Today I get up and decide I want to test drive an 00 s2000. Since I have joined here I have not driven an S2000 at all. I am just drawn to the car for some reason I can not explain. It must be the love that all you owners share for your S2000. I have driven the Prelude and a 350Z without any problems. But for some reason this guy at the dealership thought I was some punk kid that wanted a free test drive. He honestly thought I was not intrested in buying the car. I told him my situation and he told me to come back when I was ready to buy the car. The guy at the nissian dealership no questions at all, let me do whatever I want in the car(within limits of course). The other Honda dealership I went to did not have any s2000s but it had the 2000 prelude. I was sooo mad. I told him he just lost a sale. And I will be driving down to NYC to buy my s2000. He then changed his mind but I had just walked out. Has this happened to you. I would understand BMW and Porsche. But not Honda. Sigh gonna have to wait a while before I can drive an s2000. 8(

 

I've test driven 4 different s2k's at 3 different dealerships. its all about how you present yourself. dont dress in ghetto style. maybe a shirt and tie and some nice shoes to make yourself look like you just got off of work. i did that 3 out of 4 times and got a test drive on all of em. i was genuinely interested in buying the car however. it also helps if the dealer is having a slow sales day and u see a lot of the sales people on the lot in a group doing nothing.

also a side note, i wanted to test drive an Evolution MR on friday and he said he doesnt let anyone test drive it. i didnt know why until i saw the price tag. 46k. ridiculous. it had a markup of 10,000. no wonder.

 

I have test driven dozens of new cars and purchase a new car every few years. I have excellent credit and little need for automobile salesmen. Like you, I had some difficulty getting So. California dealers to let me drive a new S2K, but I was persistent. I encountered the greatest difficulty, early on, when I was considering the car for a future purchase and was straight with the salesman that I did not plan to buy an S for a while. I looked at the S for about three-years and test-drove new S2Ks four-times over that time-period (two 03s and two 05s), as I made up my mind about the car. Even with excellent credit, I was never able to test-drive an S without the salesman in the passenger seat. I didn't care that he was there, except that I wanted to take my son along on the test-drive. The last two times I test-drove the S were in late 04 and early 05, as I made my final decision about the purchase. In the end, I got my 05 in late January and had no surprizes because of the research and test-drive opportunities. Good Luck and let'em know you won't buy a car that you haven't had an opportunity to fully evaluate ... including a test-drive.

 

It all depends on the salesperson, in my experience.

If the salesperson doesn't think you're genuinely interested in buying or that you can't afford to buy the car, you're probably not going to get a test drive. I've found this can have a lot to do with what you're wearing, what you drive, and how you act. It's not right, but that's how it is.

 

It doesn't hurt to call ahead and arrange a time for a test drive. Makes you look like you mean business.

 

Calling ahead will almost always land you a test drive. If it got me (at 19 years old) into a Carerra S, I think it'll work for you and the S2000.

If you just show up, the way you dress and approach the situation will make all the difference. Tell them you are planning to buy in the next week, and that they are the first manufacturer out of a few you're considering. It doesn't matter what cars you are ACTUALLY considering, tell them you are weighing the car on their lot against some higher-end cars. When I test drove my S2000, I told the dealer I was also looking at the C6 and Boxster S. Figure out everything you are going to say before you get there.

Salesmen usually work straight commission. If they had to let kids test drive cars they couldn't afford all day, they'd never get paid. Sometimes you have to stretch the truth a bit, even if you really might buy the car.

 

I was dressed pretty neatly. I wear alot of button downs and kakhis. I really dont have a credit history. I am only 18. I will try calling ahead. Thanks for the advice. I think its a good deal on the s2000 as well. Its an 00 for 17K with 58K on it. But its pearl white 8(. I want spa yellow soooo bad. I might bring along one of my parents next time. Do you think that will help out? I might look like a spoiled rich kid though.

 

don't stress too much over it. i went to test drive a 350z in a 02 M3 and they also declined, so I got an S2000

 

Sh@t happens. We got that same reaction from a Nissan dealer when me and a buddy went to go test drive an Altima. This was when they first came out and we were kinda interested in what it could do.

Both of us were in biz casual dress. My buddy drove us there, in his fixed-up MB CLK320. Proper English etc....and still no dice.

 

The first time I test drove an S when I asked if I could drive it the salesman had to go ask his manager. They weren't going to let me drive it till they saw my other ride (brand new at the time, 04 Accord EX V6 6Spd) Then suddenly they changed their minds. It was a nice red S but unfortunately they f*ed it up by putting wheels and tires that threw off the handling. I feel bad for whoever bought that car. 2nd time was no prob. and the third time was also smooth. The salesman didn't ride with me either. I've noticed that the kind of car you drive to the lot says alot, so even if you have to borrow someone elses' ride, if it's nice, it's instant respect.