Are people allowed to test drive my car prior to pick-up?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(carolbrady @ Sep 26 2007, 12:54 PM) [snapback]517941[/snapback]</div>

I am not sure what the legal position is for a dealer allowing test drives on a sold car, but ethically it is highly questionable! I know I wouldn't shop at a dealer that I know allows other potential customers to test-drive vehicles that are already sold!

Although most dealers are quite sleazy, I believe most dealer would not test-drive sold cars, as there is quite a lot at risk for both the dealer and the sales rep should any damage to the car occur on said test-drive, not to mention the owner questioning the mileage... :huh:

 

Call the New Vehicle Sales Mgr. and insist that it be kept locked and no test drives allowed.

 

Hey guys, let's get real. It is not really yours until you take possession of it....

Keith

 

If there's a signed contract with a deposit, the dealer will consider it sold.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(carolbrady @ Sep 26 2007, 01:21 PM) [snapback]517965[/snapback]</div>

I agree with amped, that if there is a signed contract, then it is generally considered sold. If you can't get down there right away and are nervous about this, you could always call your sales rep and confirm this policy, and perhaps ask what the current mileage is on the car (which should be only a couple miles). Then you can simply check it when you pick it up, and if it is any different, give or take a mile or two.

 

They were in such demand here, I was in the dealer signing the documents and some guys went and got inside the car I was buying. After I signed I told the dealer "get those guys out of my car!" Then I left with my new pride and joy

 

I was told we wouldn't be able to drive certain cars beacuse they were 'sold'. I think it depends heavily on the dealer. When I test drove mine (which I ended up going home with), it had 1 mile on it

 

Take a look at the mileage when you pick it up. It should be single digits (probably less than 5).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tech_Guy @ Sep 26 2007, 07:12 PM) [snapback]517958[/snapback]</div>

You are joking, right?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(abq sfr @ Sep 26 2007, 01:50 PM) [snapback]518027[/snapback]</div>

same here.. we were inside, going over the paperwork and some salesguy had himself plopped in the driver's seat of the prius, showing it to some other people.

Then again, I can't blame them too much. It's not like there's a huge sign on the car that says "I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF BEING SOLD." I sat in someone's Lexus rx400 in the showroom because I didn't realize it had been sold until the guy came up with the tag. I very sheepishly got out at that point.

My salesguy claimed that the prius -- the only one in the lot, that had just arrived -- had a couple of appointments to see/test it in the afternoon and the other salesguys were on the phone, trying to get those people in earlier after we arrived.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Thomas Eyde @ Sep 26 2007, 02:19 PM) [snapback]518140[/snapback]</div>

Actually, this time I was not joking. By "taking possession" I mean that all paperwork has been signed, including transfer of title, vehicle paid for or loan documents fully executed, vehicle registration documents executed, AND you have a set of keys.

Keith

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Christina @ Sep 26 2007, 07:51 PM) [snapback]518217[/snapback]</div>

Personally, I think "showing" people the car is a little different from test driving it, and I don't think I would be all that opposed to the dealer showing my car to prospective customers, given of course that not damage or anything is done to it in the process!

I know when I was purchasing my car - which happened to be a demo car - as soon as I got back from the test drive and expressed interest in sitting down to negotiate, my sales rep immediately replied that he was going to advise the manager and also hang onto both keys to be sure nobody else drives the car in the meantime. I appreciated that. I also noted the mileage at that time and sure enough two days later when it was time to drive her home, her mileage was less than 1KM difference from last I last saw it, but she was all shined up.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(carolbrady @ Sep 26 2007, 11:54 AM) [snapback]517941[/snapback]</div>

A sold vehicle should never be test-driven by another customer unless the dealer has the permission and it was worked in as part of the deal.

 

My dealer had a "demo" car for those who wanted to test drive a Prius, and it was available to be sold at any given moment, which I considered buying, if the price was right, but...I wanted one that was not driven by anyone else, still with factory wrapping on. They just happen to get a delivery in that morning, and my salesperson took me there, to the other lot, to check out what has arrived. And there it was - the car that I wanted, and it happened to be one of the three that was not spoken for, and with the no-package (the only one) that I was looking for. It was all in the timing. Took it home that same day, had already 3 miles on it, and that is because the salesperson had to go a few miles to fill the tank up for me.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AOV @ Sep 27 2007, 09:07 AM) [snapback]518435[/snapback]</div>

That's completely different. That's a new car that's not a delivery from a spec order.

My dealership showed me a white Prius that had just come in that someone ordered. I wasn't even allowed to sit in it. (I wasn't offered, and I didn't ask.) I bought the blue touring that I tested, as it was the only touring on the lot. (I would've preferred red, silver, grey, black or white. Bronze and green would've stayed on the lot, and I'd be driving an Acura or a Cadillac now.)

I would refuse delivery if a dealer let someone test drive a car that I'd ordered and put a deposit on.

 

I test drove your new car, and boy does it do well on corners. The suspension sounded a little noisy when I went over all of those chuck holes. I can't believe it didn't bottom out. Oh, by the way, if you notice a little dent in driver's door, don't worry about it, it's nothing.

Tom

 

When I went shopping for my Prius, the salesperson showed me a Prius that was in the lot... it was pre-owned (a.k.a. used) and it was already sold, so I wasn't allowed to test-drive it. He told me that specifically.

BUT, he let me look around, open the doors, hatch, etc., sit in the car, and also sit in the passenger seat as he started it up and drove it in the parking lot (no more than 500 ft of driving).

I would think that this is OK for a used car, but not OK for a brand-new car, whose paperwork is signed. Although I have to say that there's not much to be learned about a car by driving slowly around a parking lot

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(carolbrady @ Sep 26 2007, 08:54 AM) [snapback]517941[/snapback]</div>

Congratulations on your purchase! I too am awaiting arrival of my 08 Touring and am particularly interested in getting a checklist such as you mentioned to ensure that I don't overlook something during delivery acceptance. When I go to take posession of my new Prius, I expect the odometer to read less than 5 miles as an indication that it is "new".

Best of luck with your delivery.

BigBear1545