Dealer won't let you test drive a car?! Good/bad experiences salespeople

[DownFracture]

So yesterday I went down to the local subi dealer to check out the new Asphalt BRZ they had gotten in. I show up, talk to one of the salespeople there, saying I would like to check out the BRZ. They inform me it's already gone...ok that sucks, but they said they do have an FRS that was just traded in that I can check out. I agreed to check it out, they leave and return saying its being detailed....ok, double suck. I ask about ordering a 2014 brz and/or WRX STI and they say they have no idea when orders open up. I asked if there are any WRXs or STIs in, because I am genuinely interested in buying one of them but I have never had the opportunity to drive one. The salesperson was acting completely annoyed she took me out to a simple wrx (rally blue). We walked around it, she didn't even bother to get the keys or even open it up. I was just thinking WOW!! This is the shittiest experience ever, she made me feel like a burden. I asked if we could take it for a spin so I could check it out. She then said "we only let people test drive these cars that are genuinely going to buy the car". My mouth dropped open, i was flabbergasted. She continues "our buyers don't want lots of miles on their 50,000$ cars when they want to buy the car". I just stared at her with disbelief thinking 50,000$, what car are you talking about? We walk back inside "she then asks would you like to put an order a car"? I looked at her blankly shook my head in sheer amazement and just left.

Pissed off I wanted to check out BMWs Ive always wanted to test drive them but havent had the time. I then headed down to BMW where I had heard salespeople were .....meh.. But I had the best experience ever! I got the royal treatment, the salesperson fantastic, he took the time to show me all the features on their 328 and 335 with M packages. We drove each car for half an hour and he took me out to some sweet twistys and just told me to push as hard as I wanted too, my 5 year daughter was also with me shouting faster Daddy, faster turns! Honestly he let me hammer that 63k$ 335. We were talking about STIs and BRZs as we were driving and an STI happened to pull up at a light next to us. He asked me just have some fun and see if the STI would do a mini drag. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW this street after passing through the light becomes the freeway in Ak so we wouldn't be doing anything ilegal or comepetely stupid. Anyway, we rolled down window gave a rev and they accepted. We both took off hit 65mph and slowed down, the STI barely outran us but barely. Ill take the loss due to the fact it was a brand new clutch for me and I didn't row my gears well. I was just lauging it was a riot.

Just from the experience alone I wanted buy one of the BMWs....and I almost did. My daughter was wondering why we weren't driving it home, she kept telling me that she liked it a lot and we should take it home. It's amazing what a good or bad salesperson will do to impact a buying experience. I just wish I could have had the same experience at the subi dealer, I just won't be buying from that subi dealer ever.

Any really good/bad experiences while purchasing any of your cars?

[monkeedoo]

Good job! A mini drag with daughter in car ,on public streets father of the year maybe

[sho220]

[DownFracture]

Originally Posted by monkeedoo

Good job! A mini drag with daughter in car ,on public streets father of the year maybe

I knew I would get slammed for this. In all reality we just accelerated quickly.

[Crossover Auto]

Every dealer just needs to allocate a car and leave it as a demo strictly for test drives, so people dont have to purchase a car thats been someone's joy ride test drive. Just sell it off when the model year is up at a discount.

[KelvinBRZ]

I've had dealerships swindle the sh*t out of me, but never refused a test drive... had to visit the dealer twice cause the head managers refused to sell me the car at the agreed price, until they gave in two weeks later.

