Bad Situation at dealer
 

Ok guys Im kinda venting so bear with me.. I walk into a Nissan dealer today to look and see if they have the Z available for purchase that I was interested in.. I stand outside for 5 min ( no one came outside to greet me) before I go inside.. a guy comes out and I ask him if that particular Black automatic Z is in yet.. he says no, so I ask him if there is a Z available for a test drive because I'm ready to buy, but I wanna see how she drives first... So, he ask me if I have full coverage insurance I say yes then he asks me if I am 25 or older I say no.. he says well you cant test drive it.. So im like WTF why ? He says cause ur not 25 I'm like so, I test drove a 350Z here back when you had em.. he says "wow, idk why but they shouldnt have.." So im really pissed I'm like fine I'll take my money to another dealer. So I walk outside and ask the guy cleaning the cars why he says its there insurance policy.. I think its :bs: l.. how am I supposed to know how she drives if I can only stare at her.. plus to make it worse this is the dealer that has the exact car I want..

wow. im 19 and every dealer ive walked into has offered a test drive

yea im 23 I thought it was bull

maybe you could negotiate by contacting the internet/fleet manager by email. That is the guy you'll prob end up dealing with anyway.

If it was me, i would get the highest perosn up i could talk to, tell them becuase of the service your giving me, i am going to buy a Z from some one else.

Then go back with your Z and say they let me test drive it.

Take your money somewhere else, there are other dealers you can buy a car from. I wouldn't put up with that crap, now if there the only game in town go back and speak to the sales Mgr and Chew some *** just because your young doesn't mean your looking for a handout now get back in there start Chewing. Sorry I didn't mean to get carried away I just was venting
:ban:

I remember back in the day (and I am not THAT old) that you had to be 25 to rent a car from some companies. 25 is a cut off for a different cost bracket of insurance. Maybe the dealer is trying to save money by using a lower cost insurance and excluding test drives to those under 25. The salesman might be correct. Go to another dealer. I would never buy a car I haven't driven.

it's probably because of the fast and furious kiddos that ripped these cars before even buying them.

Simple. Write them a nice e-mail as to why you purchased your Z elsewhere after you do so.

I had a similar experience years ago. I had just graduated college and wanted to see what new cars were available. I went to the local Nissan dealer, it was the end of the model year for the Maxima. The next year was a complete redesign, so the dealers were offering pretty good deals on the outgoing models they still had on their lot. Well, I walked into the dealer wearing a t-shirt and shorts. It must have been my age, but they tried to convince me that I didn't want/couldn't afford a Maxima and that I would be better suited in an Altima. I proceeded to walk out and take my business elsewhere. It was just that one dealer, every other car dealer I went to let cross shop at let me test drive.

I'd do as others suggested, find one you like on the web, send an email saying you are interested in buying one and would like to arrange a test drive, and go for it.

test drive one at another dealership...and if they don't have the Z you like.
just go back to the other one and buy the exact one you wanted.

go to another dealer and tell them that the one z at the other dealership is the one you want and they can get it. i bought my z from union city nissan in atlanta and they got it from another dealership down the street

Take your money somewhere else. ********.

I have been in contact with multiple local dealerships in the past month, and no one wants to sell me a car. Im 26 by the way, and I have test driven 3 times, but they act like they dont want my buisness. I dont know what is going on. I even have a great down payment.

Well, I've been denied a test drive of STi, an EVO X, and had two Nissan dealers deny me a test drive of the 370 (ironically Infiniti allowed me to test the more expensive G37S). A third Nissan dealer let me test drive a 370 but it was a demo with 1000 km on it. A fourth Nissan dealer let me test drive a new yellow 370, which I ended up buying.


Now, I can understand being denied a test drive of a scuderia, or r8, or even a gt-r for that matter, but come on. These are just 40000 dollar cars that will lose half their value in a couple of years anyway. They're by no means exotic cars. They all told me I have to make a deal and put a deposit first before getting a test drive!?!?!?! Heck, I was allowed to test drive the much more upscale 335i, no questions asked. Personally, those dealers that pulled off this no test drive stunt with me, I just tell them to go screw themselves and take my money and my business elsewhere. They need my money much more than I need their car.

Just take your business to some else...and get over it.

I've test driven a Evo X before.. a 350, a tC no problem idk what the hell this guys problem is.. it seems pretty stupid especially now a days to turn any potential profit away.. I'm going to write there GM a nice letter explaining how this guy lost them money..cause thats bulls*it theres no way im going to buy a car and not drive it or another vehicle of the same model before purchasing..

