Community Forums

aknavy · 12-20-2018, 10:32 AM

A week or so ago, I went to a local dealer to check out a DP and test drive one, as I've never ridden/driven in one. Sales person told me no test drive till we've negotiated price and have a buyers agreement. Is this normal practice? Pretty much turned me off right then, and we didn't do much other than poke around at it and leave.

Tha_Rooster · 12-20-2018, 10:49 AM

I would say that’s normal, no drive until your ready to buy.

FatChance · 12-20-2018, 11:02 AM

Would he take you out on a test drive if he drove? If I don't get to experience the RV on the road in at least one of the front seats, I would probably walk.

aknavy · 12-20-2018, 11:06 AM

Nope, nothing. I don't care if I drive, I just want the experience. I even explained that we were exploring the move from fiver to DP and we needed to experience the greatness of a DP ride before moving forward.

OnTrack · 12-20-2018, 11:06 AM

I have found that local dealerships (consignment mostly) have this policy of no driving until a commitment was made. I would never agree to something like that. I have been to more national type dealers- La Mesa and several different CW- where they were eager to have me take a drive. Of course there is always the private seller who are mostly happy to take a test drive.

znt1186 · 12-20-2018, 11:10 AM

It does not seem normal to me. I have bought four motorhomes, two gas and two dp's. Drove all four before negotiating. If I don't drive I walk before we talk.

MaryKay2 · 12-20-2018, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aknavy

no test drive till we've negotiated price and have a buyers agreement.

In short - you can drive it after you bought it!

Walk away from that dealer.

aknavy · 12-20-2018, 11:13 AM

Yeah, I think I agree. I'm now in Grand Rapids, and have three coaches scheduled for viewing/test drive Saturday at Midway RV. No push back whatsoever. Even offered to pull them inside for me.

GuyG · 12-20-2018, 11:20 AM

No test drive, no sale, no way. I wouldn't even negotiate further.

MaryKay2 · 12-20-2018, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuyG

No test drive, no sale, no way. I wouldn't even negotiate further.

True ... the sales person is telegraphing he doesn't respect the buyer's intelligence.

Cars aren't sold that way.

Podivin · 12-20-2018, 12:00 PM

Dealers around here have different policies, depending on the dealer.
Some will let you drive before you make an offer, others want a signed agreement before you drive it (presumably on the condition that if you don't like it you don't have to buy it).
The dealers that wouldn't let me drive first lost my business when we were shopping for our current RV.

yogus · 12-20-2018, 12:02 PM

We were complete noobs to RVing back in mid-2017 and I went to National Indoor RV in Atlanta. I started wandering around and looking at all the big rigs.

A salesman walked up eventually and asked if I were interested in anything particular. We wanted a BIG RV...

He offered to let me test drive a 43' Newmar Ventana since that was out on the lot. I let him initially take it out since I was terrified to drive it. After he assured me I could do it I drove it. A piece of cake!

I had never driven anything bigger than a U-Haul truck.

We went back numerous times and ended up purchasing from them.

Bottom line: Go to a dealer who lets you kick the tires (so to speak) and lets you test drive. It sold us!

Unicorn Driver · 12-20-2018, 12:08 PM

The local family run dealership where I purchased my first coach allow test drives.

The second and current coach was on consigement with a national chain, they wanted an offer on the table to test drive. Sales guy said it was just to weed out tire kickers. We were very interested in the coach so making an offer was fine.

aknavy · 12-20-2018, 12:08 PM

Cool, I'm glad you all verified that I'm not crazy for wanting to test drive. I don't see sitting down and negotiating a price on something I haven't driven. That's a long process, and I may hate the RV the second I drive it. Too much inconvenience!