Can someone test drive a car off a dealer even if you're not sure of buying it?

Answer 1

Absolutely.

Do your research first, then take a test drive.

You're still under no obligation to buy, but at least you have some idea of what you're looking for.

Also, showing up in a nice ride helps.

I used to test drive new models just to see if there was enough of an improvement over what I had to consider buying or trading.

I bought an '89 SHO (best pre-'95 sedan), and test-drove a '95 Impala SS (but it sold before I could get back, and the dealer couldn't get anything but '96s after that; I hated the '96).

I also had a '93 Crown Victoria LX (210hp, deep-dish "BBS" rims, leather, etc.) that I bought during a moment of weakness (bad decision) that I drove up to the Mazda dealer when I went to check out the '94 RX-7.

Most dealers let me test drive solo, but the sales guy said he had to accompany me; I warned him I intended to test drive the car like I intended to drive it if I bought it. It was a lengthy discussion in which I pointed out the RX-7 was a sports car; he said okay.

He drove to get gas (car was on fumes) and put like $3 worth of gas in it (remember, that's 1994 prices -- before the Bush-gouging of 2001-2005). Three cars of city cops showed up & asked if it was a Viper. Ha!

I scoped the scene after they left, and drove back to the Interstate. The route was south to the next ramp, turn around at another filling station, cross a bridge and re-enter the Interstate going north to the first ramp, then around surface streets to the dealership.

Heading south, I got a sense for the response of the wheel and what sort of feedback the suspension was giving me, while Salesman Sam chatted incessantly about all sorts of crap that didn't mean anything to me.

We cruised about 65-70 (55 zone) to the ramp, which I guess was the salesman's idea of high-performance driving. At the filling station, I faced back north in the parking lot, ready to pull out onto the road (but well out of everyone else's way).

Depressing the clutch and the brake, I went through the gears a few times, feeling the subtleties of the shifter (it was a VERY good shifter); the salesman tried to help by telling me it was a manual transmission.

I'm thinking, "Get a clue, Bozo: I just drove the car here from the other filling station" -- but I was polite when I told him to shut up and let me get the feel of the shifter. When I was satisfied, I put on my seatbelt and cinched it up taut.

Puzzled for his daydreaming, I looked at the salesman and said, "Aren't you going to put on your seatbelt? I'm ready to test the car now. Remember, this vehicle is being marketed as a sports car, and I told you I was going to test it like I intend to drive it."

He responded with something like, "I'm a man, and real men don't wear seatbelts." I just shook my head and said, "Whatever." Then I pulled out.

We crossed the bridge in 3rd gear at 70 mph, and I rolled on the throttle as I turned into the sharp left-hand downhill ramp towards the Interstate. The car drifted from the inside to the outside of the roadway, but we were pulling probably right at 1g (maybe just over).

Both sides of the ramp were fairly steep, the drop sheer. Near the bottom of the ramp, I looked at my passenger, who was very obviously not well at all, and I backed out of the throttle in 4th gear and entered the Interstate at a smooth 130mph, and I short-shifted into high.

Back at the dealership, I had to help the guy out of the car.

I didn't buy the RX-7 -- partly because I thought the salesman was gonna die on me, but mainly because of annoying crap like a Bose waveguide sound system (which is IMHO garbage) and plastic interior panels (where the rear seats would have been if it had been a 4-seater) that didn't fit the car.

Those sorts of deficiencies were simply not acceptable in a near-$45k MSRP car. The radio had a "tone" knob, for Pete's sake! But, if they had lopped $15k off the car for all the junk that I would have needed to either eliminate or replace, I would have bought it.

It was a bona fide screamer, and it handled beautifully.

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Answer 2

Yes, that's the whole idea of a test drive. If the dealer is making you pay first, go somewhere else.

Be careful, though. The test drive is a trick for you to give out lots of personal information so they can keep badgering you to buy.

Don't give out real info.

Answer 3

i test drive cars all the time with no intention whatsoever to buy them...just tell them that you are going to take the car to your mechanic (ie. test drive used cars) and you'll be back in a couple hours...that will give you plenty of time to romp it a bit and a real good excuse for the salesman to not comealong....if they ask wher your taking it tell them u'd rather not say

Answer 4

Sure, how else would you know if you want to buy it. Now keeping it over a weekend generally requires some written contract with intent to buy/very interested.

Answer 5

Yes, it is considered rude or in bad form if you have no intention of buying the car though.

Answer 6

Absolutely, theres no harm in it... Whats the point of buying a car if u dont have a good feel of it bfore buying it...

Answer 7

Of course. That's why you test drive. If you were sure, you wouldn't need to drive it first.

Answer 8

yes you can. i did it just this year with new and used cars. i wouldn't buy a pair of pants without trying them on 1st to see if they fit . so i wouldn't buy a car that i didn't know if it fit me or not.

Answer 9

i always thought that was the hole point of a test drive

Answer 10

Yes
They run your credit first though