Test drives of other cars

[Sootchucker]

What's more telling in the responses so far is that all Marques mentioned are German.

To be honest, I did (for a brief moment also consider a Focus ST3, but I didn't even test drive it. As I'm not from the playstation generation, the dash looked like a cluttered mess with buttons everywhere, and I knew after sitting in it for 3 minutes that no matter how good it was (and to be fair it's probably an excellent car), I knew I couldn't live with that interior (especially as the interior is where you will be spending most of your time).

After having a few French cars for the wife before our VW days, all plagued with issues, there was nothing in the Golf size from Peugeot, Citroen or Renault that shook my tree so they were out.

Quite liked the Range Rover Evoke, but a quick look at the price list ruled that one out.

Did actually have a new shape Astra for a week as a company car a short while ago. Liked the interior although like the Focus, just a few too many buttons, and to be honest it drove very well. The only thing that put me off was reliability. I have at least 3 friends with Vauxhalls, and all 3 have had their cars back in multiple times for problems, some of which are still not sorted, then of course there's the image. Sorry to say, but if it's the choice of driving a VW or a Vauxhall for similar money, the VW would win everytime !

Am I a badge snob, probably 

[matchboy]

Drove and looked at quite a few cars before I got my GTI and the missus got her GTD.  Totally agree with everyone's experience of Audi dealers, really think that they're selling Ferrari's - one particular salesman tried to tell me that the A3 2.0 TDI S-Line that we test drove was quicker and far superior than my (then) brand new Mk7 GTI - I of course took the bait, and hit him with a load of stats etc - he soon stfu.  Utter t0ssers.  And whilst the interior of an A3 is very nice, the car itself (and the petrol version) was dull to drive.  I haven't driven an S3 to be fair though.

BMW, totally different experience - drove a 125d and a M135i - both great cars, but just too samey looking for me.  Dealers were really good though, and knowledgable.

VW - whilst going for the R, I had mixed experiences of their dealerships - but the one I bought from was great.

Seat - also drove the new Leon FR, that was very nice but just a cheap Golf at the end of the day, and the interior shows.  Nice motor though, drove really well.

In summary, I'd only buy an Audi if I could spend as little time as possible with the dealer.  The new TT interests me as the interior is lovely, but I'm yet to drive one.  For me, the best dealer experience is at BMW (based on my experience over the years), and their cars, although 'fleet minded' as has been pointed out, are great to drive, and the interior is a step up.  But I'm still over the moon with the R, IMO nothing comes near it for the money & over package - and the same goes for the GTI and GTD - compare the same cars in all their classes and its a VW win for me.

PS. I wouldn't consider a Focus ST/RS cause I'm not a chav, and I'd rather chew my own arm off than drive a French car 

[hardmonkeys]

When I was looking to trade in my MK5 GT TDI, I decided I didn't want anything less than a VW, From VW Audi, MB and BMW,

Ideally cost wise, I wanted a VW, good quality for not that much money.

VW:- I went back to the dealer I got my Golf from, Breeze in Poole, spoke with the salesman I dealt with then, and he tried to get me into a 12 plate Passat, can't remember the price, it had 46k on it, but wasn't as well spec'd as my Golf,  I didn't really want to downgrade on equipment as such, took a test drive anyway, we went around the block, literally a mile, most sitting in Bank Holiday traffic stop start, wasn't that Impressed. Then it came to money, they offered me £1500 for my Golf, FVWSH, admittedly it had 164k on it, I kindly told them their offer wasn't want I was after, we shook hands and walked away..I had 3 missed calls on my phone in a hour, pestering me to come in and reconsider, they never upped there offer on px..quite pushy towards the end

BMW:- Was ignored for the 30mins I was there, it wasn't even busy, sat in a few 3s and 1s...walked out

Mercedes:- now I walked in here at 15:50 on Sunday before August Bank Hols, but didn't realise the time, yet I was still shown around the car, and offered a test drive on a C class, liked the car, so the salesman advised me to come back the next day to talk figures. It was at this point I realised the time. I had excellent service at MB, wouldn't  hesitate to go back, they offered me 2700 for my Golf, which was an excellent offer, ended up not getting the car, as the wife couldn't get insured on the car, as she had only passed her test 4mths before.

