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

[Whitigir]

The next time someone said "No test drive, you can't afford it!"

Do:

Take a bag of cash 40,000 $ with 1 dollar bills.

Talk to the General Manager, and the President of the Dealer of how you were dis-respected.

Throw those 1$ bill in his/her face, tell her to pick up, as you test drive the car (they did dis-respect u first)

Refuse to buy it over there.

Leave the place in happiness.

Anyways, next time if someone refuse test drive, talk to the General Sale Manager, and they will have trouble, and request another sale-man. They will treat you much difference

[nalc]

I've got mixed feelings on this.

I called ahead asking if the BRZ was available, and I was told yes, and was told to ask specifically for the guy I talked to on the phone when I came in.

I showed up, the salesman was busy so I sat in a 2013 Impreza for a bit goofing around with the seats, checking out the car.

I am not sure if the salesman felt bad because I had to wait, but he pretty much immediately gave me the keys to a silver Premium he had on the lot, and let me take it out with my SO, which sorta surprised me. I guess I don't look like a hooligan, but I am pretty young, and I was wearing jeans and a T-shirt, so I was a little surprised that he was so easygoing with letting me go for a test drive without him, especially since I had just been to a Ford dealer that morning, and he insisted on riding in the front seat of the Focus ST I was driving, making my SO and a tall friend I had brought sit in the tiny back seat.

When I came back two weeks later with intent to buy, I was again able to take the one on the lot out for an unsupervised test drive, this time a GBS Limited. However, after about 10-15 minutes, the salesman called me on my cell phone and politely but firmly asked me to come back (I had only gone a couple miles, but I had hit a number of red lights and stopped in a parking lot to adjust the steering wheel and try to figure out how to change the radio station).

As a car shopper, I was pretty happy with being able to take out a brand new car without hassling, especially since I'm fairly young.

However, when I took delivery of my car (The same one I had driven), it had 41 miles on it. About 8-10 were me on that test drive, and I know the salesman took it to fill up the gas tank, but there was someone else's iPhone saved as the default device in the audio system, so I knew it had been on at least one other test drive, probably a few.

So as a car buyer, I'm fine and dandy with them restricting test drives. I wouldn't want some 18 year old kid dumping the clutch, doing a burnout, bouncing off the rev limiter, and hooning around in my new car before I took delivery. I doubt that much damage could be done in ~30-35 miles, but for all I know some kid could have gone all Tokyo Drift in a parking lot around the corner from the dealership in my car for 15 minutes, and that's not a comforting feeling.

[Timmy_Jones]

Originally Posted by RhafikJaan

off topic.. but how close is the scion frs in the gran turismo 5 game to driving a frs in real life lol... i'v heard from race car drivers that the cars are pretty close to in real life.. just wanted to hear from you guys

In real life the left joystick in the BRZ is a little more touch sensitive, but the gas pedal on the wireless controller is about equal to the BRZ.

Crashing in turn 1 at Laguna Seca also actually hurts people in real life, where in GT5 I ran full speed into the wall and got out of my gaming chair, unscathed.

[Tone]

Went to a local dealer yesterday and they were more than willing to let me test drive either a manual limited or an auto limited. Test drove the auto since I didn't want to destroy their nice new car, but bought the manual! Now I just need to practice, practice, practice.

[Jond63]

Subie dealer I called wouldn't let me test drive either, test and bought an FR-S. Been meaning to call that nice guy back and let him know.

[Jond63]

No, mine was Carter in Ballard.

Congrats on the WR Blue though -- such a beautiful color!

[Turbowned]

Our dealer is pretty good at discouraging those who are just out for joyrides, but we allow test drives if a person says they're seriously considering the car. Might piss a few people off but it doesn't matter because we sell every WRX and BRZ in a matter of days; the demand outstrips the supply significantly.

