DrumnBassDriver
Member
Hey...anybody here been able to test drive the 3 WITHOUT the salesperson? Every single Mazda dealer I go to they have to come with...kinda hard to feel out the car with them in the back seat....
Test Drive Alone??
- Thread starter DrumnBassDriver
- Start date
Have you tried asking them if you can take the car out by yourself? Sometimes they will let you if you explain that you want to be able to drive the car without them pressuring you. They will probably understand. And hinting at your interest in the car might ease them up a bit and let you take it by yourself.
This is an easy one, take out a car your not interested in first. While driving with the salesmen, drive like a damn maniac. Then ask to test drive the car you want. If you did the first drive properly they will be too scared to get back in the car with you 
.
I actualy did this with an Acura TSX and TL type S. In the TSX I raced a prelude.
.I actualy did this with an Acura TSX and TL type S. In the TSX I raced a prelude.
jersey_emt
Member
- :
- 04 MSM #1089
Never had that problem. Every car I test drove I showed geniune interest in purchasing...I did background research on the cars, and often knew more about them than the salesperson.
BTW I am 23 years old (but look about 18)...and I test drove a 3-series, TSX, Audi A4, G35, IS300, Saab 9-3 Vector, etc. etc. without a salesperson.
I also visited my Mazda dealer (where I bought my MSP) and test drove a 3s when they first came out. I just went to my salesman, told him I wanted to take out my car's 'replacement' for a spin. He knew I had no interest in buying it, but he just handed me the keys.
BTW I am 23 years old (but look about 18)...and I test drove a 3-series, TSX, Audi A4, G35, IS300, Saab 9-3 Vector, etc. etc. without a salesperson.
I also visited my Mazda dealer (where I bought my MSP) and test drove a 3s when they first came out. I just went to my salesman, told him I wanted to take out my car's 'replacement' for a spin. He knew I had no interest in buying it, but he just handed me the keys.
Almost every car I test drove before I bought my mazda3s was driven alone.
If you are local to the dealership they will always usually let you go alone. The dealership I bought my mazda3s at was near my work about 40 miles away from my house and they let me test drive it without a salesrep.
Not sure why your having so many problems.
If you are local to the dealership they will always usually let you go alone. The dealership I bought my mazda3s at was near my work about 40 miles away from my house and they let me test drive it without a salesrep.
Not sure why your having so many problems.
msubullyfan
Yeah, I'm an engineer...
- :
- 2005 Nissan Frontier 4x4
They do that as a sales policy. The sales managers want to make sure their salespeople do everything they can to convince you to buy that car. I've even had some refuse to let me go alone even after I asked. I don't care -- I don't listen to them, anyway.DrumnBassDriver said:
There's a great article on Edmunds' web site about the inside workings of the auto sales industry. They even had a guy go undercover and report on it. He talks about this very issue.
http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying/articles/42962/article.html?tid=edmunds.a.landing.buying..4.*
DrumnBassDriver
Member
Test driving local cars is easy enough...I've pretty much worn out my local Mazda dealer by going there and test driving a few times (they say "come back at any time" so I do...lol) and ALWAYS the salesperson is in the back. I went about 60 miles from where I live and pretended like I didn't know much about the car and wanted to test drive it cause I heard it was a good car and of course he HAD to go with...But I should have acted like I didn't care for it much so he'd have to give me another test drive but I screwed it up and told him it beats all the other cars in that price range and I really like it. I think I have 2 more dealers that are within driving range and hopefully I can test drive it there alone...I just want to turn up the music (without the salesperson clapping along in the backseat), take the curve a little too sharp (without the "suspension speel"), get out and look at the car from all angles (without the guy posing in front of it), and generally just BE ALONE with the 3 and get a feel for it...How do you think I should pull it off to get me and the car alone for a little "quality time"? lol .....It's like you're trying to get with the girl but her friends just won't go away....
goldwing2000
OG Mazda Mafia
- :
- 2004 Mazda3s Hatch; 346,000 miles
2024 CX-5; zero miles (so far)
Well, I drove the RX-8 and the 3 alone but when I drove a Matrix, the saleman came along.
Maybe you just have to get pissy with them. If they won't let you drive it alone, then tell them you will go elsewhere to buy. If they still refuse, ask to talk to the manager/owner and explain that you don't want someone looking over your shoulder while driving.
If they STILL refuse, then they obviously don't want your business very bad. Go somewhere else.
Maybe you just have to get pissy with them. If they won't let you drive it alone, then tell them you will go elsewhere to buy. If they still refuse, ask to talk to the manager/owner and explain that you don't want someone looking over your shoulder while driving.
If they STILL refuse, then they obviously don't want your business very bad. Go somewhere else.
blendable79
Member
I've never test driven a car alone. To me it doesn't really matter. I'm not gonna drive any differently alone. When I test drove the 3 my brother tagged along and the dealer sat in the back. When the dealer started yapping away I put my CD in the deck turned it way up and continued driving.
ssinstaller
Member
- :
- 2006 MazdaSpeed 6
My stealership didn't give me any problems about the test drive. I told them I wanted to take and extended test drive and that I would leave my car with them. I signed their insurance waiver and they to me to bring the 3 back the next day. I put about 100 miles on the car that night, took it back the next day and ordered a titanium grey 5door.
goldwing2000
OG Mazda Mafia
- :
- 2004 Mazda3s Hatch; 346,000 miles
2024 CX-5; zero miles (so far)
Mazda3 said:
Gimme a break... it's not like the salesman owns the car.
Someone owns the car. Why should they let any punk who feels like it take their $20,000 investment on a joyride?goldwing2000 said:
Maybe if its your 3rd time back and you want one drive by yourself to make sure its what you want before you sign the papers, but you can't expect to walk in off the street for the first time and joyride some elses car. Especially when 1/2 the people who ask for a test drive are test pilots with no intention of buying a car. IMHO you need to establish a relationship with your dealer before you can realisticly expect a solo flight.
Think about it. If you owned a dealership would you let every punk who wanders in take your $20k, $30, and $40k cars for a joyride? Not likely.
jersey_emt
Member
- :
- 04 MSM #1089
I never had ANY problem getting a solo test drive. It's all about your appearance and your attitude. Dress nicely, show genuine interest in purchasing, don't act like a douche, and you can test drive anything alone.Mazda3 said:
Nearly a dozen different dealers....didn't have any 'relationship' at all. Even luxury brands. No problem at all.
