Dealer Test drive refusal?!?!

[Monte87]

Hey guys,

I built my dark horse online about 100x.. and decided to goto a dealer that has 1 in stock locally, it's black, everything which I'm not a huge fan of, even black calipers... but decide to just go and look at it. Ya never know.. maybe go home w it afterwards instead of waiting 9 months to be built... I really want Atlas Blue metallic, premium package, non HP package, 10 speed and blue calipers, this is my vision!!!
So I get to dealer and want to look at stang, and really want to test drive it to see how it feels, especially the recaros which I hate.. but I'm open minded lol. I ask salesman for test drive and he flat out refuses, goes on about some dealership policy...
I have never had any ford dealer refuse me a test drive on mustangs before. I've test driven GT500s and my Roush stage 3 car before i bought, Mach Ones and even my Raptor before i bought... I even driven the Raptor R..
So I explain to him that I am not willing to drop $70Gs on a visual only, I need to drive the car, maybe just go around the block, not a 5 mile test drive. He blatantly tells me No... I respectfully walk away and tell him forget it, done deal...
Has anyone ever had a Ford dealer refuse a test drive before? I mean I drove up in my new F150 Raptor and stated numerous times that I have a sincere interest in there DH and def not a tire kicker.. I'm shocked... saddened actually.

Anthony

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[fraziersc]

I've had a similar experience before where dealers were unwilling to let us test drive, and went so far to even say that "they didn't have any available" even though I saw 15+ in their parking lots just sitting there.

In my mind, if they want to get people interested in the car, let alone buying from them specifically, they need to allow test drives. I originally was on the fence between a few different cars before I bought the one I have now, and it all came down to me test driving the one I have and liking it more than the others.

 

[The Ghost]

Sounds bizarre. I test drove a Dark Horse for shits and giggles a few weeks ago and made it clear to the dealer that’s all it was going to be. They were charging $15K over sticker. They let me drive it. Didn’t even take my driver license. I just pointed out my own car and I guess that was sufficient. I’d probably choose to not deal with a dealer who didn’t let me test drive. Awful.

 

[roadpilot]

Call and demand to talk to the General Manager. That's BS.

 

[GripTime]

I used my experience and online reviews to make the decision for the DH. Never saw one or drove one before I bought it. I am not really cross shopping though, meaning trying to make a tough decision between two or more cars.

When I bought my 2007 Honda Civic Si the dealer would not let me test drive it. He simply said that buyers of this car prefer not to have a lot of miles on it when they buy it. To me it's all about the "market." Is it a buyers market or sellers market. This dealer clearly thinks it's a sellers market and they may not be wrong.

 

[AzkAdAsh]

I had a dealer that refused to let me test drive the GT350R or any of the Roushes that they had on site. Went to the next dealership 15 minutes away and they let me drive whatever I wanted. It depends on the dealership and whether they're willing to put the extra miles on those higher value models and possibly bring the value down below MSRP, especially if they get a lot of test drivers and not a lot of buyers.

 

[JAM486HP]

Fuck it, he did you a favor... Why spend $70K on a car full of specs you do not like?

I ordered before production sight unseen, waited 7 months to get exactly what I wanted, exceeded all expectations.

 

[Q6543]

We have a saying…. You gonna buy the car or you not gonna buy the car…he not gonna buy the car.

And you didn’t… another “he not gonna buy the car”

Test drive is after it’s yours…. Is the same chassis on stickier rubber.

he should have let you sit in the seats though.

 

[roadpilot]

I've bought 2+ dozen new cars in my life. I wouldn't spend a nickel if they refused a test drive request.

 

[jimbo67]

Or let them go for a ride in the vehicle with you. My salesman told me it is the easiest job he ever had just sits on his arse all day and makes really good money. They don't even push anymore like the old days. You wanna by the car? Then send you to finance. It's crazy, they will let vehicles like these sit. They will be more receptive if you are looking for an Suv. They won't get any more for a mustang wether it has been driven or sits on the lot. The salesmen doesn't in most cases want to deal with sports cars. But definitely some dealers are better than others.

 

[Monte87]

I've had a similar experience before where dealers were unwilling to let us test drive, and went so far to even say that "they didn't have any available" even though I saw 15+ in their parking lots just sitting there.

In my mind, if they want to get people interested in the car, let alone buying from them specifically, they need to allow test drives. I originally was on the fence between a few different cars before I bought the one I have now, and it all came down to me test driving the one I have and liking it more than the others.

Absolutely, it's all about the "feeling" you get from certain cars. The experinece matters, if not we all be driving EVs.

 

[Monte87]

Sounds bizarre. I test drove a Dark Horse for shits and giggles a few weeks ago and made it clear to the dealer that’s all it was going to be. They were charging $15K over sticker. They let me drive it. Didn’t even take my driver license. I just pointed out my own car and I guess that was sufficient. I’d probably choose to not deal with a dealer who didn’t let me test drive. Awful.

Wow, I guess it's hit or miss. I did the same drove up in my new Raptor, which is worth more $$$ than dark horse. Lol Go figure...

 

[Monte87]

Call and demand to talk to the General Manager. That's BS.

Tomorrow, for sure..... thanks for reply.

 

[Monte87]

I used my experience and online reviews to make the decision for the DH. Never saw one or drove one before I bought it. I am not really cross shopping though, meaning trying to make a tough decision between two or more cars.

When I bought my 2007 Honda Civic Si the dealer would not let me test drive it. He simply said that buyers of this car prefer not to have a lot of miles on it when they buy it. To me it's all about the "market." Is it a buyers market or sellers market. This dealer clearly thinks it's a sellers market and they may not be wrong.

Yup!!! That's exactly the bullshi$$ he wrote me in an email, then i then went anyway to test drive. I am going to call ford corporate and complain on the dealership. Not sure if it will matter.

 

[roadpilot]

Yup!!! That's exactly the bullshi$$ he wrote me in an email. I am going to call ford corporate and complain on the dealership. Not sure if it will matter.

You're going to have a much better chance at getting this addressed by taking it up with the dealership GM, not Ford Corporate. The latter won't give it a second thought. The former knows they likely are losing a sale.

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