Nervous about a new car

Crabman

I'm helping a family member (in her 60s) with a new car purchase (used car) but she is of the opinion that they will get used to driving the car in their own time after it has been purchased. I do not think this is sensible.

She seems incredibly nervous about driving the car during a test drive and even refused to sit in the front seat when the salesman drove it. She is a confident and competent driver in her own vehicle but sees a test drive as a risk.

The problem is that sales staff from more than one dealership have concluded that after several months of things not progressing, she is not a serious buyer and are no longer interested in discussing the purchase.

I was wondering whether anyone's come across this behaviour before and whether there's any advice on how to address it?

DominicH

Could she arrange a longer test drive through the manufacturer's website? Some of them do that. If the problem is doing a test drive with a sales rep in the car, which I would agree is a terrible way of checking out a car. I don't think you learn much about a car while having some pillock sit alongside you who you have to converse with.

stator

Have a look around and see if there are any driving instructors who use that model of car.

panika

For some people test drive is like driving test, especially if they are not used to passengers - strangers. Probably salesman will be talking about cars features and gadgets and she won't be able to concentrate on driving, especially if it is busy on the roads. I can understand that - some people can jump in any car and start driving and enjoy it, for others- like me - it's quite stressful.
I would suggest to do the test drive when the roads are quiet (Sunday morning, if car shop is open).

forgotmyname

She wont get used to driving any vehicle until she has driven it for a while,
I cannot say i am surprised that a dealer has said she is not a serious buyer
after several months.

You see a car that fits your needs, has the correct spec and haggle on the price, 2 or maybe 3 visits all in should be plenty.

Piggywiggy

Personally I am nervous test driving a strange car usually in an area I am not familiar with so I can fully understand why she would like someone else to test drive just to know that the car drives ok.

But why in that amount of time has she not found something she likes? She must be running out of suitable models to try by now.

Mobeer

I'd recommend having a test drive on familiar roads. Let the sales guy(girl) demo as he drives to a familiar area, then your relative asks them to be quiet while she drives familiar roads. It's probably a good idea regardless to try a test drive on roads like those you normally use.

Is this some common model of car you can rent for a day? (assuming her interest is in test driving a model, not a specific car).


If I was working in sales I might well be convinced she is a time waster too. Is there some positive thing you\your relative can say to take away that idea? Like your relative has narrowed the choice down to 2, or decided to buy in the next 2 weeks or something?