Test Drive

**nellsey** · 28th January 2006, 21:28

Before you bought your car how long did you get as a test drive on a similar model?

It seems to me you are lucky to get 15 mins at most dealers.

I have been trying to arrange an extended test drive for the Mrs and myself to try the new Civic unaccompanied. You would think I wanted the earth!
"We don't do unaccompanied extended test drives sir" Why the hell not!

Before I buy a car I like to test it properly by taking it out for at least two hours. I want to know that it is comfortable, refined, handles well on all surfaces, etc. Things you can't find out in 15 mins, with a gassing salesman.

I am being unreasonable asking for this?
I will be spending best part of 20k, surely a decent test drive is not to much to ask, is it?

**rscosworth** · 28th January 2006, 21:38

i totally agree but dont know many dealers that do it.

I think VX do a 24hr test drive (varies from dealer to dealer) and skoda do them..

I went out for 15mins in a 120 and 15mins in a 150 before deciding which one to buy....

**JP7** · 28th January 2006, 22:28

I buy slightly differently - all my cars are bought through the trade and I don't test drive them until they arrive!

I always work on the premise that if I hate it, I'll trade it on and make a little bit of money.

Having said that, I have driven most cars in my job so I know roughly what I'll like and what I won't...

**Caterman** · 28th January 2006, 22:30

My local dealers threw me the keys and told me to "take it, there's plenty of fuel in it" I nearly took him literally!!!! I took it home, picked up the wife and went for a blast. I had no intention of buying from them as they wanted £2000 more for it than the one i was looking at but as the one i bought was in Derby i thought i'd use the local dealers to test it first.

**installer** · 28th January 2006, 22:33

Thats all I got on both my last cars,rubbish really.You find all the niggles 30 mins after picking it up.

**R-man** · 28th January 2006, 22:44

Audi gave me a 2 litre A4 for "As long as you feel is necessary". Took it for a few hours, other than that I have found most garages sit in the car with you on a planned route that avoids potholes etc etc!

**GARY3306** · 28th January 2006, 23:22

I bought the C from the same place as I got the B GSi. So I left the GSi with them in the morning and had the C until about 5.30 in the evening. Pretty damn good eh?

**MLC** · 29th January 2006, 01:40

My Vectra showed a range of 12 miles when I test drove it. Wasn't very impressed.

**simonali** · 29th January 2006, 08:42

Worse place I've been to was Burnham Garage (Vaux). The sales guy drove the car about 300 yards with the fuel warning light flashing and then told me I could drive it back. Didn't get a sale, funnily enough.

Best place was the VW place in Camberley (Whites?). Test drove a Golf GTi (which wasn't for me, btw!) and they let us go out without a salesperson. Just filled out an insurance form and away we went. Took the A30 into Bagshot and then a blast on the M3 coming back via Fleet. We were gone ages!

**Pendo** · 29th January 2006, 12:14

When my dad was looking, he dropped his mondeo off at volvo on the friday evening, they gave him a volvo s40, he tok that back on saturday afternoon, swapped it for a v50 and took that back picked it up monday morning on his way to work. Saab wouldn't let him do the same with the 9-3 just a quick drive with a salesman, i talked him into getting the 9-3 tho.