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When I buy clothes, I REFUSE to try them on in the fitting room. I get such a thrill trying them on when I get home. You never know how Large a Large really is!!!
A test drive takes what 20 minutes? Too lazy to spend 20 minutes on the 2nd largest purchase one makes?
Not test drive a vehicle before you buy? You would have to be insane, I don't care what the badge or sticker is on the car. Places that sell 6 figure cars KNOW when someone that can afford a 6 figure car comes in.
Yes, I usually test drive a vehicle I'm interested in. However, the two most expensive cars I've purchased were not test driven. The most expensive one (MSRP $71+k) was bought, essentially, sight unseen; I did not see it in person until it's off-loaded from the carrier.
On a side note, if the vehicle I'm interested in was located way too far to check out and I was hell bent on it, I would request the seller to have a professional pre-purchase inspection (PPI) done on my dime. I did this to 2-3 E36 M3s with very rare color combination.
I can see that pos.. Its along the same line as i noted in my post..
Are you saying I have to test drive a new Boss 302 before I decide to buy? Do you think I might be swayed into buying an M-3 instead?
I know the M-3 is a great car and It probably rides nicer than the Mustang, has better resale value than the Boss. and OMG I might even like it better than the Boss but I really want the Boss so do I really need a test drive.
As long as I fit behind the wheel I'm sold.
Ok ok you have me too.. I was thinking of the average person buying an average used car. I should be 'thinking outside the box'
When I buy clothes, I REFUSE to try them on in the fitting room. I get such a thrill trying them on when I get home. You never know how Large a Large really is!!!
A test drive takes what 20 minutes? Too lazy to spend 20 minutes on the 2nd largest purchase one makes?
You make a good point but how do you take a test drive on your largest purchase that arguable you will keep longer and will have a bigger influence on your life and pocketbook?
So you take a 20 min. test drive and then you are sold on the new car.
But you walk through a new home, take a look, check out the schools and then buy a house for 10-20 times the cost of a car and yet you have no idea if you new neighbor is a serial killer.
Auto test drives might make you feel good for 20 minutes but you have no idea what you really bought until you drive it for a month.
Are there honestly people who wouldn't test drive a car before buying (or have someone they trust do it for them)? I can't imagine what the reason would be for someone to do that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tourian
I can't imagine not driving a USED car before buying.
Quote:
Originally Posted by las vegas drunk
I have bought a few cars on Ebay from out of state that I got sight unseen. Otherwise, I always test drive the car.
The last quote answers the first two.
I'll test drive stuff that interests me over the years, or friends cars, or whatever, just because I'm interested in cars, not because I necessarily want to buy that car or that kind of car. I've owned and driven so many different cars that I have a real good idea of what I fit in and find comfortable.
My daily driver BMW740iL was bought on ebay from a wholesaler up in Stamford, CT. I live just outside of Baltimore, MD. I had them take a few pictures of areas I knew were important to assessing condition. I paid the deposit when I clicked the "buy it now" button, drove up to the dealership that weekend and drove the car home. The "test drive" was the trip home. It had no service records, but the stuff I had them take pictures of gave me the information I needed. It had 143k miles on it at the time. Now, 4+ years later and another 40k miles on it, and I'm completely happy with the purchase.
Bought my Range Rover off craigslist from Long Island, NY from a private owner with all service records. Flew up, drove home. No test drive. Also been very happy with it over the last couple years.
And both are vehicles that have reputations for being costly to own. You just have to know what you're looking at before you even look at it.
Ebay has several buyer protection protocols in place, its not like going to Hwy 69 Motors and Pawn Shop and buying a used car ten minutes before they close and having a "30 seconds or 30 feet" warranty. I've never bought a car from Ebay, but I have sold several, if the car turns out to have a serious mechanical condition or prior damage disclosed they will step in - but not just for ticky tack stuff or buyer's remorse. I could comfortably buy a used vehicle sans a test drive with that sort of arrangement.
20 minutes for a test drive? Ha! By the time the slicked up car salesman goes through his schpiel, you'll be there for a lot longer than that.
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Car Games
I was thinking of the average person buying an average used car.
I should be 'thinking outside the box'