Audi:- went in on the thursday after August Bank Holiday, I expected much of the same as BMW if I'm honest, I've always liked the A4 B8, ever since I had a drive in my Transport managers a few mths before, anyways, I had a look about, was there about 15-20mins browsing, but seen a salesman eyeing me up, he came out, asked if I was ok, told him what I wanted, could afford, and what px I had and what I had been offered at MB. Spent about 2hours with the guy, he got an 2010 A4 that he had just took in as a px, which he had sold to the previous owner 3 yrs before, I looked at the car, noticed a few blemishes which he confirmed would be sorted before I took delivery, took the car for a decent test drive, about 30-35 miles or so, spoke figures, offered me 2500 for the Golf, and took £200 off the purchase price of the Audi, to get the same deal as MB. Drove away in it the following Saturday, I've had a few issues with the car in the last few months, but it's all been sorted quickly and efficiently, sounds like they must be the only decent Audi dealership lol...for your records...Poole Audi...

[mjh_056]

Always do my due diligence its part of the fun of getting a new car as well as assuring that hopefully you do not have to live with something you grow to dislike over next few years.

Had 3 door Audi A3 S line previously and obviously looked at Audi again but my test drive in the new Audi Sportsback pretty much convinced me straight away that would be more open to other models (wanted 5 door) as does look more estate in that guise and the new interior never really grabbed me.

BMW was next and not a test drive here as pretty much disliked them completely in style and interior as had the full showroom walk around and sit. (Quite like the look of new 1 series from what seen from images so will go and have a look next time around at least)

Mercedes was same as above in that was ok with the exterior style but inside?! awful media unit and such narrow windows and views, just felt nasty and claustrophobic

Walked in and out of Lexus as again nothing grabbed me and actually did look at Ford and those interiors?!

This was about time that MK7 was being released and to that point had not really considered a Golf but it was love at first sight in 5 door form as retained the hatchback shape so well.

Trouble was there was no GTi/GTD available to test drive just standard but loved the ride and feel but was little underwhelmed by interior and performance in base model (as would expect) but based on specification and this forum took the decision based on how underwhelmed was by other makes that would take a punt with thinking that could not be worse.

So mine was a half informed selection more by elimination at time than the MK7 turning my head.

Think test drives are essential if get beyond actually liking the car in showroom, as looks are not enough the drive and ride is more important.

Next time around will be easier as expect to be able to get myself a test drive in an S3 and an R which unless the new I series BMW wholly surprises me is the choice between. (looking 3 door next time as be more for personal use than family next time out)

The new Type R will be out by then but think too overstated for me so one way or another it will be German Tech be driving around in.

[monkeyhanger]

Sootchucker: Always looking at a German car? For me, yes. I like getting value for money when i'm willing to drop £400-450 a month on a car. The Germans provide that in spades with their high RRP, high residuals, low (relative to the car on offer) monthly costs. If I was set on a car with poor depreciation because I liked it that much, i'd be buying a nearly new one where someone has taken the hit.

German cars might not be able to sell themselves on impeccable reliability any more, but they still feel like they're built like a tank, are generally modestly handsome long-term (they age well), well equipped on the safety front, economical relative to their output etc. For me they are the whole package.

If I threw all that out of the window, there's not a lot else out there to tempt me. Not interested in offroaders or faux-by-faux, something Fiesta/Polo sized is just a little too small as an every day car for a (currently) one car family, and for similar reasons, something like an Audi TT (or non-German coupe) is just a little impractical for the headroom in the back.

The Golf does everything. If I won the lottery, i'd probably have a Lambo/High end 911 for the seriously fun stuff and an Audi RS6 as my "sensible" car. I guess i'm just drawn to German cars.

The only non German metal that comes close to my desires would be a nearly new Jag (because to buy new would see too much lost in the residuals - the practical/tightarse coming out in me again!  ).

[p3asa]

My experience is pretty much the same as above:

Audi: I drove up to the gate and was greeted with "Do you have an appointment Sir" When I said no I was wanting to look at cars for sale it was a reluctant, Ok park over there. When I walked into the showroom I stood about looking at cars for ages and not a soul approached. Eventually I had to go to the desk and was greeted with "If you haven't made an appointment I doubt anyone will see you but I'll try".  30 minutes later I got someone who just couldn't be bothered. Gave me some figures, said a discount was highly unlikely unless I was ordering anything from an A4 and above. He actually said to me after looking about to see if the coast was clear, "Try online or another garage" I came out really deflated.

