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#1
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Test Driving Expensive Cars?
Can I just mosey on in to my local dealer and ask to test drive a new sl550? I can't afford one, but would really like to test drive it!!!
Do any dealers place restrictions on the public? Should I dress in a tuxedo? Or is that too much?
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1985 300TD Turbo Diesel Wagon 273,000 miles |
#2
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I'm going to be a jerk, sorry in advance. I've always been in the business (my dad has, I hang out) tire kicking is annoying and people mileing up $120k cars just to do it actually costs you money. Find a friend with one and drive his. You can certainly ask and some won't care, but if they ask you to fill out a credit app that is them politely saying gtfo.
My $.02 |
#3
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In all the years that i've been going to my local dealer i've only ever test driven two cars and the first was because they offered me the opportunity. (And that was on my first visit there oddly enough) A second time I needed a short video clip and a friend of mine sent me out with one of the new salesman so I could critique him....he failed MISERABLY.
Beyond that I COULD test drive cars that I can't afford but it wouldn't be fair to the sales people. Keep your eyes open for local driving events (Sometimes dealers host them) Granted they are over glorified test drives but its still better then wasting someones time.
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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out 1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out) 1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481) "The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care." |
#4
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nah thats just not the right thing to do.
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#5
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Bah, just tell em you're with your local MBCA Section and want to do a test drive for a newsletter review.
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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later! -German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123. |
#6
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Why be so concerned!! The sales man gets to drive them all the time & they probably are less financial than you!!
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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort.... 1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket. 1980 300D now parts car 800k miles 1984 300D 500k miles 1987 250td 160k miles English import 2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles 1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo. 1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion. Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving |
#7
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Car dealers and salesman are only slightly above lawyers on the sleaze scale. Wander in, show some interest and see where it goes. If nothing else you can sit in one, check under the hood and take home a brochure to peruse.
Don't expect them to throw you the keys if you show up in cut-offs and a stained t-shirt. Business casual probably wouldn't hurt. Just as a semi-related side note. I've got a warehouse/machine maintenance guy that's been with us for 25 years. Not particularly educated or overly civilized, but he knows what he's doing and what's expected of him. His uncle, a multi-millionaire, died recently and left him a sizeable chunk of money. He was due for a new vehicle (purchases all of his cars new-Nissans as long as I've known him, maintains them well, puts 175K+ on them before replacing them). So he strolls into Nissan dealer A, in his ripped, stained jeans and t-shirt and tells a salesman that he wants a Nissan Armada in this color, with this interior and these options. The guy doesn't want to give him the time of day never mind talk to someone who clearly can't afford a new Nissan Armada (no Benz, but still a $45K+ vehicle with 4wd). Essentially the salesman tells him there's no way they'll be able to get him the vehicle he wants inside of a year but if my guy gives him a deposit they'll see what they can find. He tells the salesman never mind, he's going to Nissan dealer B. He walks into Nissan dealer B in the same ripped, stained jeans and t-shirt, tells the salesman what he wants and the salesman proceeds to hop on his computer to see if one matching the description exists at another dealership so that he won't have to wait for a new one to roll off the line. Before he walks out, he's got a deal on an Armada with more options than he wanted but for less than he wanted to pay and they gave him $5K trade-in on his '94 Pathfinder. The next day he went to dealer B, with a bank check somewhere north of $40K and picked up his new truck before the end of the week. The very first place he went was to dealer A and parked right in front of the door so that everyone could see him drive in. He proceeded to the sales managers office where he tore the salesman a new one and showed him the sale he let walk away. The sales manager called the salesman over and proceeded to tear him another new one. My guy's parting shot was to the effect that in two years he's buying a new Z, and thanks to this salesman, dealer B will be getting the sale. Now obviously, Benz dealers deal with a little bit different clientele. But salespeople ought to be a little careful when judging prospective buyers because you just never know.
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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15 '06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod) |
#8
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I recently spoke with a salesmen at a jewelery store regarding customers that other jewelry stores blow off due to the customer's appearance. one guy buys $10,000 in jewelry each and every year just because they treat him right. This particular customer walks in in dirty overalls and grease under his fingernails, a regular working class guy. He said the other jewelers tell him to get lost. the store salesman told me that he sends the guy a very nice Holiday card every year thanking him for his business. and, the gentlemen keeps coming back and voting with his checkbook. amazing. Business goes where Business is appreciated...... |
#9
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if you talk to good salespeople, they tend to check out more subtle indications; for example someone with ratty clothes might be wearing an expensive watch or a $1000 set of eyeglass frames. Shoes are similar, someone with old jeans and a tee shirt might be wearing a $500 pair of "casual" shoes. Many women dress down, but may have a very expensive rock on her finger. You can also get a pretty good idea of someones background by listening to them speak and watching how they act; is this someone who is used to sales people bending over backwards to help them?
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#10
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#11
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Yup, thats the point. Half the teens in my neighborhood dress like they are homeless, their parents have some money.
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#12
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Funny how I was just looking at their site yesterday... getting itchy.. http://precisioncars.com/ If you drop in tell Kevin I said hello. |
#13
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Out of curiosity what do you do for a living? My dad as a Benz salesman had a repeat customer in the 80s who would borrow his sons celebrity wagon, buy an outfit from goodwill then wander in and buy a 560SL or a SEL or similar in $100 bills out of a ratty briefcase. My dad sold him a car every time. Whats ironic about this story is you're all saying they don't want to help people who don't have money and take their time, so lets basically lie to them, waste their time and do nothing. You'd also probably be surprised at what Benz salesmen knock down a year. |
#14
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I'm not sure what the attraction is, I don't even like to go car shopping when I need a car.
Test driving something you're not going to buy seems like a waste of time, for everyone. In my experience, bad salespeople come off as sleazy and are simply trying to close a sale, any sale, as quickly as possible (see Glengarry Glen Ross). Good salespeople are actually helpful, they will help you figure out what you are actually looking for. Don't try to BS a good salesperson, they will see through it in a second. |
#15
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when the 30 year old rusted out pick up truck pulls up in front of the jewelry store, the salesmen/woman has a decision to make. either a: blow them off or b: ask the customer what they are looking for, AKA "Intelligence gathering". in 9 out of 10 cases, the customer will open his mouth and speak about what he has on his mind, i.e. " I'm looking for a diamond necklace for my wife to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary". the SMART salesmen/woman will then ask more questions concerning his wife's general mode of lifestyle, likes and dislikes concerning jewelry she likes to wear, etc. etc. this "intelligence gathering" helps the jewelry salesmen determine WHICH particular diamond necklaces to show the customer. if the jewelry salesmen/woman is good at this game, a lot of sales will be generated. if he is not good at it, Mr. "Looks broke but is really loaded" will walk down the street and spend money with a competitor. also, "Mr appears-to-be-broke" may have a friend or relative who is rich enough to purchase Manhattan. if the salesmen/woman ticks off "Mr appears-to-be-broke", they will be SURE to tell their rich relative where NOT to shop. COUNT ON IT. then, Mr. Rich Relative will spread the news to 250 of his REALLY WEALTHY friends. What did that cost the store in terms of creating an atmosphere of customer good will? an accountant couldn't calculate the amount of $$$$ lost, but I assure you it adds up to major bucks. Good news travels fast but bad news travels REALLY FAST. |
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