No Test Drive?

[///MD]

Went to my local dealer yesterday after noticing they have 5 F80's in stock hoping to take 1 out for a spin to help decide between that and an m5 for my next car. CA said they don't allow test drives of any M. I couldn't even take an M5 out for a few miles. Yada Yada, something about break in period, yada, yada. After expressing my disregard for this stupid policy he agreed to check with the managers, who were all in a meeting at the time, and get back to me. I wasn't going to wait for that.

What are other people's experience with this? Any suggestions about more customer friendly dealers in socal that actually let people sample the goods before making an expensive purchase?

Thanks,
Pej

[Fahrvergnügen]

Same response from the two dealerships I went to in the Chicago area. At first, they let me test drive a 435i but I still didn't want to make a decision. A week later, one dealer called and said they had someone return a MG F80 (so technically used) and allowed me to test drive. It had about 300 miles on it so the CA told me not to punch it too hard. Afterwards, my mind was made up.

My advice, try to find a dealer close to you with a used M3/4 to test drive.

[Vectors2final]

I drove the launch cars, no questions asked.

[Flashman666]

I think the no brain answer is to find another dealer. I can't understand any dealer that won't let you take the car out for a spin. It's not made of glass. It also doesn't speak well for a dealer offering a product that they are afraid to let you test out even with the salesman riding shotgun.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by ///MD

Went to my local dealer yesterday after noticing they have 5 F80's in stock hoping to take 1 out for a spin to help decide between that and an m5 for my next car. CA said they don't allow test drives of any M. I couldn't even take an M5 out for a few miles. Yada Yada, something about break in period, yada, yada. After expressing my disregard for this stupid policy he agreed to check with the managers, who were all in a meeting at the time, and get back to me. I wasn't going to wait for that.

What are other people's experience with this? Any suggestions about more customer friendly dealers in socal that actually let people sample the goods before making an expensive purchase?

Thanks,
Pej

Go down the road to GOLFFRR's dealership (Steve Thomas BMW) in Camarillo and I bet you could get a test drive.

[Stage1]

I went to two local dealers. One handed me the keys right away with no questions and let me take out their 6MT F82 demo. The other dealer made a copy of my license and let me take out the sales GM F82 DCT

[phoenixbmwlife]

Some dealers are like that. If you bought many cars from their dealership I am willing to bet they would let you. Its really stupid but as others have said just find a dealership that does.

[ASAP]

This is almost universally a bad idea on the part of the dealership.

[8600RPM]

Depends whether they have a demo or not

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Vectors2final

I drove the launch cars, no questions asked.

Same here. Recently test drives have been available for extended weekend etc too.

[330cibimmer]

Some dealers want you to show intent of purchase like credit check of some sort before they let you test drive

[///MD]

Originally Posted by minn19

Go down the road to GOLFFRR's dealership (Steve Thomas BMW) in Camarillo and I bet you could get a test drive.

I thought about that. They do have a good rep on these boards and its only about 20 minutes from me

Originally Posted by Bennu

Some dealers are like that. If you bought many cars from their dealership I am willing to bet they would let you. Its really stupid but as others have said just find a dealership that does.

I purchased both my current cars from them so.....

Originally Posted by 8600RPM

Depends whether they have a demo or not

I got an amused chuckle when I asked why they don't have a demo

Originally Posted by 330cibimmer

Some dealers want you to show intent of purchase like credit check of some sort before they let you test drive

has that happened to you? I would never EVER do that for anything less than an actual purchase, let alone for a test drive. My 640GC purchased from them should be my credit check and even if I pulled up in an 86 CR-x i'm still a potential customer

[Fahrvergnügen]

Funny story...

Pulled into a Chevy dealership a while back in an E89 Z4 wanting to test drive a $65k Stingray. They told me I needed to get a credit check and fill out a bunch of paper blah blah...

