| Author | Message | ||
| Don Vollum (Donv)
Junior Member Username: Donv Post Number: 176 Registered: 1-2002 |
When I looked at 456s, the salespeople at Ron Tonkin were happy to let me take a test drive. My impression is that they like doing test drives-- hell, it gives them a chance to get out in the cars. I did set it up in advance via email, though, and I've been a longtime customer of their shop. But, I didn't get the feeling that test drives were unusual for them. BTW, I bought the car, so I guess it paid off! | ||
| Gabe V (Racerxgto)
Junior Member Username: Racerxgto Post Number: 123 Registered: 4-2003 |
These are all great answers and replies, but something is bugging me about this whole scenerio. I speculate there is a Ferrari theft ring, and some powerful >whoever< has put an order in for Ferrari's. Whoever is in this ring, took the easiest route to grab the car, test drive with a giddy salesman. It's difficult to grab cars locked up in their fortresses, so what better way to grab the car? These cars are going out of the country. Answering the original question, I've been able to take a 308 and 348 on a test drive by some independants without hesitation. They are friendly and customer oriented. When they have the car I seek, I hope to buy from them and keep a relationship and/or a network of services. Ferrari Dealerships and not even dealerships, but establishments that carry F-cars who have their nose so damn high in the air, present snooty attiudes can keep their cars, can keep their attitudes, markup and I do not want anything to do with them. I can see it now, I pull up in my f-car for service, I get out, they ignore me. When I finaly ask for service, they scoff with a distastful snicker, "who are you? the automall is on the other side of town" Sound familliar anyone? I feel nothing should change in regards to test drives. Integrety and common sense will ensure successful business dealings. Of all the business days of F-car sales floors, one F50 is stolen and now we must hold back? No, the thought of the day is business as usual and be careful. | ||
| Lou B (Toby91)
Member Username: Toby91 Post Number: 331 Registered: 4-2001 |
I had zero problems getting test drives in the 3 Fcars I have and have seen them offered to many folks while hanging around waiting for car service to be completed. These include FNE and WWofC. | ||
| Sam Germana (Sjmst)
Junior Member Username: Sjmst Post Number: 114 Registered: 7-2003 |
I agree with doody, too. I wanted to test drive a 5 speed X type at Jaguar of Great Neck, NY. The arrogant salesman told me I had to BUY the car because Manuals were so rare, it just wasn't worth the trouble to bring one from their warehouse for me. I was a serious buyer, and we are not talking a Ferrari here. He told me I could cancel the deal, but the scam is so obvious it is insulting. Needeless to say I left, and bought a BMW. I should thank that salesman because I didn't go wrong with the Bimmer. Don't know if that is Jaguar of Great Neck's sleazy policy or his, but he had lots of awards on his wall, I guess because there is a sucker born every minute. Having said that, Ferrari and their dealers can AFFORD to be arrogant. Their attitude: "You won't buy if no test drive? See ya, I got 10 guys lined up behind you who will buy the car over the phone, site unseen." If that changes, so will their attitude. Economics, as usual. | ||
| David Stoeppelwerth (Racerdj)
Member Username: Racerdj Post Number: 365 Registered: 1-2003 |
I was offered a test drive of my 360 at Shelton. They were very professional and quite friendly. Tops in the F-car dealership! | ||
| Richanton (Richanton)
New member Username: Richanton Post Number: 23 Registered: 8-2003 |
I was in The Collection in Coral Gables Florida with a friend of mine picking up her Porsche Cab that was being serviced. While I was waiting for her I wandered into the showroom and was looking at the new Lotus Esprit. A salesman walked over and while we were talking I told him about the Esprit I used to own. The salesman suggested I take the new Esprit for a ride, the car was brand new and it looked like it had never even been driven. The car still had the plastic on the seats. I told him no thank you, even though I am a big Lotus fan I'm not really shopping, just looking. The guy told me no problem, let's take it for a ride. After he opened the glass doors in front of the showroom he had to move a 360 spyder and a 550 to get the Lotus off the showroom floor. He let me drive the car and then he let girl I was with drive the car, even though I told him I wasn't really shopping. I was very young at the time and wearing jeans and a t-shirt, but I was with a girl who was a model and I was picking up a new Porsche from service (hers). The guy probably figured to be with a girl like that I must be loaded. This guy was very nice, and I even called him the next day to thank him and tell him if I ever bought another Lotus I would definitely come see him. | ||
| Modified348ts (Modman)
Member Username: Modman Post Number: 733 Registered: 11-2001 |
You also have to understand how many looky loos they have to deal with everyday, put yourself in their shoes and see how everyday feels like. I'm not saying they all have positive attitudes to the customers, most of them just need better jobs that would suit them better. | ||
| 1987 (Slag_328gts)
