Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 09:05:13 -0600 From: Gavin Haslett <thumper_svxnopsamo.com> Subject: Re: Saab Dealer
This is perfectly normal behavior. I've had it both ways; salesman in the passenger seat and "copy your license and go" test-drives. I've also had some where the test drives needed neither... but these are rare and usually occur at dealerships where either (a) they've seen me before, or (b) their lot is very busy with customers and not enough salesmen to cover. Basically the dealerships do this for insurance purposes. Most insurance companies require it... but not all dealerships do it. It's a matter of "do the minimum amount of work you can get away with". As an aside... I found the best test-drive I ever did was in my Pontiac Grand Prix... which I bought 3 weeks after the drive. Anyway, I told the salesman that if he was coming along then he should just answer my questions, not point out the "neat features" while I drive. I told him I was a tough driver and I wanted to see what the car can do... so I took it out on twisty roads, threw it into tire-squealing corners... did some emergency braking to see what the brakes were like... turned off the traction control and made use of the supercharger on take off etc. etc. etc. I got a real good feel for the car... and at the end of the drive the salesman (looking a little whiter than he had when we started), smiled sheepishly and said, "So, what do you think?" I smiled back at him and replied matter-of-factly, "I'll get back to you."... and left. Hehe... I guess part of the reason I bought the car from him was that I felt sorry for the poor bastard after doing that to him... even my SO decided to stay at the dealership while I test-drove the car... she knew what I would be doing ;) -- Gavin Haslett thumper_svxnopsamo.com http://www.geocities.com/thumper_svx "Ahhhh... Mountain Dew... nectar of the geeks!"