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Test Drives & Dealership Promotions

144 messages,  Last post on Mar 10, 2006 at 9:02 AM

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#21 of 144 Re: i test drive cars for amusement... [peterdh2000] by rroyce10 Sep 23, 2004 (3:46 am)
Replying to: peterdh2000 (Sep 23, 2004 12:07 am) .. **i'm also that guy who has tried on the Rolex at the mall about a hundred times. the lady there who helps me hasn't sold me a thing** ... l..o..l...                                     The big difference being here is, your honest .. I have let a quite few folks do test drives and depending on the vehicle, sometimes, on rare occasions, even some overnighters knowing they couldn't buy now or even in a year .. but the benefit has been huge and have a very loyal customer base, but with insurance rates trekking towards the moon those days are coming to a close .................                                 Terry.
#22 of 144 Test drives by cool_hand_luke Sep 23, 2004 (4:46 am)
When I'm getting ready to consider the my next auto purchase I research sometimes for months. Checking out the different styles and options available for several makes.   Test drive means exactly what it says "test drive" Many salespeople think that if you are test driving several cars you are wasting their time. I'm always honest and tell of my intentions and why I'm there. I see no problem with having 5 or 6 initial choices, test driving them and narrowing it down to my final choice.   I never goto a dealership when it is busy and prefer the middle of the week. A few visits also lets me know the atmosphere of the dealership and if they deserve my business.   An impulse test drive may hit me from time to time but that is why the salespeople are there. A "it's a waste of my time attitude." may be a flashing neon sign that this dealership isn't for you and won't get your hard earned dollar even if they had the model you were interested in. Replies to this message: bowke28 (Sep 23, 2004 5:30 am) peterdh2000 (Sep 23, 2004 9:02 pm)
#23 of 144 Re: Test drives [cool_hand_luke] by bowke28 Sep 23, 2004 (5:30 am)
Replying to: cool_hand_luke (Sep 23, 2004 4:46 am) ill throw terry the 'bingo' of the day today...   i dont mind going for a ride for 10 or 15 minutes if its not busy and the customer is honest about their intentions. heck, i might even spend more time with that customer and help them compare.   at the end, you get my card, and your price is that i get to call you for referrals every month or so. Replies to this message: peterdh2000 (Sep 23, 2004 9:02 pm)
#24 of 144 bowke by stickguy Sep 23, 2004 (5:59 am)
sounds like a fari trade to me.   Anyway, every looker is a potential buyer. I'm sure those of you in the biz have plenty of examples of folks that wander in just to look that drive off in a new car.
#25 of 144 Re: That's exactly what it is... [isellhondas] by bp3959 Sep 23, 2004 (6:18 am)
Replying to: isellhondas (Sep 22, 2004 2:28 pm) I agree, I only test drive vehicles that I might want to purchase. Once I find a couple vehicles I like, I'll hop on the internet and start some research, usually takes about a week to make up my mind. Then I start the paperwork with the dealer to specify the options I want, nail down a price, and figure out financing(if needed). Before I sign I'll ask for an extended test drive, usually 24 hours, if it's a new vehicle with no miles, I'll take a used one as that will still make me feel good about what I'm buying. If it's a new model year, I'll just take it a few blocks down the road, sit in it and listen to the radio or something. This just to get a feel of the vehicle, it's not often I change my mind at this point, but it has happened. When that does happen I do my best to make it worthwhile for the salesperson that spent so much time helping me.
#26 of 144 This was brought over from another forum... by isellhondas Sep 23, 2004 (6:58 am)
bp3959, it's not often that I agree with bowke but this is one of those times.   In nine years, I've never been asked by a customer for a two day test drive and I can't understand for the life of me why it would take that long to determine if the car is acceptable.   It doesn't take more than a few minutes to determine seat comfort either.   Now, you may be different and have your own motivations. Most people who would do this I would think would be non-serious joyriders who only want to mile up someone else's new car.   Terry? Replies to this message: bp3959 (Sep 23, 2004 8:41 am)
#27 of 144 That's just it - by driftracer Sep 23, 2004 (7:06 am)
I've had people who I thought were pillars of the community abuse their "word" about whether they were serious, because there is no respect for the car dealer's inventory - driving a car should be free, and the thought of a salesman asking for a commitment first is crazy in some people's eyes.   I've gotten vehicles back with 600 miles on after an overnight test drive; we've had trucks scraped up from towing and hauling (and moving appliances); and I've had a few people back out on me AFTER we went 300 miles for 2WD trucks in Wyoming...   I'll still stand by my limited test drive policy for all of these reasons and more - I'm sorry, it doesn't take two days to figure out whether you can see out of the mirrors, whether the seat is comfortable, or the stereo sounds good. In fact, you don't need to drive the car at all for all three of these "tests".   For those who love joyriding, or "testing" as you call it, you should have to take time from your job to try to sell that 600 mile thing you just turned into a used car as you watch customers walk around it.
#28 of 144 Re: This was brought over from another forum... [isellhondas] by bp3959 Sep 23, 2004 (8:41 am)
Replying to: isellhondas (Sep 23, 2004 6:58 am) I've never asked for a 2 day test drive either, I always ask to take it home for the night and come back the next day. In the case I spoke about with the multiple day test drive, on Thursday I told them it would take until Tuesday to get the check from my credit union(commitee meets on certain days), so I'd take the truck Monday night and decide to get the check or not from the credit union Tuesday. The sales manager told me to just take it right then and come back Tuesday to sign and hand over the money.   The dealership didn't have to do this, but because they did, my next purchase will be with them as well. I'm sure it also makes a difference that I've purchased there before and I am very loyal to the dealer I buy from as far as repairs go.   Now of course you wouldn't be able to tell this over the internet, but when I meet with the salesperson they can clearly see that I'm serious about purchasing and I am not out to waste their time. As I'm sure you'd agree, once you've had a few years in the sales business, you can get a good idea of a persons intentions within the first minutes of meeting them.
#29 of 144 If you sign a sales agreement and take by driftracer Sep 23, 2004 (8:51 am)
the vehicle and are just getting financing handled (after we check your bureau), heck, drive the wheels off of it - you own it! Replies to this message: bp3959 (Sep 23, 2004 8:57 am)
#30 of 144 I'm a pretty good judge of character by isellhondas Sep 23, 2004 (8:54 am)
But I get duped from time to time too. I try not to get too hardened and cynical but I get lied to by people who look as pure as can be.   So, I guess, in your mind, if a dealer lets a customer take a car on an overnight test drive, then they are a "good" dealer?   In my mind, they are taking too much risk for the potential reward, but that's me.   Glad I've never (in nine years) been asked by a customer to do this. Replies to this message: bp3959 (Sep 23, 2004 8:59 am)

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