I told them I just wanted to test drive and they said it is company policy to retain this information. I reminded them that "this is Chevy" and left. The guy that walked me out told me he had driven the Z4 and prefers the enjoyment of that over the Stingray any day.

A week later, I ordered an M4 ($15k more than the Stingray).

Idiots...

[M6-Coupe]

Originally Posted by ///MD

Went to my local dealer yesterday after noticing they have 5 F80's in stock hoping to take 1 out for a spin to help decide between that and an m5 for my next car. CA said they don't allow test drives of any M. I couldn't even take an M5 out for a few miles. Yada Yada, something about break in period, yada, yada. After expressing my disregard for this stupid policy he agreed to check with the managers, who were all in a meeting at the time, and get back to me. I wasn't going to wait for that.

What are other people's experience with this? Any suggestions about more customer friendly dealers in socal that actually let people sample the goods before making an expensive purchase?

Thanks,
Pej

Looks like most of CA dealers are like this... I asked 3 dealers and finally one of them let me drive an M3 after 3 months! I had no issue to test drive M5 and M6 back in 2013 when I got my M6, but looks like they are not comfortable with M3/M4... it's stupid... even Porsche allows test driving the 911, Jag allows test driving F Type ... come on BMW how do you expect people get an expensive M car (no matter what how fantastic is) without test driving??

[FC4]

Originally Posted by ChicagoM4

Funny story...

Pulled into a Chevy dealership a while back in an E89 Z4 wanting to test drive a $65k Stingray. They told me I needed to get a credit check and fill out a bunch of paper blah blah...

I told them I just wanted to test drive and they said it is company policy to retain this information. I reminded them that "this is Chevy" and left. The guy that walked me out told me he had driven the Z4 and prefers the enjoyment of that over the Stingray any day.

A week later, I ordered an M4 ($15k more than the Stingray).

Idiots...

Cool story.

The price of the car has absolutely nothing to do with a dealer allowing you to test drive a car or not.

[DrtyJrze]

The policy is stupid, but I get a kick out of business that do dumb stuff that hurts their sales.

I can't tell you how many times I've been in places to spend money and they ignore me or help other customers who are clearly window shopping.

I learned a long time ago in sales to treat EVERY customer the same. The guy with the jeans and hoodie on just might surprise you...

[DrtyJrze]

Originally Posted by FC4

Cool story.

The price of the car has absolutely nothing to do with a dealer allowing you to test drive a car or not.

So you think if he asked to test drive a Chevy Spark they would have asked him for a credit check and to fill out paperwork first?

[Powerbeast]

Both awesome cars just how big of a car do you really need? Test drive not needed, it's an M!

[RowanBuds]

Same experience in NJ - even with the dealership I have ordered the car through. "No cars to Demo". Seems crazy to me - I get it with Ferraris, but this isn't an incredibly rare/expensive vehicle so test drives should be available. Frankly, there are E-classes that will sell for 20K more than our M's - you can test drive those any day you choose, without a credit check. A CC for test drive is absurd in my opinion, but not even an option offered to me.

PowerBeast: How do you reconcile your statement to someone who has maybe never owned or even driven a BMW, let alone an M product, before? Just curious - it seems for the repeat customers no test drive purchasing could make sense, but shouldn't the brand be trying to win more customers?

Anyway- I've lusted after an M for over a decade. In the end I did buy one without test driving, but when I get the car that could possibly be an 80K mistake. A chance I decided to take.

And yes, the guy in jeans, hoodie, torn T-shirt and Timberlands just may walk in and cut a check for 80 grand to buy your precious offerings - because that man was me.

[dkhm3]

bought many cars from the dealer - they tossed me the keys no questions asked.

[DROPOUT]

Got to test drive the exact car I wanted on the lot at BMW Greenville. No questions asked ~ just made a photo copy of my ID and we were on our way. They encouraged me to gas it

Walked out the door with the car!

[karussell]

crevier or southbay. my goto dealerships in LA/OC