Test Drives when buying new car.

swingaloo

We are in the process of looking for a new second hand car. Looking for something a couple of years old and too be honest finding it a bit of a mine field. there are so many garages/showrooms.:o

My question really is - what generally happens on a test drive?

Does someone from the garage take you out or do you test drive yourself to get a feel for the car?

If you are allowed to take it out how far is it reasonable to go? We have been advised always to test drive on a minor road and a motorway but as the motorway in the area we are buying would entail a 20 mile round trip I cant see that being allowed.

I've always bought privately before so just what is the norm to expect from a dealership?

knightstyle

Nowadays you will always be accompanied by a salesperson, He will have a short route on a good road planned but it is up to you and you can ask for a longer drive or one you know will be on a poor road.
Some years ago we were looking for a secondhand Saab and the garage just gave us the keys and said to bring it back in a few hours but I think that is a thing of the past.
By the way, we bought the Saab, 2 year old, top of the range 900 turbo auto, great car!

YorkshireBoy

Normally, in my experience, the salesman will accompany you and will insist he sits in the front (an insurance requirement), so anyone with you will be in the back!

Be wary of the salesman who drives the car away from the dealership and then stops some distance away for your 'short' test drive back to the dealership to commence. I usually say "you can drive as far as you like, but I'm still having at least half an hour at the wheel".

I wouldn't have any qualms at all about asking for a 30 mile trip to encompass motorway driving (as that's where I rack up most of my mileage).

forgotmyname

My 1st test drive was just around the local roads, But i said i wanted a proper test drive before buying. They said no problem so i thrashed it up and down the motorway for a good hour or more.

Returned and handed over the money.

You need to get the car upto a proper working temperature and upto a decent speed to make sure all is well.

FreddieFrugal

I bought my second car last year from an independent dealership, they just popped reg plate on the dash and let me take it on my own.

butterfly72

Yep, also went out on my own in a massive 4x4 this year. I was terrified for a while but got used to it and in the end was glad the salesman wasnt there as I was able to try reversing and put my foot down.

marlot

I've mostly been allowed out on my own.

gilbert_and_sullivan

The good sales person, especially who owns his own sales centre or works for a small operation, will be a pretty shrewd judge of people.
If you ring the right bells you'll be allowed out alone to do as you have to, there won't be much fuel in the car so expect to have to put some in if you're going to hammer it 50 miles, fair enough that as far as i can see.

If you go to a main dealer you'll get varying attitudes but, if you must, a pile 'em high and sell em not so cheap car supermarket (rip off finance house) then expect to get on their corporate treadmill system and drive a mile up the smooth dual carriageway and back again.

oliverr

Or if you buy from Cargiant... a spin round the industrial estate. Its true, but we've had no problems from Cargiant and the car has been great.

Usually the salesman will come out with you, the routes, roads and distances vary with where you are and where you are buying it from - a main dealer will probably be different to a little independent one.

King_Nothing

Got my car from a local independent dealer in 2010, wasn't expecting him to just give me the keys to the car and let me go out with just the gf, but was surprised when he did, given that I was 22 and the car was a 221bhp focus was expecting him to come with, think it was just because he was the only guy there so mustn't have wanted to lock up and possibly lose out on a sale if someone came round.

forgotmyname

I bought a big powerful car from a smaller used car lot, The old guy came with me for the test drive, Pulled onto the dual carriageway and had to slow to a crawl to the the police car go.

Then floored it.. He went white and gripped the seat.