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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

#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.

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

Oct 07, 2011 (3:22 pm)

Replying to: im_brentwood (Oct 07, 2011 12:15 pm)
Speaking of that Lincoln, when AM I going to see this?

Messages Page 2 of 4

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