Being taken for a fool ?

[monkeylad]

Hi guys,

Currently driving a 1.4 DSG Match golf 2010 mk6, only 20 so dont hold it against me.

Only had it about 6 months done roughly 5k miles on it and am a little bored of it. Been looking at the R but I have booked 3 test drives with 2 different dealerships and all have phoned up cancelling for one reason or another and I have know been told by a third dealership they dont think i have the money to splash out on a 35k car. Fair enough I look young probably 17-18 but can they actually do this ?

I have already brought my golf up front with the help of a part exchange and I told them im not looking to upgrade until after im 21 (insurance drop) which is in half a year and by then I will have enough cash to stump up hopefully after they give me a feasable discount.

Is this a fair way to treat customers ? The first dealership was the one i orgianally brought the car from although I did have a lot of trouble with them and they became inpatient with me after i kept trying to get free things and knock money of the car.

Another question regarding the R.....are these cars sort after from criminals, will I have it pinched off my drive one night ?

[Andy-GTI]

Yes they can, they don't have to deal with anyone if they don't want to.

They've probably had their fair share of timewasters/chancers/test pilots in the past and are selective about test drives in expensive cars.

[skippy]

To be honest buddy, I don't think you would get insurance on an R at your age, or it will be a ridiculous premium with a massive excess, if I were you I would stay put with your Golf for the time being, frustrating through it may be.

[trix]

To be honest buddy, I don't think you would get insurance on an R at your age, or it will be a ridiculous premium with a massive excess, if I were you I would stay put with your Golf for the time being, frustrating through it may be.

+1
Clearly you didn't get the scirocco when you were looking before earlier this year (you mentioned insurance being one of the factors you were reviewing at the top of the list, and & that was a 1.4).
I was at the point of desperately waiting for my insurance to come down at 21 not that long ago & it really doesn't come down by much, 25 is more the milestone to hit & even that won't make mountains of difference.
Have you actually been & got prospective quotes on an R? That is the first place to start & be realistic about what you can stretch to. I'd love a sporty higher insurance bracket car but being realistic those sorts of cars are there as something to aspire to for when you have the experience and/or money. A possibly controversial comment I saw last week was "if you can't afford to crash it, you can't afford it" but I think its a good one to bear in mind

S

[wigit]

some dealerships may have a mimimum age for test pilots, i've seen 21 applied for courtesy cars in the past

[Ryy]

I think it depends on the garage. If you state this to another garage, where you're coming from that you have been "fobbed" off by other garages, they may give you a shot, but at the end of the day (bad business in some peoples eyes or not), they have a £35k+ car that they are selective about who drives it. That's fair do's. No matter what you look at in life, some people will just never (through whatever means) be able to afford a car like that. It's not a standard Corsa or Fiesta etc. So the above post saying it's up to them who they sell to is right.

I've had it happen to me. I've only been driving 3 years come March and when I wanted an A5 twice Audi garages told me they didn't think I could afford it to which I thought was a bit harsh (being older than you and I guess maybe being a bit pompus in that I COULD afford it and was probably on more than the guy doing the selling - bar any outrageous bonus they may get ) 3rd Garage (in Stafford) I went to them told them exactly the same stuff and explained the situation and told them I may not be buying it there and then but needed a feel for the car first. They only had the 3.0TDI and so I tried that. Worked out with the money it was there for and the finance they offered (after bartering too!) was not a good deal so I said thanks but no thanks. A few weeks later called up a VW garage to test a roc and had no issues. I originally wanted to try the R but thankfully (I guess!) they didn't have one there as I was fearing for MPG and it was a gut-call as I just had to make a decision on a new car!

Regarding insurance, the insurance was a remarkable £862 for the Scirocco R fully comp. Surprisingly less than the 2.0TSI I have now (though with declared non-engine mods). Not bad for only 2 years no claims in the 2 years I've been driving, but agreed I am over 25 (not by much though!)

Needless to say I drove up to the one Audi garage, happy with my VW purchase to but some carpet mats for my brothers A3. Same guy "James" was there and I quickly pointed to me lovely Scirocco and said. That could of been one of your A5's mate. Smiled, got the mats and walked off.

That doesn't mean he was wrong to do what he did, but I guess it's just a sign of the times we live in and one they have to live with as I'm sure many potential customers are put off by being branded tyre kickers etc.

[Strat]

I can see how if you tell them you aren't going to be buying it, at least for a year, and you just want to see what its like at this early stage, they are likely to view this as little more than a joyrider and so make assumptions as to whether you can afford to buy it etc.

however, if you go in, at least pretending you're in the market for one, how dare they say you haven't got the money to buy one. for all they know, you're incredibly wealthy so to be so presumptuous as to refuse your custom is unacceptable in my view.