New member Username: Slag_328gts Post Number: 9 Registered: 9-2003 |
I wasn't offended by the salesperson at newport autosports. He just mentioned that we would have to iron out a rough deal first to make sure I was serious & wouldn't take it out for a drive & come back & lowball him. He was nice enough to start the car & let me listen to it. :-) | ||
| Ryan Sabga (Sherpa23)
Junior Member Username: Sherpa23 Post Number: 162 Registered: 5-2003 |
I also wouldn't buy a car from a dealer that wouldn't let me test drive the car that I am interested in buying. However, it goes further than that. In a way it's akin to their not believing that you're a person that should own a car like that, which pisses me off to no end. I'm 28, and although I make more than sufficient money for the cars that I am looking at, you wouldn't necessarily be able to tell that by just looking at me. However, if I am treated like I'm not "the right type" to buy one of these cars, and one F-car dealership has treated me that way, then I take my business elsewhere. There's nothing worse than being made to feel that you have to fit in to someone else's standards. And what makes it worse is that it's not as if I have time to go car shopping all time. If I'm there it's because I'm serious and most of the time, I have my checkbook or a cashier's check. Interestingly enough, I have only shown a cashier's check once, and it was on my way out the door after having been treated rudely by a salesman at the aforementioned dealership. After that, I stopped bringing the cashier's check because I realized that if it actually gets the point where I need to show someone, I'm already insulted and about to leave. It's one thing if it's the standard for everyone but if proving you have the cash is something for those the salesman deems the "wrong type" then it's crap. Incidentally, I have driven a couple of cars at dealerships but it turned out that none of the cars - all 360's - were quite right for me. Yes, I am picky. | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
Advanced Member Username: Countachxx Post Number: 3190 Registered: 2-2001 |
Once I really get to the point to buy an F40 I'll probably ask to see how many track events the car has done. No garage queens for me, thank you  | ||
| Ralph Koslin (Ralfabco)
Member Username: Ralfabco Post Number: 829 Registered: 3-2002 |
Could it also be that the salesman is to lazy too get off his *** and spend 15 minutes down the road with the customer ? or does the salesman have the ability using the Jedi Mind Trick to determine who has the ability to aspire to Ferrari ownership based on their own intuition or snobbery ? I am not talking about giving joy rides to everyone walking thru the door. Not everyone fits into the category of the who's who of Ferrari ownership. Clothes, cologne, and sunglasses are not the beginning and ending of judgeing of who does and does not fit the profile of a buyer. Oh it is a fair to assume somewhat the customer based on what they wear. However one should also figure if the customer also is asking the correct questions. That is too bad if the salesman does not like it. Sales do not always result in a sale. LOL. What does the dealership need salesman for if you can always determine who the real buyer is ? There are other fields to pursue if you are looking for something that is more of an everyday career. BTW: This applies to all upscale marques. This does not apply to only one marque. | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
Advanced Member Username: Countachxx Post Number: 3180 Registered: 2-2001 |
I usually buy my cars at dealerships far from where I am so I usually hire a local mechanic to do a PPI for me. If you've been in the FCA or FOC for a long while a lot of dealers will probably recognize you. | ||
| Norm (32storm)
Junior Member Username: 32storm Post Number: 51 Registered: 5-2003 |
It is the sales person's job to qualify the buyer. A car dealership, or even with a private party, is not a ride at Disney World. A lot of tire kickers and aspiring test pilots. The challenge for a good sales person is to determine a serious buyer with the financial means, from someone looking for a story to tell their friends. But, I agree that I wouldn't buy without a test drive. Just a matter of how you structure the deal.This also can be a good indication on how you will be dealt with by the dealer. If they jerk you around over a test drive, what's going to happen when you have a problem? | ||
| Ralph Koslin (Ralfabco)
Member Username: Ralfabco Post Number: 828 Registered: 3-2002 |
Interesting how quite a few people here have different stories from several dealerships. I agree that you need to test drive a vehicle to see if it is for you. Especially a used vehicle. I think that a new vehicle should not necessarily be test driven. I tried to test drive a Boxer and was told that you cannot drive it until you basically buy it. I figured this was going to happen being that it was the first time since I was around 12 years old that I was in an authorized dealership. I had an appointment to view the car. I showed the saleman a reciept from a PPI I had done at F of BH. I suppose he was not moved that I had already spent cash on an unsuccesful (out of state) PPI. We were fairly close on the price "before" I asked for a test drive. I explained that I did not need to go by myself. I figured maybe if this thing impressed me like a bat out of hell I would conclude what the heck ~ Just give him a little more ? I did not ask again for the test drive. The hell with it. Then I went to another dealer and they really treated me nice. I was even given catalogs for vehicles that I did not ask for. If the salesman is a jerk, stand up and walk to the door. | ||
