24 hour BMW test drives

emmell

Why do you need a 24hr test drive? you can't drive it while your asleep.
We have been offered weekend test drives before but have never needed more than an hour or so, drive on different roads, see if golf clubs and electric trolley fits, make sure it's comfortable etc.
My husband once booked a test drive in an Audi Q7 and when we got to the dealer's
(Audi Leeds), they wanted him to sign a form to say he would pay the first £1000 to any damage caused! He ripped the form up and walked out of the showroom, needless to say he didn't buy an Audi. We have never had this before with any manufacturer.
ML.

Inactive

paul66 wrote: »

Hi Inactive and Wxmlad

Thanks for your thoughts. Firstly the 5 series Tourer is the best in its class by some way so as I don't have to deal with the dealership much I think that is the price worth paying.

However I will try and find a better one, a friend of mind said the Chandlers in Hailsham is just as bad so I may have to go further a field

Paul

Fair enough Paul, it is however somewhat alarming that a company like BMW allow their franchised dealers to act in this way, it would be enough to put me off of the brand.

Good luck with your search for a decent BMW dealer.

AdrianHi

Sadly there are a few dealers around who are, well not what you have a right to expect, but there are also some genuinely excellent ones that people will travel furher to use.

A 1 or 2 hour test drive should be enough but if you really want one longer or do not want to feel pressured into buying at the dealer Barons in Hindhead Surrey (used them for service work, very accomodating with loan cars etc.) rent BMW's as do some other dealers. You could probably rent at least the saloon model for around £55-£75 a day, the touring is meant to ride a bit better with it's self leveling air suspension.
If your thinking of leasing BMW finance will do it but I've always found better deals through other general leasing companies, so renting for a day and leasing where ever you like might be a good plan. What Car has a "lease this car" link that gets good prices.

The forum I was referring to is at www.bmwland.co.uk, you won't find anyone conforming to that "BMW owner steroetype" here
You could ask for dealer recommendations in your area here.

One of the best ways to get one of these cars is to buy it a few months old with a big reduction off list price. Depreciation is fairly consistent for several years after that. Not as easy on the cash flow as leasing though.

There are "warts" in all aspects of owning a BMW (and surely any car?), they are not perfect, but they are very good and I like them very much.

Lemonade_Pockets

BMW dealers are reasonably well known for their shoddy service, usually accompanied by a snobbish attitude as well.

However in their defence if you are going to be leasing the vehicle from someone other than BMW you can't really expect anything other than the cold shoulder. The salesman and the dealership are there to earn money, they know short term they won't earn money taking you for extended test drives or lending you a car for a day. (long term there is half an arguement that they could get money from referalls or servicing).
Taxed cars are a limited resource at a dealership, there are always complaints on here about lack of courtesy cars or demonstrators. Clearly lending cars to people in your situation won't help.

Good luck finding something, unfortunately renting maybe the only option or using some poetic license when describing your purchasing intentions.

Hintza

OP you have bigger balls than a bull elephant........lol

kriss_boy

AdrianHi wrote: »

The forum I was referring to is at www.bmwland.co.uk, you won't find anyone conforming to that "BMW owner steroetype" here
You could ask for dealer recommendations in your area here.

One of the best ways to get one of these cars is to buy it a few months old with a big reduction off list price. Depreciation is fairly consistent for several years after that. Not as easy on the cash flow as leasing though.

There are "warts" in all aspects of owning a BMW (and surely any car?), they are not perfect, but they are very good and I like them very much.

Bmwland is a great website and like you says its not the 'stereotypical' bmw driver that I believe no longer exists!

overlander

So let me get this right you are asking a BMW dealer to give you a car for 24 hours to test so you can lease off another company. You really are suited to a BMW lol.

Inactive

kriss_boy wrote: »

Bmwland is a great website and like you says its not the 'stereotypical' bmw driver that I believe no longer exists!

I think that many of us have an opinion on that, I will keep mine to myself.. ;)any brand specific forum is not going to reflect the opinion of others.

AdrianHi

Inactive wrote: »

I think that many of us have an opinion on that, I will keep mine to myself.. ;)any brand specific forum is not going to reflect the opinion of others.

I would concede the point that some BMW owners conforming to "the steroetype" do exists, are evident on many BMW forums and the rest of us "nice" owners (some of whom I meet in person once a month) who frequent BMWLand would prefer not to be tarred with the same brush
Does a 50 something year old lady - childrens dietbetes nurse for a living conform the "the stereotype" - probably not