Weird...here in Nebraska the age is 19 to test drive a car because you have to be 19 to buy a car. Even if their insurance policy doesn't agree what kind of car dealership could sell cars with only allowing 25+ to test drive it. I remember though when I was 15 the Mercedes Dealership here let me drive a brand new CLK500 without hesitation...just go somewhere else

dude, you're the man with the money. and in this age of economic troubles, anybody willing to put money into a 30k+ sports car should realize they should be treated respectfully as a customer. they don't wanna let you test drive, just walk. i just turned 26 and when i went to buy my z a couple of months ago, i went through the same thing. but hey, i got my z, and those guys didn't get any commission. who lost out?

You sir, have just described the majority of car salesmen.

I'm 36 and the dealership I went to didn't want to let me take a test drive at first either. It took me by surprise because I thought I was past that stage of my life. I got indignant and the salesperson changed his mind.

When I was around 25 or 26 I had made the decision to buy a new Honda Prelude. I test drove it and even took my mom to the dealership to check it out. But when I went to purchase the car the salesguy asked if I had any credit. I said I had student loans and a credit card and he said I wouldn't be able to get a loan. I left and went down the street and bought a VW. Getting a loan was no problem.

I don't really understand why they are like that. But I do know one thing, if you have good credit it speaks volumes and you're suddenly a valued potential customer.

I'd go somewhere else...back when I bought my Supra (97 Twin turbo) I walked in wearing jeans and a t-shirt...no questions asked the guy threw me the key and off we went...he even told me to open the car up on one of the roads (which of course sold me) a few weeks later I drove my beater to a honda lot to check out a car my mom was interested in...not one sales person would speak to me. That same morning I stopped by a porsche dealer, I was looking at a 911 twin turbo and the guy offered me a test drive (100k car)...and I was in my beater. I laughed, said thank you for the offer but I was just there to look at the car and told him how I appreciated him not judging...I explained to him what happened at the honda dealership.

Moral of the story, if they don't want your business or don't treat you right go somewhere else. If they won't even entertain the thought of you test driving a car, how are they going to treat you when it comes to the actual purchase. Also, get pre-qualified...makes the buying experience 100 times faster/better.

Good luck!

This is the first car forum I have ever really participated in, and one thing I have learned is that there are a lot of people out there that just enjoy going to dealerships and test driving cars. You have seen it in this thread with people test driving all sorts of cars that they probably never bought, or weren't even considering buying. When I bought my Z the finance woman told me that they have had an insane number of people come in to just test drive a Z. She said they were really frustrated with it. I was frustrated as well when I saw the miles that had been put on my car. This random test driving probably makes salesmen even more judgemental when a serious buyer walks in.

Personally, I don't go near a car dealership unless I am ready to buy whatever it is I may be looking at. I may not buy from them if the numbers don't work, or if the car isn't right for me, but I am in the market for a new car if I am there. I don't enjoy playing the game, and I don't like salesmen calling me constantly. I would love to take a 911 for a spin, but I know I can't buy one, so I'm not going to waste another working man's time and risk damaging a car that will eventually belong to someone else so I can have a joyride.

Road runs both ways!!
 

Yes, you are quite right about how the road runs both ways..............
:tiphat:

I hope I didn't confuse anyone...I never drove the 911...it was a thanks but no thanks. They are one of my favorite cars so I simply wanted to look it over and drool a bit :-) Funny thing is the sales person was more interested in my Supra and asked me to drive it in...which I did later that day and took him for a short drive!

And when I bought my 370Z...it was before I even test drove it. Although, I did my research and have driven enough high end/sports cars that I knew I would love it...and I was right!

I could see how a dealership would require a deposit or show of interest before letting someone test drive the car. Which, my understanding is the person who made the post had intentions of possibly buying the car so a test drive seems reasonable. Just letting people walk in and take a car out does seem like a waste of time and a liability though.

I'm sorry if it sounded like I was calling you out. That is honorable that you turned down the test drive. I love the 911 too. I was fortunate enough to drive a couple of them years ago when I owned a detailing shop. I had a client that was a car collector, and even though I was 19 he was cool enough to let me come to his house and pick up and drop off his cars. He even let me drive his new at the time 1991 ZR-1, and gave me the "power key". Maybe one day I will get a 911.

No worries...and I agree...why test drive a car you have no interest in buying. If I knew the dealer sure otherwise, it's a tease so what's the point.

I like the older 911's...the shape is so aggressive and they are pretty damn fast!

I had a similar experience when I went to a local dealer to test drive the Z. The salesman was a sleazy jackass. I abruptly went online and emailed all the other dealers in the area. I dealt with the online salespeople, and when I get an agreeable price, drove to a dealership 50 miles away, test drove the car, then bought it. From now on I'm never going to a dealership without first dealing with someone online or on the phone. Now, even though that first dealership is less than 2 miles from my house, I will never go to them for ANYTHING. I loved it when 1 week later he called and asked if I was still interested in the car and I told him I bought it elsewhere because I didn't like his service.

burning bridges
 

Easy now...... Don't be burning any bridges and Pi$$ people off. I don't know about Nissan, but with GM if your car breaks down, GM will only pay to have your car towed to the nearest dealer to be repaired. Food for thought.
:tiphat:

Yeah, 2 years ago My nearest dealer (1 mile away) decided he didn't want to waste a Corvette allocation on me for a measly $2k Profit (I had a Friends and family certificate, similar to Nissan VPP). I ordered a car from an on-line forum supporter for under invoice, spent $300 for tickets (less than the local Doc fee) and flew to New Hampshire with my wife to pick it up. We had a great little mini vacation bringing it 900 miles home...I promised myself I'd never darken my local dealers doorway again.....My local Nissan guy (also 1 mile away) has been great though.