Question About Test Driving

esp260 · 05-22-2015, 09:23 PM

I already placed an order on a 228i but I am still interested in test driving other vehicles as well out of curiosity (M235i, CLA250, etc.)

My question is: what do most of you guys do when you ask to test drive (pretend you are purchasing or be honest)? Are most salesman willing to let you test drive if you are not looking to purchase the vehicle? How hard can the cars be driven during a test drive? During most of mine, I drove conservatively but occasionally floored it.

Thanks!

drexplode · 05-22-2015, 09:30 PM

Just be honest - tell him/her you are cross shopping other brands. If you like the car when you return from a test drive then discuss pricing.

Merc for hire · 05-22-2015, 09:45 PM

If you told them the honest truth, then they might still think there is a chance you will like the new car so much to make you cancel the order and buy this one.

pikcachu · 05-22-2015, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esp260

I already placed an order on a 228i but I am still interested in test driving other vehicles as well out of curiosity (M235i, CLA250, etc.)

My question is: what do most of you guys do when you ask to test drive (pretend you are purchasing or be honest)? Are most salesman willing to let you test drive if you are not looking to purchase the vehicle? How hard can the cars be driven during a test drive? During most of mine, I drove conservatively but occasionally floored it.

Thanks!

Ya tell them you are cross shopping... if you tell them you are for sure not buying it will be a turn off for them... and just making them lose their time

how hard you can drive depends on the SA.... it's not like you are buying a Chevy Spark... they will usually let you have some fun

OpenAir · 05-22-2015, 10:28 PM

I'm always honest...spent two years looking at Porsche, Audi and BMW. I was almost on a first name basis and drove everything under the sun.

Cyberdemon · 05-23-2015, 12:14 AM

You don't need to say what you are interested in or not. Tell them you came to the dealer to test drive the car, and drive it.

Once you are done with the test drive it is up to you to get out of there without paperwork shoved down your throat.

mfourn20 · 05-23-2015, 12:45 AM

My BMW salesman told me to drive anything on the lot I wanted even cars we both knew I couldn't afford, like an M5. I didn't take him up on his offer but he said to come back anytime I'm curious or have an itch. He knew I am a car guy and am just plain interested in everything except the SUVs/CUVs.

esp260 · 05-23-2015, 03:23 AM

Thanks for the advice! I've been getting a impatient lately waiting to take delivery of my 228i and have been hitting the dealerships on my free time to browse other vehicles. I think I made a good decision, I really hope test driving other cars will not make me regret my decision (especially if I end up test driving a 235i).

mfourn20 · 05-23-2015, 04:46 AM

Make sure to check out the new england threads..a bunch of us are trying to get together!

G-Mann · 05-23-2015, 09:11 AM

If you have absolutely no intentions of buying, while they are jerking around with you they could be missing out on a potential sale and commission from another client.

I certainly would not lead them on but would just share enough information so that we could make arrangements during non peak hours that worked best for them for the test drives.

Sportstick · 05-23-2015, 02:30 PM

Test driving a MB CLA250 will make you feel incredibly wonderful about getting a 2 Series, but the same could be said for a new Honda Accord owner. Or, don't waste your time on probably the most incompetent product MB has produced in a long time.

Dattebayo · 05-23-2015, 02:38 PM

Just because you ordered a car, that doesn't mean it is set in stone. Tell them the car you are interested in and the salesman would want to take you out on a drive to win you over, cancel your order, and bring your business there. Heck if you cancelled the order on the BMW, they have to give you your deposit back anyways. Till you signed the papers and taken the car off the lot, you aren't stuck with it.

Brookside · 05-23-2015, 09:27 PM

I try to drive a bunch of cars on the same day- to get a comparison between models that potentially I'm interested in. Drove an A3 then an S3, then both 2-series.

The 228i was the big surprise.
I'm going back to my dealer and do the 2's again to make up my mind.

Both Audi and BMW dealers were very accommodating. No pressure from either place. The audi guys let me have the car for an hour to drive it back to my house, show it off of course and drive it back.

Lovely car to look at. Horrible turbo lag in city driving.

Bottomline- an extended drive over roads you're familiar with- the ones you travel everyday, I think , is ideal.

