The thing you're missing here is that dealerships offering a car like the 350Z get a ton of joyriders. They like to show up, run the [censored] out of the car, then hand it back to them and say "thanks for the ride, but no thanks." Meanwhile, you waste the time of the salesperson and lower the value of the car with each mile.

It's really only the less expensive sports cars that get this policy from dealerships. I had a very difficult time getting a test drive in a WRX, especially without a salesperson sitting with me. But after running my license (I'm nearly 30 and my driving record has been immaculate during the last 10 years), they eased off and explained why they were giving me a hard time. And I think it's a reasonable explanation. They said they wouldn't have hesitated if I wanted to take out something like an Outback, just the WRX. My guess is you could have test-driven a Frontier without difficulty. People don't really drive that for fun. It's mainly the 350Z that's going to attract people who aren't serious about buying, but think that they can pretend like they are. Which, in fairness, was exactly what you were doing.

Frankly, if you're not willing to sit down and talk numbers with them for 30 minutes, why should they spend 30 minutes letting you blow their Z's value out its exhaust? If they want you to buy the car without a test drive, that's different, but if they don't have this "are you serious" policy they're just going to get taken advantage of repeatedly by people like you.

Finally, what's the big deal about the guy not knowing how much your X5 is worth? I didn't even know what type of car that is until I looked it up, let alone how much it's worth, because I'd never waste a cent on a "luxury SUV" and haven't wasted a second examining that market. Hell, I'm impressed when the salesperson actually knows more about the car he's selling than I do, forget knowing more about my car. Which my Infiniti salesperson did. Didn't hurt that she was really cute too.

-Jack

Black obsidian / graphite '03 Coupe premium nav

 

JDMan, great post.

Dan O
Eaton Corporation

 

You said you just wanted to compare the Z to a car you already ordered.

You wanted to fool around with their car, and they (correctly) sized you up as a player, not a buyer.

 

Tangent post? Where's the love? LOL I need a hug!!! LMAO
[img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]

"Use the Forced Induction Luke!"
-Jedi

 

FYI, people do (sometimes) trade in more expensive cars on less expensive cars. It is possible to get a check back on a "sale".

-john

 

man, thats retarded...*** that dealership...if he were really a good salesman, he'd let you "test" drive it...he could of just sat in the passenger seat with you if he's so afraid of you "joyriding it"...you know what, you could of fell i love with it and cancelled your G order (god forbid lol) and got yourself a Z...but nope he fuked up...or maybe its just fate telling you not to cancel the order man lol

John H.
Current: 2001 Infiniti G20t
Ordered: 2003 Infiniti G35 Coupe - ETA: May '03

 

What kind of X5 did you get for $65k? The base price of one is $39k, the base price of another is $49k, and the base price of the last one is $67k. You must have gotten a lot of packages....or not

 

i can think of about a million things i would do with $65k rather than put it into an SUV that is trying to be a car.

I just dont get the whole "suv that drives like a car" crowd.

Dan O
Eaton Corporation