Test driving a car you have no intention of buying.

JackeeBoy

What are your thoughts on this? I was once getting my car serviced and asked one of the sales guys if I could sit in a Mustang as it was my dream car. Based on this alone, he laucbhed into full sales mode and asked me I was interested in buying one. "yes", I replied but said it probably within 20 years time. Seriously.

He spoke about the finance options, etc. and I got in for a test drive. Great experience but not buying as I have other financial priorities. On this occasion, I was offered the opportunity to drive the car and it was great experiencing something other than a Fiesta.

When there is a car you are very unlikely to drive because of your financial or otherwise position, but you wish to experience it even if its just for 19 minutes. Do you think it's a big no no requesting to test drive a car you have absolutely no intentions of buying?

[Deleted User]

Sort of. Test drove a car that I was thinking about buying if the deal was right but wouldn't have bought on the day as I would have liked to think it over first. The pushy sales guy was very eager to get me in the car for a test drive so I did. He was very disappointed when I said I'd need to think about it before putting a deposit down. His fault as I didn't go there intending to test drive.

Mutton_Geoff

JackeeBoy wrote: »

Do you think it's a big no no requesting to test drive a car you have absolutely no intentions of buying?

Not if the business takes a wider view. Despite you not being able to afford it today, I bet you'd recommend that dealer to friends for service/sales etc.


Word of mouth recommendation is extremely powerful. And who knows, you might come into some money and be straight back there to buy one.

Richard53

If you're offered a test drive by the dealer, you're free to take it or not as you please. I've had many test rides offered and taken by my local bike shop. I once went in for some brake grease for a Suzuki and came out with a nearly-new Ducati.


If you ask for a test drive, knowing full well you are not thinking of buying, I would say that was a bit of a poor show.

fred246

I had a university friend who used to regularly test drive prestige cars when he was a student. There was no way he could afford one. It was seen as a symptom of a psychiatric problem that he had treatment for. He drives an Aston Martin now.

prowla

I suppose it depends on whether you have the time to waste.

waamo

Instead of paying expensive hire fees book a 4 day test drive and save on costs when needing to hire a car.

Aretnap

Many years ago, when I was a penniless student, my local Rolls Royce dealership must have got me confused with an important person, because I got a letter offering me a free lunch at Jackie Stewart's (5 star) Gleneagles Hotel if I would go and test drive a Rolls Royce. Or a free weekend if I actually bought one.

Alas I was away from home and couldn't take up the offer, but I would definitely have gone for the test drive and the lunch had I been able.

onwards&upwards

I plan to do some test drives soon of about 3 or 4 different cars.

I’ll be upfront and say I’m doing it to choose between them, so won’t be buying that day.

Hopefully they won’t mind that!

Sea_Shell

We've done this numerous times, but not with anything flashy, or completely out of our league!!!

Basically, if we want to test a particular model / engine spec, we'll find one to have a go in, but this might not necessarily be the trim level or colour we actually want.

Obviously, you don't tell the garage that, you tell them what they want to hear....but then you have to be able to "walk away" and not get sucked into buying something you don't want!!

We usually have a "plan of last resort" which is me playing "wifey" and deciding I don't really like that colour after all. Can't buy something wifey doesn't like, can we??!!

daveyjp

I've arranged a test drive and before the engine has started decided I wasn't going to buy due to terrible ergonomics.

I took a test drive anyway just to confirm how bad it was.