[Gords_zenith]

Originally Posted by monkeedoo

Good job! A mini drag with daughter in car ,on public streets father of the year maybe

Relax, this statement is the reason why NA has become such a nanny state! When I was a kid, my dad drove on hilly roads just so we could play in the back and feel like we were floating.....I'm seemingly still alive and well! Not everyone has to live their life ultra conservative and ultra safe. Where's the joy in that?whats your idea of fun, A theme park that has to wash down rides to be "safer", 2 hour long waits for....what 30-45 seconds of excitement, $200+ for a family day, or would you prefer an innocent acceleration burst that can provide all of that in 10 seconds or less(I am not endorsing organized street racing-but just some fun acceleration sprints), a spirited cruise on never ending roads for fraction of time and money(provided nothing breaks or tickets), or accelerating on a freeway on ramp way beyond what the recommended states but still within the cars limits for some fun? I for one hate the way we have grown as a society, we have safer cars but still have the same speed limits as 50 years ago, out dated driver training(bare minimum and just don't care attitude to improve) and generally a lack of care for the automobile other than its a "A to B" transportation. I'm assuming your a car guy as you bought one of the greatest cars in recent time to enjoy "driving", so a little understanding would much appreciated. Rant over lol.

To the OP good for you, I am glad you have taught your daughter the joys of driving and riding in a car other than "it has this _______(fill in the blank with w.e. technology)" mentality to amuse her and I hope your able to get a BRZ/FRS sooner rather than later to take her more joy rides! Good luck.

[bigsley18]

Wife and I went to a local Subie dealership to test drive the new Forester. Came back and parked next to a BRZ with dealer tags in it. Asked the salesman if I could take it for a spin. He went inside and when he came back, he told me the BRZ was already sold and couldn't locate the keys to the other BRZ on the lot. I would've been fine with him telling me they didn't want me to test drive it. F'em...Ordered one from Heuberger.

[DownFracture]

Originally Posted by Crossover Auto

Every dealer just needs to allocate a car and leave it as a demo strictly for test drives, so people dont have to purchase a car thats been someone's joy ride test drive. Just sell it off when the model year is up at a discount.

That is a really good idea.

I was really surprised, he started both drives showing quick stops, quick accell, 40-60 accell, 50-80 accell, sharp cornering, hard cornering. He pushed the car really hard to show its abilities. When I got in I was initially driving it really tenderly so I wouldn't piss him off. He insisted I really drive the car so I could experience what it could do, he said his customers appreciated the car more after doing test drives like this.

[Lytheum]

Old story, but in 2008 I was looking for an 05/06 gto. I found one over an hour away and they still had it. Took the trip out there and it was immaculate. The thing was 3 years old and had under 5k miles on it. I wanted to take it for a test drive and the salesman kept making excuses. Oh we close in 45 min not enough time to get it out of the showroom. We will have to run your credit before we let you test drive it...etc. Guy didn't want to make a sale...I guarantee I would have left owning that car if they let me drive it. I ended up buying a new 2008.5 mazdaspeed 3 shortly after. As soon as I asked about it the salesman pulled one around and let us drive it. Never mentioned anything about buying one just showed interest.

[Gaiakai]

I went to a nearby Subaru dealership yesterday to check out an SWP BRZ they had, wanted to really see the difference between the interiors of the twins. As I was sitting inside getting a feel for everything, the salesperson asks:

"You want to drive it?"
"Nah, I drive the FRS which is pretty much the same car - so I already know how awesome it is to drive "
"....Say yes - I've never been in this car before..."
"Sure ok yeah let's go"

lol

[SubieNubie]

I was a 3 dealers (1 Scion, 2 Subaru). All let me take one for a spin. At the Scion dealer i just walked on to the lot, and talk to the salesperson for a for a min or two and he grab some key and got it off the display for me then we went. If your seriously looking to buy one, ask for a quote through the website, that way they already know your coming. That's what I did when I was looking for my BRZ. Honestly if they aren't going to let you test drive, tell'em your money is good anywhere and walk away. You don't wanna do business with people like that. Either they wanna sell a car or they don't.

[jeffchap]

My Scion saleman tossed me the keys and didn't even offer to go with me. I asked if he was coming, and he said no, he had a bad back and it was too hard for him to get in and out of. I took it out for a few minutes, and then bought it 3 days later.

[Gords_zenith]

Was going to write something, but you wouldn't understand anyways. Good luck breathing in your bubble wrap!