Seat: The salesman was about 17. No harm to him but he seemed more interested in my 18year old daughter that I'd taken along. I was interested in the Leon Cupra's that had been advertised that were pre registered. He knew absolutely nothing about them. Wasn't sure what colours were available or if the dealer would actually be able to get me one.  Given that my Golf Mk6 was quickly coming to an end of its PCP I was desperate to change and would have plumped for one of them but the apathy was unbelievable. Walked out of there speechless. He did promise to phone me as he thought they were getting one in but alas no phone call.

VW: Went straight there from Seat and it was totally different. I took along a few quotes I had from Carwow and it was like flies round sh!t, all trying to get me a decent deal but it was another Mk6 albeit the GTD they were trying for but I wanted specific extras which none of the sell out models were showing but they were desperate for a sale. They phoned me 2 months later to see if I had found anything. Obviously really desperate at this point.

Mini: Not a bad service from them. although I took my Mrs along to this one (the only one I took her to) and the sales person was a very attractive middle aged female. In fact most of the sales folk there were female. Needless to say she was given me the usual salesperson patter, making me feel special and getting a great deal etc. I could feel my Mrs wasn't happy at all  I came away from there feeling "Special"  even although it was pricey.
My downfall was taking the Mrs as before hand when the sales folk were throwing figures about like £420 a month I wouldn't bat an eye but given her car was only costing £140 or something a month, I'd just let her in to my world for a split second. School boy error. 

I ended up getting my best deal by phone. Phoning Dundee Audi and doing the deal that way.

[monkeyhanger]

P3asa: Seat apathy? Me too.

They're like Audi dealers, but with the chip on their shoulder for not actually being anything pertaining to semi-prestigious.

When I was looking to get shot of my MK5 Golf that Benfield had repaired to an awful standard following being clattered by a bus, I was drawn to the Seat Leon Cupra. So there I am in a £19k Golf 170TDI, looking to get a test drive in a £19500 Cupra and the salesman at the Seat dealership on Scotswood Road, Newcastle looked at me as if I had turned up in a £200 scrapper looking for a test drive in an Audi R8 just for kicks.

He wanted me to place a deposit before I even had a test drive, to enable to to take a test drive. When I pointed out that my car was only 2% cheaper than the car he was selling, I said I was not prepared to commit to putting a deposit down on a car I hadn't driven. I had a sit in the car, ergonomically fine, but fully of scratch-magnet silver painted plastic pieces all over the dash and trim. Still wasn't getting a test drive... so I said to the fella "it was between this and a VW Scirocco, I guess i'll be off to the VW garage, i'll get a test drive from them".

[p3asa]

I can understand some dealers might get plagued with test drive requests from folk that have absolutely no intention of buying the car and it must take up a lot of the salespersons time but that's shocking. A deposit for any test drive is way out of line especially for a Seat.

[Sootchucker]

Interesting that there's seems to be a recurring theme going on here concerning Audi (Poole Audi except it would seem  ).

Really don't know what it is about them and their superiority complex - do Audi UK actually train them that way or only employ total tw*ts ?

Honestly, I have nothing against Audi, and really like the A3, A4 and absolutely love the A5, and quite liked the thought of an Audi on the drive, but the dealers........wow.. I thought it was just me until I read this. Such a shame as like I say, they are an excellent car and some superb styling, just let down by UK dealers.

Actually had a giggle with one Audi salesperson who was trying to convince me that VW, Skoda and Seat were all pretty similar (i.e. entry level) within the VAG group and that Audi sat quite a long way away at the top of the tree. After pondering this for a moment, I said "wow, I never knew that Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Porsche were all inferior to Audi" - he went bright red and just walked off, my wife who was with me at the time pi55ed herself laughing 

[p3asa]

On the other hand I've found the service from Audi to be above everyone else. Craig will disagree with me here 

You drive to the gate, and the guy at the entrance asks why you are there. He then radios down to the showroom and asks you to drive down.

2 guys come out from the showroom one takes pictures around the car especially the wheels then parks it.

When you go in the showroom the receptionist knows who you are and tells you who will be dealing with you then sits you down with a drink of your choice.

I know its only small touches but 'll gladly pay more for my car to be looked after this way.