credit report? for test drive
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 193
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From: Ann Arbor
Gang,
There are a few misconceptions + right thoughts on this thread. Let me see if I can clear up / confirm a couple:
1. Your beacon score (commonly known as your "credit score") decreases temporarily (for about 90 days) by about 10 points every time there is a lender inquiry into your score. For e.g. if you request a credit report on yourself, that wouldn't have any effect. However, if the dealer "shops you" with say three lenders to get you bought, your beacon score to third lender would actually be lower.
2. The dealer in this instance is in fact trying to qualify you as a "live one" i.e. someone who is A) interested in the car (which you pretty much demonstrated in your experience), and B) can afford the car. This practice happens a lot in stores that have super cheap econo cars (almost 100% in Kia and Suzuki stores in urban locations). Sadly, there is a fair amount of "profiling" and judgemental behaviors that occur in this process.
3. I, too, have purchased two S2000, both sight-unseen let alone had the chance to drive them before signing away. Mind you that is not somethign I recommed for eveyone as I was relying on my business contacts and somewhat trusted sources for these cars. But I do agree that in certain cases, you could apply a lot of faith to this.
4. I have showed up in torn jeans and a Tigers baseball hat to buy my Porsche. Can you guess what happened? Never even got as much as a hello from anyone on the showroom floor. When I ended up buying my 996 through wholesaler, I drove the car back to the first store and stopped one of the sales guys smoking outside. I asked him to get his sales manager out here and told him I did not have time to get out of the car. I politely explained to him why I didn't buy the car and told him the names (from their name tags) of the two sales guys that stared me in the eye while I was standing in their showroom for 15 minutes looking for assistance
He was ticked!!! If nothing else, it was a very emotionally-satisfying experience!!!
There are a few misconceptions + right thoughts on this thread. Let me see if I can clear up / confirm a couple:
1. Your beacon score (commonly known as your "credit score") decreases temporarily (for about 90 days) by about 10 points every time there is a lender inquiry into your score. For e.g. if you request a credit report on yourself, that wouldn't have any effect. However, if the dealer "shops you" with say three lenders to get you bought, your beacon score to third lender would actually be lower.
2. The dealer in this instance is in fact trying to qualify you as a "live one" i.e. someone who is A) interested in the car (which you pretty much demonstrated in your experience), and B) can afford the car. This practice happens a lot in stores that have super cheap econo cars (almost 100% in Kia and Suzuki stores in urban locations). Sadly, there is a fair amount of "profiling" and judgemental behaviors that occur in this process.
3. I, too, have purchased two S2000, both sight-unseen let alone had the chance to drive them before signing away. Mind you that is not somethign I recommed for eveyone as I was relying on my business contacts and somewhat trusted sources for these cars. But I do agree that in certain cases, you could apply a lot of faith to this.
4. I have showed up in torn jeans and a Tigers baseball hat to buy my Porsche. Can you guess what happened? Never even got as much as a hello from anyone on the showroom floor. When I ended up buying my 996 through wholesaler, I drove the car back to the first store and stopped one of the sales guys smoking outside. I asked him to get his sales manager out here and told him I did not have time to get out of the car. I politely explained to him why I didn't buy the car and told him the names (from their name tags) of the two sales guys that stared me in the eye while I was standing in their showroom for 15 minutes looking for assistance
He was ticked!!! If nothing else, it was a very emotionally-satisfying experience!!!
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,051
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From: Monrovia, CA
copying your driver license is merely for insurance purposes also to tell the manager who we're out with in case something happens- like someone stealing a car from us. We won't be able to run your credit report without your SS number and also your signed authorization.
Jonstains, call me up so we can shedule a test drive.
Jonstains, call me up so we can shedule a test drive.
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 19,734
Likes: 247
I can't really say my experiences have been as bad as anyone elses. When I bought my Acura, the salesman was a bit cold, but he's just that type of person. However, they let me testdrive without a problem. Financing was a bit harder, as they wanted a LOT up front (I had no credit history outside of two credit cards), but not too bad.
When I bought my Accord a month ago, I went in with my wife and the salesman was excellent. He let me testdrive whatever I wanted (I only took two cars out) for as long as I wanted. Of course, I had my wife with me which is a big help since they think that a) you are financially stable if you're married (in general), b) you're a responsible car driver and owner (hard to drive hard with the wife beside you, in many cases).
As it turned out, that's exactly what the salesman said later. His words were "You look and act like you are responsible and take care of your cars - I'm recommending that my Dad buy your trade-in". I do take care of them, but the trade-in actually needed some work to make it "perfect"...which they knew, yet they still gave me a great deal on it. They practically met my bottom (and non-negotiable) offer the first time around ($120 higher) - no BS, no wasting time. We had to wait to sign off with the finance guy so our salesman took us to EVERY car in the showroom (except the Accord, which we'd already seen as we bought one) and explained all of the features and technology. Great experience.
I doubt they'd let me testdrive an S2000, but the overall experience was very good. Immediate attention from the (overworked) sales staff and excellent communication throughout (took me three days to change over insurance and arrange for financing).
