Re: General - Test driving policies at dealers

[Evan Arnerich <arnerich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Stephen West wrote:

>     My question is this to anyone who was test driven new BMWs:
>
>        - do you, or have you ever requested to test drive the cars
without
>        a sales rep. present?
>
>        - Were you allowed to do so on a consistent basis?

So what would the salesperson have done if you tested a Z3? I'd guess
they wouldn't make an issue of it. In my experience, the sales people
_usually_ treat customers with the same amount of respect and courtesy
that the customer treats the sales people. I've never had any problems
taking any car without the sales rep, but that's only my experience,
YMMV.

>     I am afraid that this is another case of the 'typical' poor
customer
>     service attitude that seems to affect far too many BMW
dealerships.
>     As a point of reference, a short time ago, we stopped at a Lexus
>     dealer about 20 minutes before close.  We were looking at a LX450
SUV.
>     A sales rep came out to talk to us (he knew we were driving the
>     328is).  Without any questions or hard sell, he threw us the keys
to
>     the $60000 SUV, without even asking for a copy of my driver
license.

If that's an important factor in deciding what car you buy, then buy a
Lexus. If, on the other hand, you want the best value in a sports sedan,
get a BMW (or keep yours).

Evan

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