[awhatzable]

Dealership + young looking guy = no respect given. Ive copped it all. Even once i found a decent saleman, he still owes me a couple of rewards card worth 400. Callled the dealership up to redirect my calls to him, spoke to him and he says he'll send it. Couple month later, called them again to redirect me over to him again. The lady on the phone gave me the biggggggest attitude telling me his not working. Next month called again, she tell me his on a 2 weeks vacation. Its been a month now and im going to try again. Wonder what theyre going to say this time arrgggh. Oh yeah another dealership owe me 100 for a deposit to transfer an 86 to my local dealership and wont oick up his phone no more. They tried to sell me a black 86 with dents all over and i refused lol. They didnt even warn me about the damages before hand aswell. There has not been 1 dealership that ive been too that actually made me feel good about their service. I would tell you guys more stories but this post it becoming to long ...

[KR-S]

Originally Posted by awhatzable

I would tell you guys more stories but this post it becoming to long ...

Why not? You bumped up a two year old thread, so you might as well.

[stugray]

Originally Posted by hanabie

You went to a wrong dealership. Try scion because they have more stocks.
Who the fuck traded frs in for a brz. I seriously have no respects for that kind of owners.
All brz dealers in Ca kept telling me how rare the brz was. I honestly dont give a shit. I can buy either frs or brz. My money is good for either one because I just love both. I finally bought a brz because it was cheaper in my book.

I have a one of the very first BRZ's in the country and have had excellent service at the dealer.
Every single little nitpick I mention gets taken care of. (no engine problems whatsoever)
They even replaced my window scraper seals because I said that water gets in there when I wash it. They said That's normal, but well replace them anyway.


From what I have read the Scion dealer would have told me to eat shit.


I'll keep my BRZ.

[Who8myrice]

Lol you walk into dealership with ur hat backwards, Rays glasses. Looking like 18year old fresh outta high school. Bro I wouldn't want to waste my time test driving bunch of kids who can't buy anything.

[B-R-Z]

I had really good service at my dealer.

Arrived and let the first salesman that acknowledged me know that I wanted to check out a BRZ. The guy shows me one then hands me the keys and says take it for a drive. All he asked was for a copy of my DL. Took it for a 15 minute or so cruise, got back and told him to find me a SWP Limited manual. He said ok he would call me. He also mentioned that if I am visiting other dealers to give him a call before I purchase anything because he will work with me.

2 days later he calls and says one just arrived on a truck that he wasn't aware was on its way and its mine if I want it. I had a price in my head of what I wanted to pay and he accepted with out any trouble.

He followed my request of not drilling the front plate into the bumper, no detailing, I told him to leave the plastic on the seats and all body panels. The day I picked it up it was exactly as I requested and still even had the plastic on the wheels.

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

Originally Posted by stugray

I have a one of the very first BRZ's in the country and have had excellent service at the dealer.
Every single little nitpick I mention gets taken care of. (no engine problems whatsoever)
They even replaced my window scraper seals because I said that water gets in there when I wash it. They said That's normal, but well replace them anyway.


From what I have read the Scion dealer would have told me to eat shit.


I'll keep my BRZ.

Originally Posted by Who8myrice

Lol you walk into dealership with ur hat backwards, Rays glasses. Looking like 18year old fresh outta high school. Bro I wouldn't want to waste my time test driving bunch of kids who can't buy anything.

Originally Posted by B-R-Z

I had really good service at my dealer.

Arrived and let the first salesman that acknowledged me know that I wanted to check out a BRZ. The guy shows me one then hands me the keys and says take it for a drive. All he asked was for a copy of my DL. Took it for a 15 minute or so cruise, got back and told him to find me a SWP Limited manual. He said ok he would call me. He also mentioned that if I am visiting other dealers to give him a call before I purchase anything because he will work with me.

2 days later he calls and says one just arrived on a truck that he wasn't aware was on its way and its mine if I want it. I had a price in my head of what I wanted to pay and he accepted with out any trouble.

He followed my request of not drilling the front plate into the bumper, no detailing, I told him to leave the plastic on the seats and all body panels. The day I picked it up it was exactly as I requested and still even had the plastic on the wheels.

