Pre-purchase test drive?
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: royal oak
Guernsey, my experience was similar to your's. I've never encountered any problems taking various cars for test drives here in the Detroit area. Before I found an S2K available locally, I'd driven an M-Roadster at a BMW dealer, and a Boxster (not an S) at a local Porsche outlet. Neither of these dealers blinked when I asked for an unescorted test drive. When I finally found an S2K available, the Honda dealer was equally willing, although he joined me as a passenger. As in your experience, they had to open up the showroom to let me out, but did it without hesitation. I drove all of these cars fairly hard, and kept them out for 20 to 30 minutes. Maybe Detroit's market is more competitive in general, but I can't believe that dealers elsewhere actually act that uncooperative regarding test drives.
My guess is that a 30-something white guy driving a reasonably nice, fairly late-model car gets a free pass. Racism, classism and sexism obviously rear their ugly heads in these situations. For the record, I dress like a criminal, and was driving a not-particularly-impressive '95 Trans Am when I showed up at these dealers unannounced. I'm not sure what conclusions to draw here, but the advice others have shared (be aggressive; don't take "no" for an answer) seems good.
Good luck.
My guess is that a 30-something white guy driving a reasonably nice, fairly late-model car gets a free pass. Racism, classism and sexism obviously rear their ugly heads in these situations. For the record, I dress like a criminal, and was driving a not-particularly-impressive '95 Trans Am when I showed up at these dealers unannounced. I'm not sure what conclusions to draw here, but the advice others have shared (be aggressive; don't take "no" for an answer) seems good.
Good luck.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,349
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From: Ocean City
Originally posted by bguernsey
[B
I suppose the following helped:
A. I was dressed well when I showed up
B. I brought my wife
C. I drove another convertible car
D. I called/emailed in advance and spoke to my dealer
E. I signed my email with my job title to seem richer and more important than I am hahaha
[/B]
[B
I suppose the following helped:
A. I was dressed well when I showed up
B. I brought my wife
C. I drove another convertible car
D. I called/emailed in advance and spoke to my dealer
E. I signed my email with my job title to seem richer and more important than I am hahaha
[/B]
I thought it was funny because when they denied me credit to buy it at a grand total of 39,980(I dont want to talk about it) I left for 30 min and came back with a 37,000$ check and said will this do? The guy nearly fell out of his seat, lol.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 153
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From: Houston
When I went to the dealer I wouldn't even LOOK at the car on the showroom floor. I was already lusting after it so much I was afraid I would pay anything right then and there just to drive it home.
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