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Would you buy a car without test driving it? - READ ONLY

37 messages,  Last post on Jan 26, 2013 at 7:18 AM

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What is this discussion about? Car Buying, Car Leasing, True Market Value (TMV)

Messages Page 2 of 4

#7 of 37 Re: Would you buy a car without test driving it? [steve_] by ray80

Sep 16, 2011 (5:22 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Sep 15, 2011 10:35 am)
Yep, have done it at least a couple times. Most recently with the Terrain.
Research online including reviews and others experiance and if nothing blatent stands out don't need to drive one prior to purchase. Don't want to waste a sales persons time either if I've already decided on vehicle to purchase.

#8 of 37 Re: Would you buy a car without test driving it? [steve_] by hpmctorque

Sep 16, 2011 (6:32 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Sep 15, 2011 10:35 am)
My short answer is, yes, I would, with the caveats that some of the responders above have already mentioned.

#9 of 37 Re: Would you buy a car without test driving it? [hpmctorque] by michaell

Sep 19, 2011 (1:23 pm)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Sep 16, 2011 6:32 am)
I couldn't do it.
 
I guess it comes down to whether or not you 'bond' with the car or not. More than just fitting behind the wheel, I guess I'm talking about something more 'spiritual' in nature.
 
Yes, even if it's a 4-door appliance, you've got to be comfortable with it since you'll spend so much time behind the wheel.
 
Back in '02, I was looking for a V6 powered sedan with leather and a sunroof. Test drove both an Altima and a Saturn L300. For some reason, I thought the interior of the Saturn (redesigned for the '03 model year) was nicer than that of the Altima.
 
I did get 97,000 miles out of the Saturn, however, so I guess it was an OK choice.

#10 of 37 NEVER DO THAT !!! by larsb

Sep 19, 2011 (3:24 pm)

I would advise people to NEVER EVER do that....
 
Too many unknowns.
 
I did that once (at the request of my then-wife) and it was a huge mistake....
 
Don't go there !!!

#11 of 37 Never, NEVER do that! by kperess

Oct 04, 2011 (5:17 pm)

I agree with larsb above. Too many times I tested a car that I read favorable reviews about and discovered things that really annoyed me. If I had not done the test drive I would have been saddled with the car for way too long.
 
If You're picky (like me) you not only test drive it -- you make sure you get a thorough test drive -- meaning all types of roads, smooth, bumpy, local, highway, with the radio/CD/IPOD on (playing something you're intimately familiar with). I often have 3 or 4 cars I'm seriously considering and in those cases I try to get back-to-back test drives...multiple times. I'll also come back another day to make sure my sense of the drive is right.
 
I also research the cars thoroughly. Is this too much -- maybe, but I really enjoy my cars and can honestly say I've only bought one that I ended up hating (a Gremlin) because it was a hasty purchase (and I took Consumer Reports high ratings on it without a thorough testing myself).
 
Regarding the issue of sales pressure -- the simple way to address that is to ALWAYS be ready to walk (and have alternative models/brands)...even if you like the car. Tell the salesperson if they are getting on your nerves to back off (nicely) and if they don't -- tell them they blew a possible sale and walk away. Today, good sales people understand that sales is about relationship building (especially if you go for upscale brands or models).

#12 of 37 been there by qbrozen

Oct 04, 2011 (7:14 pm)

maybe this isn't exactly what was meant by the question, but I did not test drive my 350z before buying it. I had driven a different one and knew I wanted one. The one I wound up buying only had 9k miles and was sitting in the middle of the showroom. It had plenty of warranty left, looked in perfect condition, and had a great pricetag.

#13 of 37 Re: been there [qbrozen] by bolivar

Oct 04, 2011 (11:43 pm)

Replying to: qbrozen (Oct 04, 2011 7:14 pm)
Yep, I did about the same thing with my new 2007 Corvette. I had driven one about a month before. They are all the same. I'm not sure I even opened it up, just started the grind. I had to be a grinder, because the first number the dealer gave was MSRP. I almost left.

#14 of 37 Waste of time by isellhondas

Oct 05, 2011 (8:36 am)

The last four or five new cars have been bought without test driving them. I know how they are going to drive.
 
I once bought a used Miata without a test drive. The guy had detailed records, the car was like new. It was in a nice warm garage and it was pouring rain outside. I gave him a deposit and came back the next day with the rest of the cash and drove it home.
 
If I do test drive a used car, it's a short, around the block drive.
 
Some of my customers used to do some strange and creative and sometimes scary things that made no sense!

#15 of 37 Re: Would you buy a car without test driving it? [steve_] by im_brentwood

Oct 07, 2011 (12:15 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Sep 15, 2011 11:39 am)
Good god no, that's foolish.
 
I don't like buying SHOES without trying them out. I have bought plenty of cars without driving them, like my XJ8, but I have driven lots of XJ8s, ditto my GS350 (What was I thinking.. awful car).
 
I didn't test drive my Lincoln Premiere either, but it was a thousand miles away and I know what they drive like.

#16 of 37 Re: Would you buy a car without test driving it? [im_brentwood] by steve_ HOST

Oct 07, 2011 (2:13 pm)

Replying to: im_brentwood (Oct 07, 2011 12:15 pm)
Well, that's kind of like me buying the same brand of shoe all the time (right down to the last I prefer, and the catalog offers some 4 or 5 different lasts). Like your XJ8s, I know how they are going to drive.
 
I'd buy an older Miata without a test drive, assuming my mechanic had okay'd it. But I've driven one.
 
I bought my Outback without test driving it, although I could have backed out when I went to pick it up. I don't think a test drive would have alerted me to the door handle hitting my knee in the exact wrong spot anyway.

Messages Page 2 of 4

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