I had no problems arranging a test drive...why do others?
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Portland
I keep wanting to do that to a local scumbag dealer who told me that there wasnt going to be an 01 S2000... this was the SALES MANAGER telling me this, as well as telling me that he wouldnt go below 42000 for a new one because the car would sell to someone else for that price...
I feel like going back now (I ended up getting a used 00) and telling him that he was full of crap (there is an 01 in his showroom floor). Also, would like to tell him that while I dont really know which dealer to recommend for Honda, I know which dealer to NOT recommend...
but, alas he probably wouldnt care as long as he gets his paycheck. The few people I convince to not shop there probably wont make that manager sleepless at night...
I feel like going back now (I ended up getting a used 00) and telling him that he was full of crap (there is an 01 in his showroom floor). Also, would like to tell him that while I dont really know which dealer to recommend for Honda, I know which dealer to NOT recommend...
but, alas he probably wouldnt care as long as he gets his paycheck. The few people I convince to not shop there probably wont make that manager sleepless at night...
Originally posted by Tedow
I had to do some serious legwork before I got a ride in my stook. When I went to the local Honda dealership (Gary Smith Honda) to test drive their '00 White/Red, they flat out refused. Apparently, "they only let people who are serious contenders to buy the car test drive it." Excuse me? I know I'm a young guy, (therefore I obviously could never dream of owning a car like that) and I understand there's a lot of people just looking for a joy ride, but if they'd just explained the situation rather than make an assumption based on appearance, they might have made a sale. Well, prolly not, b/c they were asking $37,500 for last year's model with 8k miles on it, but that's not the point
. So, mildly torqued off, I drove an hour to Pensacola and bought a brand new red one for considerably less money (though I still had to jump through some hoops to get the test drive.) With my mission accomplished, I then drove back by Gary Smith in my brand new baby and told them my story. They didn't have much to say. Even better, they still hadn't sold that white one a month later 
. Ahhh, revenge is sweet. Sorry for the rant...I feel much better now.
I had to do some serious legwork before I got a ride in my stook. When I went to the local Honda dealership (Gary Smith Honda) to test drive their '00 White/Red, they flat out refused. Apparently, "they only let people who are serious contenders to buy the car test drive it." Excuse me? I know I'm a young guy, (therefore I obviously could never dream of owning a car like that) and I understand there's a lot of people just looking for a joy ride, but if they'd just explained the situation rather than make an assumption based on appearance, they might have made a sale. Well, prolly not, b/c they were asking $37,500 for last year's model with 8k miles on it, but that's not the point
. So, mildly torqued off, I drove an hour to Pensacola and bought a brand new red one for considerably less money (though I still had to jump through some hoops to get the test drive.) With my mission accomplished, I then drove back by Gary Smith in my brand new baby and told them my story. They didn't have much to say. Even better, they still hadn't sold that white one a month later . Ahhh, revenge is sweet. Sorry for the rant...I feel much better now.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 407
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From: Pleasanton
I test drove a Z3, Boxster, 911, 'Vette AND a Viper, but for the life of me, I could not find anyone who would let me test drive an S2000... I actually had a hard time finding a place that would let me SIT in one... I still bought the very first one off the showroom floor...
The Z3, Boxster and 911 were by myself too. The Viper was the second hardest to get out for a ride, but that diddn't take long either, since I think the sales dude wanted to take it for a spin too...
I'm 32.
Go figure.
The Z3, Boxster and 911 were by myself too. The Viper was the second hardest to get out for a ride, but that diddn't take long either, since I think the sales dude wanted to take it for a spin too...
I'm 32.
Go figure.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 279
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From: NW DC
The first dealer I went to had three S2000s on the lot but wouldnt let me take one for a test drive because he said that the people who came in looking for S2000s wanted as close to zero miles on them. He was kind of apolgetic about it and he seemed to think it was a pretty ridiculous idea that a car would have 0 mi as well. I ended up buying a used one for a much better deal anyway the next day from a place that was happy to let me test drive it.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,370
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From: Vancouver, WA USA
When I picked up my 2000 S2000 at the dealer the day they came out in 1999 I had phoned ahead to let them know I was coming in, we even agreed on a price. When I walked in with my wife they saw a 26 year old (then) and nothing much more, didn't matter that my wife and I pull in a good salary. I literally saw the guys face drop. When I asked for a test drive he told me only if I were going to buy it (how exactly does this work). We ended up buying their first S2000 off the lot sneaking under a pair of 50+ couples. I got to test drive it after I paid for it, got the keys and was sent on my way (from the dealership with the car)...
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 51,814
Likes: 5
From: par•a•dox
No test drives were available when I bought mine. That was the dealerships policy, not the salesmans call. The salesmen weren't allowed to drive them either. Lead mechanic and managers only were allowed to drive them. First time I took it in for service they waited for a manager to come out and drive it over to the head mechanic.
At that same dealership you CAN now make an appointment to test drive one.
At that same dealership you CAN now make an appointment to test drive one.
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