Long term rent or test drive. Any tips?

JackeeBoy

AdrianC wrote: »

Oh, one of those peer-to-peer car rental schemes.

Yep, curious how it works in regards to insurance. A lot of dodgy people out there.

photome

JackeeBoy wrote: »

Yep, curious how it works in regards to insurance. A lot of dodgy people out there.

I looked in to it last year in the USA , some great cars available but too many bad reviews so I didn’t go with it

Arklight

I am going to offer a slightly different piece of advice, OP. You don't need a month's test drive to know if you like a car, but you do need to have some other cars to compare it to.

In my last job I had to travel in the UK and overseas. I hired a LOT of cars. When I test drove the Suzuki I bought last year I knew immediately that I preferred the ride and handling to many of the cars I had driven before. So I bought it and didn't bother to continue the day of schlepping around dealerships we had planned.

There is no point you spending £500 on renting a version of a car that you hope to buy used in a years time. Just put the £500 towards the car and spend the year trying to have a go on as many cars in that size and class as you can, including the kind of car you want. Then when you go to have your (normal) test drive next year, you will have a much bigger database of knowledge to draw from.

If you go to an independent used dealer, they are often quite lenient with test drives, especially if they are quiet.

AdrianC

Arklight wrote: »

You don't need a month's test drive to know if you like a car, but you do need to have some other cars to compare it to.

Indeed. I cannot understand how the list can come to two so massively different vehicles without having driven either - or any of the myriad of other possible rivals, either direct or indirect.

sheramber

JackeeBoy wrote: »

Thanks all. I am looking for a 6 Series, not an X6. I appreciate that the Sportage and 6 Series are two very different cars but that it what I have narrowed my list to. The 6 Series is stylish and practical and I would prefer not to have an SUV. With that said, the Sportage looks okay and seems a real bargain for the price as you can get one for under £20k used with a 7 year warranty.

The reason I want something somewhat long-term is to get a real feel for the car. A family friend was look for a quick sell of his Mercedes. I am not a fan at all of one but thought I would give it a test drive (at his request) to see if it would grow on me as I was getting a really good deal. Turned out I could not skip my music forward from the buttons on the steering wheel. Not saying I would have bought the car anyway, but this was a big no for me and something I probably would have missed on a test drive.

In regards to hire companies no being able to promise a vehicle, I think they should be able to. Not a huge logistical task to pre-book a vehicle on line with the caveat that if it suffers major damage it won't be available anymore.

Well, thanks all for the replies. I guess I just have to make most of the test drive closer to the time of purchase.

You could ask the salesman before you arrange a test drive. You can try that on the car before you take a test drive. No need to drive a car for a week to find that out.

Make a list of what you require in a car and ask before arranging anything.

We had medium sized dogs and the fist thing we did before considering any car was measure the boot to see if it was big enough. NO need for a test drive if it wasn't.

Madmel

OP take the car seats and pram to the dealers and try them in the cars before thinking about driving them. I play a double bass which has a trolley that converts into a stool. The two travel attached together. When it's car swapping time, I wheel them into the dealers, often with DD's empty cello case on my back too. They all came out of my current vehicle and it's a deal-breaker if they don't fit into a new one. I could write a book about the attitude and behaviour of some salespeople towards me - Nissan in Exeter laughed at me, and were less than impressed when I pointed out that people in Japan play bass too. Needless to say, I would never buy a car from them.

DD has a Kia and when I was talking to the salesman, he urged me to try my kit in the Sportage. I looked and said I didn't think it would fit, but then said I'd try. Guess what, it didn't go in.

It's only once I know it'll take all my stuff that I move to test-driving. Once I stop playing and the kids no longer need stuff moving to uni and back again, I'll change my shopping habits. Until then, no bass, no car!

gord115

AdrianC wrote: »

Kia Sportage - £20-30k soft-roader SUV
-or-
BMW 6-series - £45k+++ exec coupe
And you want to borrow one for a month... in nearly a year's time.

What about a Suzuki Celerio or a Helicopter?

kangoora

JackeeBoy wrote: »

Turned out I could not skip my music forward from the buttons on the steering wheel. Not saying I would have bought the car anyway, but this was a big no for me and something I probably would have missed on a test drive.

Well, looks like you have your essential purchase criteria. All you have to do now is see which of the 2 you are proposing have music fast forward on the steering wheel and then buy that one.

Job done

Mercdriver

JackeeBoy wrote: »

The reason I want something somewhat long-term is to get a real feel for the car. A family friend was look for a quick sell of his Mercedes. I am not a fan at all of one but thought I would give it a test drive (at his request) to see if it would grow on me as I was getting a really good deal. Turned out I could not skip my music forward from the buttons on the steering wheel. Not saying I would have bought the car anyway, but this was a big no for me and something I probably would have missed on a test drive.



Well, thanks all for the replies. I guess I just have to make most of the test drive closer to the time of purchase.

Seriously? The most important aspect is the ability to fast forward or advance a track? The one thing I think should be on the steering wheel which aren't on most cars are safety crucial things like demister buttons.

JackeeBoy

AdrianC wrote: »

Indeed. I cannot understand how the list can come to two so massively different vehicles without having driven either - or any of the myriad of other possible rivals, either direct or indirect.

Quite easy actually. Style and price.

A used 6 series looks good and I can seemingly get a used one for around £30,000. Similar cars in that area such as Audi and Mercedes, I don't like the look of or simply won't touch that brand. In fact, there is no other non SUV car I think I like. Maybe a Ford Focus, but that's it.

If I can't get a 6 Series then I have narrowed the other car to a Kia Sportage. Main reason being it is cheap used and comes with a 7 year warranty. I'm not too fussed about cars so if I can't get my "dream" car, then I'll just settle on the next most practical car for me. In this case, being a Sportage.