its still a few months until i can buy a Z (probably an 04 model by then) but i really badly want to test drive a Z, just to make sure it is what i want to be getting my hopes up for, and eventually getting... you know?

hell, i have even planned on putting 15k down for this car
but the dealers wont let me do a test drive until im ready to give them the money on that same day
well they can burn in hell, cause its driving me crazy
i need to see if this car drives as well as im thinking it does

they are all concearned about mileage and all, just 15 miles, and i do plan on buying from them...
*sigh*


going crazy...


look- im even taking a gander at a WRX
the nissan dealership is possibly about to lose money
i bet ol' mick will let me test drive a subie

 

yeah theyll let your drive a wrx, they arent selling like the Zs they are also a full production car. now if you asked to drive a STI, they might tell you to take a hike.

I can say they typicly will not allow you to take it over 4000RPM, and since its a turbo and awd, without pushing it, you have a pretty weak car... yes I test drove one a while back. wasnt impressed.

its understandable if you have zero intention of buying the car why should they let you drive it? come back when your ready.

just curious but how old are you? nothing against you if your young, thats cool, but that would be a big strike against them letting you drive it, they probably wouldnt think you have any intention at all.

they dont care about sales in 5 months, they care about what they can sell now.

 

don't worry... i had the same problem when i was looking for my z. i'm 22 yrs. old and the salesman didn't take me seriously and instead tried to sell me an altima. just go to a different dealership. try to find a dealership that has a "demo" car to test drive. or call the dealership ahead of time to schedule a test drive. good luck.

btw... the z looks way better than the wrx

 

yeah, i agree
im not such a big fan of the wrx's styling... but you gotta love the hood scoop

also, im 21, and i hate ties, so i guess that would mean that those bastards down at streeter smith arent going to take me seriously unless im coming back there in an air force uniform, with a briefcase full of money and a gun in my hand, while im saying 'i want a daytona blue performance Z... get me that damn fast'



hmm, naw, i guess i'll just do things slowly from wherever im stationed at... there's probably a greater chance of error if i come back to this dealership, having called in my order well in advance, being perfectly clear on what i wanted, the color, the package, the options and all that
i know i'll wind up with a tricked out se-r by some completely freakish accident ... time to kill

these are the kind of things that happen to me
i dont know why they do
things have been better ever since i started planning in advance for this kind of stuff



in the meantime, i think i'll go try to find a demo car
you think they would have that kind of info online? or do i have to track down all of the area nissan dealers and ask?

 

I bought my 996tt when I was 22 and the Porsche sales person didn't take me seriously until I signed the check. I never know this could happen at Nissan dealers too

 

Sorry...

I'm an old man and you could tell they did not want to give me a test drive. The sales man told me "we don't usually give test drives in the Z". The Z (which I bought) only had 6 miles on it. Of course, after I bought it I'm glad everyone DID NOT test drive MY car. If it would have had over 10 miles on it I wouldn't have bought it anyway.

I can see it both ways --everyone wants to drive it, but no one wants to buy one with miles on it, and I'm sure the dealers don't want to have a Z as a demo.

Take my word... a demo drive is NOT necessary. This car is so sweet --you can buy it without driving it. Trust me!!

Peace

 

No, you definately need to test drive it. NEVER buy a car you haven't even driven yet.

I have had this problem also, I got turned away by two dealerships because I told them I probably wouldn't be buying that day (I like to try to be honest).

This pissed me off because if I really wanted to, I could go and buy one right now. Also, as soon as my other vehicle sells, I will really need a another car quickly! So...I called ahead and asked about a Z at a dealership. I went there and lied and told them that I would probably buy right then if I liked it enough.

I actually took a slightly used (easier way to get a test drive) Track out for a spin. Then I told them that I would think about it. The truth is, Nissan would likely be kinda pissed to find that dealerships are refusing test drives alltogether.

Oh yeah, I am 26 and dress like a bum, because I have to wear nice clothes all day at work. Oh yeah, and I have an Engineering degree and work at a very prestegious Fortune 50 company so I shouldn't have salesmen telling me "No, you cant go drive one...screw that!"

Oh, btw. I loved the car, but honestly, I felt like it was just fast enough to justify my buying it...it didn't feel like a Camario SS (redneck rocket) or Corvette. It felt more like my brother's modded Altima. BUT, it was nice and quick and felt like it was on rails, plus that car is so damn sexy that I feel like I want it anyhow, I will just mod it some later. But, you should drive one to judge that for yourself.