| Modified348ts (Modman)
Member Username: Modman Post Number: 732 Registered: 11-2001 |
When I was down at F of OC they let me test drive their Ferraris no problem but you have to be serious about it and some good salespeople can tell if you are esp. if you come back twice. | ||
| Brian W (Jetx)
Junior Member Username: Jetx Post Number: 153 Registered: 6-2003 |
>>.i wouldn't spend money at any car dealership, regardlesss of marquee, that wouldn't let me take a test drive.<< Funny, about a year ago in the OC Register, there was a big article about Newport Autosport, and the article touted how the salesmen wouldn't allow any test drives. Period. The story highlighted on a F-40 buyer from out of state that was serious, had the money, flew his mechanic down, etc. but couldn't even get behind the wheel. I won't go into my experiences about Newport Autosport (no, never tried to get a test drive). However in Southern California, I get the snobby attitude from many dealerships. In the Bay Area, at three different dealers I was thrown the keys and told to have fun. Once at Stanford European (twice if you count that I bought the first car), twice at Ferrari of Los Gatos. They may have been more open minded given all the guys in shorts and t-shirts who were walking billionaire geeks during the tech boom. But still, treated with respect, etc. I'd also like to point out that all four times, I never asked for a test drive, just asked about the car I was interested in and subsequently thrown the keys. I also made it a point never to drive a car that was way out of my price league at the time, thereby wasting everyones time. | ||
| Gregory (Prugna_328)
New member Username: Prugna_328 Post Number: 29 Registered: 9-2003 |
I agree with Doody | ||
| Jordan Witherspoon (Jordan747_400)
Intermediate Member Username: Jordan747_400 Post Number: 2030 Registered: 12-2002 |
Some of you guys forgot the incident we had a while back on this site...A very similar theft! A man walked into a dealership, asked for a test drive, then dropped hte salesman off asking to see how the car feels without anyone else in teh car. He takes off with a 328. I wonder if its a related theft? | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Intermediate Member Username: Doody Post Number: 1799 Registered: 11-2001 |
one of the jobs of a salesperson is to qualify the buyer. some salesfolks are really slick at this. some are really not slick at it at all. i wouldn't spend money at any car dealership, regardlesss of marquee, that wouldn't let me take a test drive. if there's a car on the lot that doesn't belong to a cusotmer, it's available for a ride. if i'm told it isn't available for a drive, they can just bugger off. i'd suggest y'all do likewise. life is too short to spend time with amateurs. doody. | ||
| Slag (Slag_328gts)
New member Username: Slag_328gts Post Number: 5 Registered: 9-2003 |
At Newport Autosports in Newport Beach, CA - I was told that we would have to very serious and agree on a ballpark sales price before they would let you test drive - The car I was looking at was a 1989 328 - The salesman did mention they had a "bad" experience a few weeks prior. Plus, it doesn't help that although I am 32, I look like I'm 18. | ||
| Michael C. James (Mjames)
Junior Member Username: Mjames Post Number: 136 Registered: 6-2003 |
Independents/Used-car dealers vary, I was handed the keys to a 328 by a dealer and told to "HAVE FUN!" Which I did..... Factory-Authorized dealers can vary, too....during a FCA meeting at Ferrari of Washington, the new (at that time) 456 GT was in the showroom. Being a young guy who was obviously not in the market, I thought at-best I would be able to look at the car. The salesman there took one look at me and asked "Would you like to go for a drive?" Uh, sure..... In other dealerships, I've been given the cold shoulder that borders on rude and arrogant. Piss on 'um... The big thing to note here is that the guy who stole the F-50 didn't have any valid identification to verify, and he had no deposit in-hand whatsoever for a three-quarter million dollar car. If I'm a serious buyer for this calibre of automobile, I bring some serious 'flash cash' to demonstrate my intentions (nobody wants to have their time wasted by a tire-kicker). This F-50 thing had red flags all over it. I'm guessing that if I wanted to visit Algar now, I'd need to send a visit request via fax and send my TS Security Clearance over.....with State Department references attached. Nobody is getting test drives at Algar anymore. | ||
| Ryan Sabga (Sherpa23)
Junior Member Username: Sherpa23 Post Number: 161 Registered: 5-2003 |
After reading the Stolen F50 thread, I am curious as to how many of you were able to test drive cars at your dealer prior to purchasing your Ferrari. I have heard that may dealers deny test drives to customers. Have many people had this experience where they weren't allowed test drives and if you weren't, were you pissed off or not? |