Do people still test drive new cars?

Biggus_Dickus

BOWFER said:

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'

It depends on the individual of course but I’ve always been of the opinion that it’s prudent to check out (to some degree at least!) any product that I’m considering purchasing. The larger the financial commitment the larger the degree of prudence required, imo.

A few years ago I arranged a test-drive of a newly released model of a German saloon car. I’d more or less made up my mind to buy the particular model based solely on the pre-sales advertising blurb and the test drive was just to affirm my pre-conceived decision.

When the new model finally arrived at the dealers I took the car on an extensive test drive,...and for the price what a huge disappointment it was,...there was nothing to like about the car and lots to dislike intensely, imho of course.

Later that same day I test-drove a saloon (that had originally been my 2nd choice) from a competing German manufacturer,...it was like chalk and cheese,...loved the car after the test drive and that’s the one I went for,...and a great car it turned out to be, btw.

 

 

BOWFER

Biggus_Dickus said:

BOWFER said:

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'

It depends on the individual of course but I’ve always been of the opinion that it’s prudent to check out (to some degree at least!) any product that I’m considering purchasing. The larger the financial commitment the larger the degree of prudence required, imo.

A few years ago I arranged a test-drive of a newly released model of a German saloon car. I’d more or less made up my mind to buy the particular model based solely on the pre-sales advertising blurb and the test drive was just to affirm my pre-conceived decision.

When the new model finally arrived at the dealers I took the car on an extensive test drive,...and for the price what a huge disappointment it was,...there was nothing to like about the car and lots to dislike intensely, imho of course.

Later that same day I test-drove a saloon (that had originally been my 2nd choice) from a competing German manufacturer,...it was like chalk and cheese,...loved the car after the test drive and that’s the one I went for,...and a great car it turned out to be, btw.

 

 

If you've got the time to test drive two cars, and can find two cars of the proper spec to test drive, great.
But I often find dealers don't have the spec I want to drive anyway, even if I had the time!
What's the point in test driving a 1.2 Polo when you're looking at a Gti, for example (or vice versa)??
All I can say is we've bought at half a dozen new cars, at least, with no form of test drive and liked them all.
It's not like we go in totally blind, I consult all sorts of media to make sure they drive well etc.
Youtube tests, magazine tests, owner tests etc.etc.

born_again

AdrianC said:

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

Except that they are not allowed to be open.
So how can a closed retailer offer test drives, as that would require them to be open.

sheramber

Cars can be delivered to the buyers house and a test drive done from there.
Or they  can meet somewhere and do a test drive from there.

AdrianC

born_again said:

AdrianC said:

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

Except that they are not allowed to be open.
So how can a closed retailer offer test drives, as that would require them to be open.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry-news/covid-guidance-car-dealers-can-offer-test-drives-during-lockdown
Article dated 23rd Feb 2021.

TadleyBaggie

I leased a car last year (BMW), until the car turned up on my drive I'd never sat in one.

Biggus_Dickus

sheramber said:

Cars can be delivered to the buyers house and a test drive done from there.
Or they  can meet somewhere and do a test drive from there.

“Customers must, however, have placed a deposit first online or over the phone before taking the car for a test drive.”

¯\_( ツ)_/¯

AdrianC

No minimum amount. Could be 1p. Could be refundable.

BOWFER

TadleyBaggie said:

I leased a car last year (BMW), until the car turned up on my drive I'd never sat in one.

And can you think of a single thing that, had you test drove one, would have made you change your mind?
I can't, with the cars we've leased recently.
Kia Sportage, Seat Mii, Polo 1.0tsi, Polo Gti, RR Evoque - all leased without having driven one.

Johnmcl7

I wouldn't buy a car without a test drive and walked away from dealers (before the pandemic) who wouldn't allow one.  There's cars I thought were the right one for me but didn't like them when test driving and there's others I've test drove that I didn't' think were for me but bought them after enjoying a test drive.