 

no you definitly need to test drive it. but if there is 0! chance of you buying that car, its really not fair to put any miles on it. I was allowed to test drive mine in novemeber, and test drives were UNHEARD of at that time. but the car was basicly sold. we were ready to buy it right there, just had to drive it, took the car out with 7 miles on it. bought it 30 min later.

 

If the dealer doesn't have a dedicated demo car, they aren't going to let you drive one you don't intend to buy, i.e. not a test drive but just a "check before purchase" drive.

Either way, never go into a dealer telling them you don't intend to buy. They don't want to talk to you if you don't and rightfully so. They are in the business of selling cars that day, not in 5 months. The easiest way around it is to tell them you are seriously interested in buying the car from them. You will NOT buy one without test driving one to be sure, and if they offer you the right deal you'll buy. If that means sitting down at the table with them and negotiating a price then do it. You can walk away at any time.

When I went in to test drive, I technically could have bought, though financially it would've been "not the right time". The dealer initially didn't want to let me (it was raining out). I pointed out that he had a demo car out front. He asked if it would make a difference in whether or not I bought that day, I said yes it would, provided he offers me a good deal. So we took it on a drive. Then we negotiated. To his credit he did come back with a decent, but not great offer. However he wouldn't remove options on the car that were dealer installed that I didn't want and his financing numbers were a bit screwy. So I walked.

Got my test drive, and bought a Z a month later from a dealer who was really willing to both find me the car with the options I wanted and at the price I wanted.

 

I don’t believe it’s necessary to have a demo ride in a Z, unless you are serious. And I would not have bought mine without driving it first, but the ‘test ride’ did not sell me on the car. I did want to be sure there was nothing wrong with it before I signed the line.

Sorry, but I don’t blame the dealer. If I was a dealer I’d really want to be sure an individual was potential a serious buyer. I’m sure they don’t like giving rides in Zs.

On the other hand, they should treat you with respect and not blow you off because of your age, dress, etc. If they don’t treat you respectfully they do not deserve your business. Go elsewhere. Smart dealers know they don’t know if they’ll make a sale or not by judging an individual’s appearance. It’s called DISCRIMINATION!

It is a fine line sometimes. Sorry if you had a bad experience. GOOD LUCK!

Peace

 

Most of the dealers in my area were/are skeptical about letting you take the Z out for a quick spin, especially to people around my age (23). I got a little lucky by taking a friend with me who had purchased quite a few vehicles from that daeler in the past. Dealer knew that my friend was serious and assumed he wouldn't bring anyone else with him who wasn't serious as well and well . . . I was serious. Picked it up a few days later.

 

I just dont believe in buying before test driving I'm sorry, despite how great the 350 is to some people its not right for everyone. Hell I can go in a test drive 75k Bimmers no prob, I have a 350 its nice but its not a prestigous 100k car and should be test driveable just like any other car in this price range.

 

you may just need to be patient. If you don't plan on buying it for a few months, then don't bother. Driving now and having to wait is just going to torture the hell out of you.

When you're ready "in a couple months", go in with all the confidence in the world (preferably pre-approved by a bank) and be ready to deal...but ONLY AFTER a test drive!

 

thats true but they are probably justr filtering joy rides as opposed to potentials .probably just treating it as a hot commodity.

 

I test drove the Z in the beginning of June and the dealer didn't even ask me for my driver's lisence. Those who can't get a test drive are either too honest or not pushy enough. You have to play the dealer's game if you want to test drive the car. They want you to spend the money, the more the merrier, so lead them to believe that you have it. I called the dealer and tried to sound like I don't know sh.t about the car. I asked him about the price and he told me between 35-42 gees. I asked when can I test drive it and he said right now if I wanted too. They thought they got a sucker on their hands and I played one for them. I test drove it in a week after I called them, and after the test drive they started to work on me. "What will it take to put this car into your garage?" I heard that a million times before . Don't get me wrong, I am dead serios about buying a Z, but on my terms not theirs. I told them that I want a 2004 model and would buy it from them, but they made a mistake and lied to me that in 2004 Nissan will be making only convertables. I already posted that story, but to repeat - I called NNA and they told me that it was a lie. The sales guy lied to me, so now I had cards in my hands. He called me a week ago and asked if I am still interested. I said I am interested but since he lied twice (about the price and that they will be no coupe) I will buy it from they only $500 over invoice and he agreed. Now all I need is to save up a little more and I got a deal.

Remember that when salesman assumes that you are a sucker it doesn't mean that you are lying. Just play them as they wouldn't mind playing you.