I think most of the issues have been earlier on and at subaru. You have to realize these cars (FR-S, BR-Z, WRXs) all sit on a lot for a long time versus all the other CUVs, minivans etc. So some of the lower volume dealers covet the car and look suspicious at any young car people and wonder if they actually will buy it or waste their time. The toyota dealer I went to literally threw the keys at me and brought the one they had in stock that hasn't been driven by anyone yet. I have a feeling toyota is less stuck up than subaru.

[BRZSS]

My experience little over a month ago was radically different.

I had never been to a Subaru dealership. I had done alot of research prior to going over. It was a toss up between the BRZ, the 4-turbo Mustang, 4 turbo Camaro, or a Genesis. Having come from a GM already I wasn't keen on the GM quality my last car had held up to. Interior falling apart, and the new turbo 4 camaro is a brand new design and first year, untested. The Genesis I couldn't get behind the styling of it and after reading some reviews on their handling charestics I wasn't impressed. I had road raced a 91 miata a few years back and was interested in having a car that handled in the same vein as that again. It came down to a toss up between the mustang and the brz.

I was leaning toward the BRZ but had never driven one or seen on in person. Though having down some research I saw the Hyper Blue color and fell in love with that hue. A nearby dealer had one listed on their site and after doing some research on the dealer and the car in question I took a Saturday and headed up there.

I drove around the lot but didn't see the Hyper Blue out so I parked and got out of the car heading over to the front of the showroom area. They had a pearl white BRZ out front and I wanted to get a look. I'm in my mid 20's and while I wasn't wearing the young look I also wasn't professionally dressed. A man came out to meet me. Introduced himself and asked if I was looking for something in particular. I told him yes it was my understanding they had a BRZ in Hyper Blue. He directed me to the showroom floor where it was on display. I walked in and fell in love with the color in the flesh and proceeded to ask him some probing questions on the car. Letting him offer what he knew of the car and at the same time gently showing I was familar with the vehicle as well.

I made it a note to state "I understand these cars aren't selling well?" He replied it was a niche car. You had to know you wanted a drivers car to be interested in one. It was at this point I knew this man was more knowledge about this car then many of the horror stories I've read on this site.

I asked him the difference between this and a WRX or even the STI? He had the chance to try to swing for an upsale but he simply shook his head and stated they wouldn't handle like this. Yes they would have more get up and go power but that it wouldn't be the same.

He asked if I'd like to take one for a spin, I said yes. We started to walk out to the peral white one outside but he stopped looking into the window and turned to me. "Do you perfer manual?" I said yes. He replied he needed to get another one from around back. The one up front was an auto and he wanted me to enjoy the car the right way. After he got a Asphalt one out from back I hopped in and began to drive. He told me the typcial route they have customers go is straight but instead to turn right at a light. He had a back road with some s curves he'd like me to take the car down so I could get the proper experience to help me decide on the car. We talked a bit during the drive over and I let him know I had raced Miata spec for a bit and after we took the S curves I was delighted with how the car felt. It was like driving the miata all over again, except this one took the corners even harder!

The negotiation process was simple. He gave the first offer below MSRP. I looked it over and said " I'm aware of people buying them for 26,500. I'm not expecting you to sell it that low. Meet me somewhere in the middle of your offer and that number. I know the cars been here for a month. I'm sure you'd like to get it off the lot." It pays to research a car's vin before you show up. He nodded made a phone call to the store owner. THey came back and offered the car at invoice. It was a simple process of getting a fair price on my trade in after that. While they ran the credit score and went to get the BRZ detailed they gave me a ticket to go eat at the next door restaurant for up to 30 dollars. I had salmon and potato soup.

Having come back from lunch the car was ready. It took an hour to go over the typical finance spiel. Extended Warranty this, extra coverage that. No no and no. Once all the T's were crossed and the I's dotted I was presented my new car. The salesman went over the car in detail describing and showing ever function. I was given 4 years of complimentary service. Oil changes, filter changes, brake changes, tire rotations. The full package. And after shaking hands I left. That sales person has called me twice now in the past month just checking in to make sure I was still happy with my purchase and if their was anything they could do for me.

I am extremely impressed by the customer service I received and am still receiving.

I guess there are a few good places out there eh?