Dealership would not let me test drive???

[lbls1]

Ridiculous. The next dealer that says that, tell them that they just blew a sale and walk out the door! BTW, if you are really pissed then you can call customer service and complain. At least doing this the dealer will know that they screwed up and lost a sale.

[Fastcat3]

This recall with the fob and key is not popular with those of use that already have gen V Camaros with most of us not participating. It is even more ridiculous to stop test drives at dealerships because of it. Way to sell cars!

[djm96z28]

Originally Posted by SeaWolfLestat

I went into Nimnicht Chevy in Jax, FL to test drive a Chevy SS couple of weeks ago and they wanted me to sign a contract before I could test the car....I told them to pack sand.
They only had two SS's on the lot and one was being driven by the owner.
Little did they know....I was already preapproved for the loan...... and they could have had the deal done that afternoon.
I took my toys and went home..... now I am shopping other dealers.

When I bought my 2012, I had been to several Jax dealers. I had sat in plenty Camaros, but no one would let me take one out for a test drive. Stopped by Coggin Chevy on Philips Hwy and was approached within a couple minutes by a salesman. Told him I was looking at Camaros but haven't driven one yet. He said I could drive as many as I wanted, and ended up buying mine that afternoon. I couldn't get anyone to say Hi to me at Jerry Hamm Chevy. Strange how they operate sometimes.

[AStrayCat]

I had a similar issue back in April before the recall when I was shopping for my Camaro. Walked into the local dealership and explained that I was looking to trade up for my Cobalt and wanted to look at a Camaro.

The salesperson visibly looked at me from toe to head and shook her head, said I couldn't test drive any. She even said that there were none left.

I told her I walked past four Camaros out front on my way in and she said "Oh, uh, I think those are all sold. In fact, there's no Camaros left available in the province."

So I walked out from that dealership and called the next town over, asking if they had any Camaros available. They said they had about a dozen or so. I asked if I could test drive one (over the phone I asked this). They said "Absolutely! You'll need a credit check before you can test drive a ZL1, but we have several LS and LTs you can try."

Needless to say I didn't purchase my car from my local dealership... But yeah if you don't look like you're 40 years old with a $100k+ salary, many dealers are quick to judge.

[jdsblueray2013]

When me and my son test drove my wifes future 2ss rs, the salesman had to ride along. I didn't care, and floored it anyway!

[invaderzim]

Salesman didn't know how to drive manual. So he just gave me the keys and said to drive it around and he'd wait in the lobby for us. I had to back it out myself. And drove it out into the highway. Came back and then he asked if I wanted to talk about price then fill out an application. I brought the car home soon after.

[homewrecker]

To me and it's sad to say, I have very skewed outlook on dealers. When I was looking for my daily driver I went to a dealer where 5 salesmen were just hanging it out like they we're at a barbecue, full vulture mode, the first thing that came out of my mouth was, "how you doing crooks, where's the camaros at?" Thought I share that.

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[TurboNarwhal]

I was actually pleasantly surprised when I went to test drive camaros being in my mid twenties that the dealers had no problem handing me the keys. As a matter of fact I test drove my car twice the first time was with a salesman the second time a week later I wet back with a buddy got handed the keys and we took off sans salesman. The fact that they voluntarily handed me and a friend keys to a V8 car like that was shocking. I figured I would be hassled more.

I am fairly confident this would have been case at both dealerships I went to had the other car not been in their detail shop. They did take me back to look at it though.

[CamarosThree]

Originally Posted by rgreene1971

The wife and I were at a dealership here in california, dodge dealership. I drove in with my 2010 camaro and was looking at challengers (no I am not getting one or getting rid of my camaro). The sales guy was showing off a 392 model telling me how it would blow my socks off after driving my camaro, I asked him for a test drive with him and was informed no SRT models can be test drove without paperwork for bank approval done first. I told him thank you and proceeded to my car were I immediately opened my cutouts and proceeded to leave setting off several car alarms.

This mature behavior actually reinforces why you didn't get to test drive.

[Jts6pt2]

Bob hook Chevrolet in louisville handed me the keys being twenty test driving my 10 2ss and didn't say one word about how I drove it and the. Worked like dogs to get the price down for me to buy it and I walked out happy and as were they find another dealer

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[PalmerGA]

Originally Posted by 45thCamaro

I wouldn't be surprised if it has to do with the recall.

That would be my guess.

If they're not selling any Camaros because of a safety issue, I really doubt they'd let anyone test drive one either... unless the ignition key issue had been addressed. Of course, you'd think the FIRST thing they would do is change out the keys on ALL of their Camaros on their lot - new and used.



I would point blank ask them about it, but they probably think it's better to deny you a test drive for some jerk-tail reason... rather than tell you their cars have been declared potentially unsafe to drive.

[PalmerGA]

Originally Posted by Jts6pt2

Bob hook Chevrolet in louisville handed me the keys being twenty test driving my 10 2ss and didn't say one word about how I drove it and the. Worked like dogs to get the price down for me to buy it and I walked out happy and as were they find another dealer

This post makes such good sense...

[southview]

had the same thing happen to me at Carl Black in Orlando. Chatted with their online salesman and told them I wanted to drive the ZL1 with 2100k miles on it. Went to the dealership an hour away using the toll roads. Met a salesman when I got there and told him which car I was there to look at. He said no problem and went to get the keys. 5 minutes later comes back and said we can't test drive. Manager says no. I asked to talk to the manager. Manager tells me they don't do test drives on performance vehicles, "company policy". I explained I had talked to 2 different sales members and this was not mentioned by either. Also took off work, drove 1 hour and spent money on tolls and this was BS! He asked me if I was going to buy the vehicle?! I said not without a test drive. He told me people buy all the time without driving first and he as had vehicles totaled from test drives and he can't go against company policy. I told him this was BS and I would never buy anything from this dealership! Really wanted to test drive a 6 speed though. I have test driven an auto at another dealer in Cocoa with no problem and the salesman even encouraged me to get into it! F@#K CARL BLACK of Orlando!!

[SatSky08]

Originally Posted by jd10013

salesman came along when I test drove mine, but made him squeeze his ass into the back seat . but he was pretty cool. took me out onto the interstate and once we got going, told me to downshift to 3rd and punch it. said if any cops were around they'd see the dealer tags and understand.

Pretty cool! I did something similar many years ago. Wanted to test drive an S-10 and the salesman thought he was going to drive it while my wife and I rode along (!). So, I got in the middle with my big left foot on the left side of the transmission hump and my wife on the right side. He quickly realized that wasn't going to work and gave us the key. (Didn't buy it -- it was a four and wouldn't get out of its own way. Went elsewhere and bought a V6.)

Can't believe how dumb some of these dealers are. My local dealer had a used 911 Carrera cabriolet on the lot last year and I stopped just to look at it. Salesman handed me the key and told me to take it for a drive, and he knew I wasn't interested in buying it. Now, that's how you build a customer relationship!