I just hope the dealership back home is as good when I move back in September. My Mom and ex-boss go there and opinions are mixed.
When I bought my Accord a month ago, I went in with my wife and the salesman was excellent. He let me testdrive whatever I wanted (I only took two cars out) for as long as I wanted. Of course, I had my wife with me which is a big help since they think that a) you are financially stable if you're married (in general), b) you're a responsible car driver and owner (hard to drive hard with the wife beside you, in many cases).
As it turned out, that's exactly what the salesman said later. His words were "You look and act like you are responsible and take care of your cars - I'm recommending that my Dad buy your trade-in". I do take care of them, but the trade-in actually needed some work to make it "perfect"...which they knew, yet they still gave me a great deal on it. They practically met my bottom (and non-negotiable) offer the first time around ($120 higher) - no BS, no wasting time. We had to wait to sign off with the finance guy so our salesman took us to EVERY car in the showroom (except the Accord, which we'd already seen as we bought one) and explained all of the features and technology. Great experience.
I doubt they'd let me testdrive an S2000, but the overall experience was very good. Immediate attention from the (overworked) sales staff and excellent communication throughout (took me three days to change over insurance and arrange for financing).
I just hope the dealership back home is as good when I move back in September. My Mom and ex-boss go there and opinions are mixed.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 54
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From: McLean
A few years back, I received a neat brochure from Honda Motors. It was a card with a 'START' button that actually made the engine start noise. With the brochure, there was a letter mentioning an opportunity for a test drive. I took the letter to FAIRFAX Honda in Virginia. At FAIRFAX honda, the manager informed me that a test drive would only be allowed after a credit report AND signing an agreement to buy the car upon test drive. After debating over FAIRFAX honda's test drive policy for the S2000, I walked out. I did call the Mid-Atlantic Honda Customer service, and they were not able to help me at all. A few weeks later, I purchased a German car.
When the 2002 S2k's started showing up, I began to consider the S2000 again. I did not want to deal with a honda dealer so I went to CARMAX and test drove a used S2000. Having been impressed, I went to College Park Honda, and purchased my new 02 S2k with 10miles on the odometer.
If you are in the NoVa area, please avoid FAIRFAX Honda.
I would recommend Hendricks Honda in Woodbridge and College Park Honda in College Park, MD.
When the 2002 S2k's started showing up, I began to consider the S2000 again. I did not want to deal with a honda dealer so I went to CARMAX and test drove a used S2000. Having been impressed, I went to College Park Honda, and purchased my new 02 S2k with 10miles on the odometer.
If you are in the NoVa area, please avoid FAIRFAX Honda.
I would recommend Hendricks Honda in Woodbridge and College Park Honda in College Park, MD.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 299
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From: Erehwon
When I bought mine in 1999, the dealer kept the one S2000 that he had in the garage, and no one was allowed to drive it. There was a long waiting list at that time (that I was not on) and the only reason that I was able to get an S2000 at all, was that my wife showed up, ready to pay cash, just after the person at the top of the waiting list called to say that they could not get a loan. We purchased the S2000 without having ever driven one and we were happy to get one that had never been taken for a test drive.
For some of us on this board it was more important to get an S2000 that had never been driven, than to get to test drive one ourselves. I realize that in 2002 the situation may have changed, but in my case, if I had insisted on a test drive, the dealer would have simply called the next person on the waiting list.
For some of us on this board it was more important to get an S2000 that had never been driven, than to get to test drive one ourselves. I realize that in 2002 the situation may have changed, but in my case, if I had insisted on a test drive, the dealer would have simply called the next person on the waiting list.
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 80
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From: Woodbury
I remember my first S2K test drive -
The salesman didn't want to let me drive it --- he said "how do I know you'll buy the car"
I said "how will you know if you don't let me drive it?"
Of course that was at Richfield Bloomington Honda in Minnesota ----- they suck... don't buy anything from them.
My second S2K I didn't drive until I was leaving the showroom with it.
Don't let dealers "try to qualify" you with mindless BS about how they have to "make sure you can buy the car"
Even Subaru dealers do this with WRX buyers --- they dont want people beating on their cars.
What they dont realize is that some people are genuinely interested in buying the car
The salesman didn't want to let me drive it --- he said "how do I know you'll buy the car"
I said "how will you know if you don't let me drive it?"
Of course that was at Richfield Bloomington Honda in Minnesota ----- they suck... don't buy anything from them.
My second S2K I didn't drive until I was leaving the showroom with it.
Don't let dealers "try to qualify" you with mindless BS about how they have to "make sure you can buy the car"
Even Subaru dealers do this with WRX buyers --- they dont want people beating on their cars.
What they dont realize is that some people are genuinely interested in buying the car
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 417
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From: Austin
According to www.carbuyingtips.com, a dealership that runs a credit check on you w/o your permission can be fined $2500 by the FTC. I'm guessing that this was a rampant problem in the past (dealers asking for your info before a test drive, then running a credit check while you were out to see what you could really afford).
