Do people still test drive new cars?

mightbedave

I've never bought (new or second hand) or leased a car without doing a test drive first. I am about to start leasing a new car as I now need one to get to work, but obviously test drives aren't possible at the moment. Do people generally still do a test drive for a new car or just not bother and assume it will be fine? I feel like it should be fine - I've driven other people's cars and hire cars over the years and never had one where I thought there is no way I could live with this as my own car.

Grumpy_chap

Can you wait a few weeks until test drives are possible again?  I think it is 12th April in England.
Indeed, some dealers offer test drive from home (before purchase).

Penelopa.Pitstop

Depends what car you want to lease. If it's average one, from brand you already know, or some new revolutionary model.

I tested all leased car except one, because it was the same model, different engine. Current one (collected yesterday), was ordered based on reviews and I test drove it in December when dealerships opened for a while.

mightbedave

It’ll be an electric car. So for me it’s a new make, model, fuel. I was thinking that I had never not bought a car due to a bad test drive but just remembered I had. 

Thanks, think I’m convinced I do need to test drive so will wait for dealers to open or get a short term lease to start with. 

jimjames

Yes they do. Son did test drive a couple of weeks ago but was not accompanied

mobileron

Was told by a main dealer they couldnt do a test drive.

AdrianC

mobileron said:

Was told by a main dealer they couldnt do a test drive.

That particular dealer may be choosing not to allow test-drives. Such is their choice. They could choose to do that outside of pandemic conditions, too.

There is nothing in the current pandemic situation legally preventing them from offering test-drives.

Keep_pedalling

mightbedave said:

It’ll be an electric car. So for me it’s a new make, model, fuel. I was thinking that I had never not bought a car due to a bad test drive but just remembered I had. 

Thanks, think I’m convinced I do need to test drive so will wait for dealers to open or get a short term lease to start with. 

If the base price is over £35k you will find your leasing costs have gone up a tad, as the £3k subsidy has vanished in the last few days.

Clouds88

I have just put a deposit down on a car, only £99 and I get to go and have a look at it and test drive it next week. If I dislike it I get my £99 back. That is with skoda so they are happening, just maybe under different circumstances  

jefaz07

I have just bought a car and didn’t have a test drive. It’s was bough on via the internet abs I have 14 days to return if I don’t like it. 

I did read lots of reviews/forums before I bought it...it helped me make my decision. 

BOWFER

Last time I test drove a car was my Nissan Leaf, and that was 4 years ago.
Since then I've had a few cars and never test driven any of them.
Don't have the time and what is the point, really...?
There's no such thing as a 'bad' car these days.
At best we will go to a dealer and check the size of the boot.
We know we're not going to buy from that dealer, we lease off the internet, so I'm not going to waste their time asking for test drive.
I believe it's called 'showrooming'