05-22-2015, 09:23 PM	#1
esp260 Private First Class 53 Rep 187 Posts Drives: 228i Msport 6MT Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (0)	Question About Test Driving I already placed an order on a 228i but I am still interested in test driving other vehicles as well out of curiosity (M235i, CLA250, etc.) My question is: what do most of you guys do when you ask to test drive (pretend you are purchasing or be honest)? Are most salesman willing to let you test drive if you are not looking to purchase the vehicle? How hard can the cars be driven during a test drive? During most of mine, I drove conservatively but occasionally floored it. Thanks!
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05-22-2015, 09:30 PM	#2
drexplode Brigadier General 1781 Rep 3,063 Posts Drives: G26 i4x Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Walled Lake Michigan iTrader: (17)	Just be honest - tell him/her you are cross shopping other brands. If you like the car when you return from a test drive then discuss pricing.
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05-22-2015, 09:45 PM	#3
Merc for hire First Lieutenant 157 Rep 387 Posts Drives: M235i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0)	If you told them the honest truth, then they might still think there is a chance you will like the new car so much to make you cancel the order and buy this one.
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05-22-2015, 10:28 PM	#5
OpenAir Captain 432 Rep 887 Posts Drives: Enzo F23 228i Join Date: May 2015 Location: MD, USA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2015 BMW 228i [0.00]	I'm always honest...spent two years looking at Porsche, Audi and BMW. I was almost on a first name basis and drove everything under the sun.
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05-23-2015, 12:14 AM	#6
Cyberdemon Brigadier General 1538 Rep 3,331 Posts Drives: 2020 X5 40i, 2018 M3 Comp Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Island NY iTrader: (3)	You don't need to say what you are interested in or not. Tell them you came to the dealer to test drive the car, and drive it. Once you are done with the test drive it is up to you to get out of there without paperwork shoved down your throat. __________________ Current: '20 X5, '18 M3 ZCP Previous: '11 E90 335i, '11 E90 M3, '16 VW GTI, '15 M235i, '13 335i, '08 TL-S, '00 Corvette
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05-23-2015, 12:45 AM	#7
mfourn20 First Lieutenant 52 Rep 321 Posts Drives: 228i M Sport Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Warwick, RI USA iTrader: (0)	My BMW salesman told me to drive anything on the lot I wanted even cars we both knew I couldn't afford, like an M5. I didn't take him up on his offer but he said to come back anytime I'm curious or have an itch. He knew I am a car guy and am just plain interested in everything except the SUVs/CUVs.
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05-23-2015, 03:23 AM	#8
esp260 Private First Class 53 Rep 187 Posts Drives: 228i Msport 6MT Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the advice! I've been getting a impatient lately waiting to take delivery of my 228i and have been hitting the dealerships on my free time to browse other vehicles. I think I made a good decision, I really hope test driving other cars will not make me regret my decision (especially if I end up test driving a 235i).
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-23-2015, 04:46 AM	#9
mfourn20 First Lieutenant 52 Rep 321 Posts Drives: 228i M Sport Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Warwick, RI USA iTrader: (0)	Make sure to check out the new england threads..a bunch of us are trying to get together!
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05-23-2015, 09:11 AM	#10
G-Mann Captain 413 Rep 678 Posts Drives: M4CX Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	If you have absolutely no intentions of buying, while they are jerking around with you they could be missing out on a potential sale and commission from another client. I certainly would not lead them on but would just share enough information so that we could make arrangements during non peak hours that worked best for them for the test drives. __________________ 2022 M4 Comp X 2021 M440ix - Sold 2015 M235 - Sold
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05-23-2015, 02:30 PM	#11
Sportstick Major General 4651 Rep 6,027 Posts Drives: '15 228i and '24 X3 sDrive30i Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Southwest USA iTrader: (0)	Test driving a MB CLA250 will make you feel incredibly wonderful about getting a 2 Series, but the same could be said for a new Honda Accord owner. Or, don't waste your time on probably the most incompetent product MB has produced in a long time. __________________ 2015 228i 6MT/Track Handling/Tech/Cold/Premium/Lighting/Driver Assistance/KCDesign Strut Brace/M2 LCAs/Rogue SSK/BBS SR/PS4S/ER Chargepipe/AA Intercooler/Dinan Shockware/MPerformance Spoiler/Black Grilles/Xpel Ultimate PPF & Prime XR+ Tint/Adam's Ceramic/no CDV 2024 X3 sDrive30i/MSport/Premium/Dynamic Handling/Shadowline/Parking/Xpel Prime XR Plus/Weathertech Cargo Liner
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05-23-2015, 02:38 PM	#12
Dattebayo Private 16 Rep 72 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW 228i M-Sport Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	Just because you ordered a car, that doesn't mean it is set in stone. Tell them the car you are interested in and the salesman would want to take you out on a drive to win you over, cancel your order, and bring your business there. Heck if you cancelled the order on the BMW, they have to give you your deposit back anyways. Till you signed the papers and taken the car off the lot, you aren't stuck with it.
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05-23-2015, 09:27 PM	#13
Brookside Major 244 Rep 1,136 Posts Drives: 2016 228i M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: KCMO iTrader: (0)	I try to drive a bunch of cars on the same day- to get a comparison between models that potentially I'm interested in. Drove an A3 then an S3, then both 2-series. The 228i was the big surprise. I'm going back to my dealer and do the 2's again to make up my mind. Both Audi and BMW dealers were very accommodating. No pressure from either place. The audi guys let me have the car for an hour to drive it back to my house, show it off of course and drive it back. Lovely car to look at. Horrible turbo lag in city driving. Bottomline- an extended drive over roads you're familiar with- the ones you travel everyday, I think , is ideal.
	Appreciate 0 Quote