Image
 

Zboi513,

A piece of advice (for what it's worth). I am 67 years old and when a kid (23) walks in I look at you as nothing but problems. Disrespectful - immature - Smart *** - unclean - unkempt - and the list goes on and on in the mind of the local businessman. Yes he wants your money, but he doesn't trust what he is looking at to take a $40K car out for a test drive. When I was your age I didn't project an image of trustworthiness either (60's era hippie<G>). Now try going back to that dealer and speak to a different salesman that hasn't met you and project an image of influence. In other words, don't be wearing baggy pants that are hanging down below the crack of your *** and a T-shirt that says "I did your momma" (or words to that effect). Walk in there with your hair freshly cut and combed and clean shaven. The only smell around you should be your after shave. I'm not saying you should have on a suit and tie (but it wouldn't hurt), but a nice clean pair of slacks and a Polo and shined shoes would do. Watch your language. DON'T say, "Hey Dude". "How about letting me rip the Zed down the Asphalt". Image, image, image is everything. How one presents ones self is everything in this world. Always has been and always will be.

Just my:twocents:

its pretty common for cars over 25k to not be test driven by anyone under 25. Most dealers don't pay the extra insurance required to cover them for it that's all. It really just comes down to the dealer and what coverage they have. Usually most really large dealerships will have coverage for everyone.

As long as "you" have full coverage insurance there shouldn't be a problem getting a test drive. Car sales are car sales, money is money!

http://www.the370z.com/brakes-suspen...html#post23592
read up^

in this economy its foolish to let any coustomer walk:shakes head:find another dealer.

I agree that their insurance policy is silly but it may be valid and the guy is just following the rules. That dealer should however, try to find a more lenient ins provider to prevent situations like this from happening. I've been rejected from car rental companies for the same reason. Their competitor didn't mind though.

I totally agree. No matter what your age this is good advice. Attitude and image are everything.

As to the fact that this particular dealership has "the car" you want ? Don't worry, if you go to another dealership and things work out with them ( you get your test drive and you feel comfortable, and get a good price, ), they can always get that car from the dealership in question, it happens all the time.

one thing i did was tell them i had VPP right off and they were very cooperative right after. i was wearling basketball shorts and a white t-shirt just because i wasn't thinking i was gonna end up at nissan.

I learned this leason the hard way....The car carries the insurance, not the driver. If you let a friend drive your car and they hit someone. It is YOUR insurance that covers it. Not theirs. You insurance will likely go after the driver, but they may not get anything and your rates are impacted. So the insurance the dealer has takes precedent. It is their business decision to make. You may not like it, but it is not illegal discrimination. Maybe the dealer did a cost evaluation and determined the income from under 25s did not offset the extra cost of the insurance. There are a lot of factors not known here. It is a business choice. I think a bad choice, but it is the dealers choice to make.

Insuring under 25s is expensive. All of you under 25 know this all too well.

Here they wouldn't let me drive it until I had proof I could buy it (I am 22). So I told them to run my credit and get the keys by the time the salesmen got back the lady that did the credit stuff told him I can buy anything they have on the lot lol. I have to agree with the comment about image though, it does mean a lot and although this is "only a 40k car" its not a corolla that any shmuck can buy.

With so much Nissan dealers all over the place.. This shouldnt even be an issue.

^ Well unfortunately it is..regardless of the quantity or placement of dealers in or around my area.

@mspeasl- Thanks for the words of advice.. and I agree this goes for any age.. I went in with jean shorts and a regular ohio state t-shirt on.. no saggy pants or anything like that..

I'm going to e-mail or write there GM tomorrow and if that doesnt help I'll go to the other dealer! I live in Cincinnati so there are alot of Nissan dealerships so finding another Z shouldnt be too much of an issue ..

all good commentary but I'd be willing to bet some of their staff (sales, service, etc) that move the cars around are under 25 as well. It always seems that most dealers have some pretty young staff esp. the non-luxury brand dealers.

There are valid points re. how younger buyers should project themselves more professionally but the dealer should also keep in mind that a significant proportion of 370Z owners are in their 20's. There is a thread about it in the general discussions forum. They should be taken seriously as buyers. Sales staff who assume too much about a your ability to purchase before finding out the facts could really irritate some customers to the point where they just shop somewhere else where they will be treated better. I was 23 when I purchased my first townhome and just turned 26 when I bought the 370Z. Some sales staff didn't really give me the time of day. I ended up putting the largest down payment on the condo than anyone else in the complex (per the sales manager) and paid cash for the Z. The ones who don't take you seriously just lost a sale. Just think of it as their loss and move on...

:happydance:

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!