXed a car, we were praying they didn't take it for a drive - they just looked at it, checked the docs against the numbers and made sure it was straight. Had they driven it, they would have heard the wheezing of the very tired head gasket and the clacketty clack of the tappets. But I expect it just went to auction to get what they could for it and that we paid enough for what we bought for the PX price to be well covered.