[Gibbo]

Test Drive ... How hard should it be !!!!

Very hard in my opinion.

1. It isn't your car
2. It would be rude not to rag it.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

I know you, Beauforty and Viv have had you cars a bit longer than most... so interested to hear what your thoughts are and when you think is the best time to sell. I guess you must be doing around 20,000 miles a year - is this the main reason for the lower trade-in?

I've done 25,000 miles since 1st Sept 06 and it is a factor on resale.

I planned to sell the car after 2 years, but I reckon I slightly underestimated the break even point where the cars value would match it's outstanding finance.

To get there I will need to keep it till Sept 09.

Not fussed about chipping in a few grand if I want to change in the meantime, but at this stage I just want to spend a day with the 335i to see if it's worth the bother.

Originally Posted by Steve A

NFS your too honest, when i want to test drive a new car, i tell them i want the car asap, i am selling my current car privately and have test drove the competition

Steve .. sound advice mate .. I am far to honest with these guys.

Originally Posted by vivekk

I was thinking of perhaps trading it in for a 335i earlier this year, but now I'm not so fussed- there's always something more exciting around the corner.

I sort of feel the same. This is one of the nicest cars I've owned, so I just want to drive the 335i to get it out of my system and decide to swap now or stick with my lovely 330i for anoher couple of years.

Originally Posted by jwbmw

You are missing the point NFS. It is called a test drive in BMW speak because you have to pass the dealer test for splashing the cash to get them to be bothered to hand you the keys.

One of my colleagues said much the same thing. He would have just responded saying "are you saying I can't afford the car?".

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Gibbo

Test Drive ... How hard should it be !!!!

Very hard in my opinion.

1. It isn't your car
2. It would be rude not to rag it.

I'll have it for the day for the express purpose of comparing it's performance with the 330i.

I will have to redline it constantly.

[Z4 Beemer]

NFS, what is the % of the trade-in value over what you paid for it?

[Gibbo]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

I'll have it for the day for the express purpose of comparing it's performance with the 330i.

I will have to redline it constantly.

Make sure you ask for a black one they are quicker.

[Steve A]

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

NFS, what is the % of the trade-in value over what you paid for it?

Gordon

nothing to do with the thread just a good scottich joke i herad today

Jock Mctavish was up in court for buggering his cat. The case was dismissed cos the judge refused to believe a scotsman would put anything into a kitty!!!

[jwbmw]

Originally Posted by Steve A

Gordon

nothing to do with the thread just a good scottich joke i herad today

Jock Mctavish was up in court for buggering his cat. The case was dismissed cos the judge refused to believe a scotsman would put anything into a kitty!!!

[silverbmwz3]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

I'll have it for the day for the express purpose of comparing it's performance with the 330i.

I will have to redline it constantly.

I'm confused - are you changing for performance? I thought you were changing because you could for virtually no "extra" money get one. If that's the case why not.

I think I'd only upgrade from a 330i to a 335i of pretty much the same model car if someone else was paying, or I could do it for the same monthly outgoings I was used to paying (personally I'd keep those outgoings if that was an option, and stick with the current car which would then be owned and not costing you those outgoings which you could then blow on fine wines or women or whatever else you aren't blowing it on right now - unless some kind of deal means it has to go or you wouldn't own it or whatever) or I had lots of money to burn, but if that was the case I probably wouldn't be buying either.

Yep, there'll be the rush of the order, the painful wait, the shiny new toy outside, then 6 months later you'll probably wonder what all the fuss was about. I reckon I'd be equally happy if I'd got a used 330i sat outside right now rather than buying a brand new 335d (as long as it had all the same toys!) but at the time would'nt have even considered it.

Buying cars is a nightmare as you have seen - it means dealing with dealers. I'n not surprised by their response though as the way you wrote it here I'd probably see you as a test pilot rather than a serious buyer. I had similar reaction from most places - silly figures quoted until you show them the colour of your money... to quote Andy from Little Britain you need to be saying "I want that one" for them to take you seriously.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

NFS, what is the % of the trade-in value over what you paid for it?

Based on the dealers figures it's about 54% of the original list value.

Based on the amount I paid originally and the book value it would be 68%.

Private sale I think it would be as much as 75%

Originally Posted by silverbmwz3

I'm confused - are you changing for performance? I thought you were changing because you could for virtually no "extra" money get one. If that's the case why not.

I think I'd only upgrade from a 330i to a 335i of pretty much the same model car if someone else was paying, or I could do it for the same monthly outgoings I was used to paying (personally I'd keep those outgoings if that was an option, and stick with the current car which would then be owned and not costing you those outgoings which you could then blow on fine wines or women or whatever else you aren't blowing it on right now - unless some kind of deal means it has to go or you wouldn't own it or whatever) or I had lots of money to burn, but if that was the case I probably wouldn't be buying either.

Yep, there'll be the rush of the order, the painful wait, the shiny new toy outside, then 6 months later you'll probably wonder what all the fuss was about. I reckon I'd be equally happy if I'd got a used 330i sat outside right now rather than buying a brand new 335d (as long as it had all the same toys!) but at the time would'nt have even considered it.

Buying cars is a nightmare as you have seen - it means dealing with dealers. I'n not surprised by their response though as the way you wrote it here I'd probably see you as a test pilot rather than a serious buyer. I had similar reaction from most places - silly figures quoted until you show them the colour of your money... to quote Andy from Little Britain you need to be saying "I want that one" for them to take you seriously.

They had no problem agreeing to let me have a car for the day ... so there is no way that they saw me as a 'test pilot'.

What annoyed me is there prattling on about negative equity and phoning me up with figures which are just plain wrong.

Even with an equity gap on my current finance, I could still manage to swap to a new 335i without increasing my monthly payment. If I sell the 330i privately and order from an online broker with finance I think my payments will actually reduce due to the level of discount.

The decision for me is really this:

1. Run the 330i for 5 years / 125K miles
2. Swap it Sept 08 for something else (i.e. after 2 years / 50K miles)

If I feel I'd enjoy the extra oomph of the 335i, then I may as well get one and run that for 5 years instead.

That's what the test drive is for.

[Z4 Beemer]

68-75% retained value is not actually too bad. Would you not be temped towards the 335d ?

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

68-75% retained value is not actually too bad. Would you not be temped towards the 335d ?

I'm happy with my numbers .. it's just the dealers that narked me.

The 335d is out unless they make a manual one.

[silverbmwz3]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

They had no problem agreeing to let me have a car for the day ... so there is no way that they saw me as a 'test pilot'.

I must have misunderstood your thread then, the whole thrust of it to me was that they weren't falling over themselves to give you a test drive / sell you a car, and based on your explanation of how honest you were that was my conclusion - that's how I would have seen you. Opening with "I'd like to check the performance of this car against mine" sounds a lot like something a testpilot would say IMHO. I'm not having a go - just explaining why I thought they may have acted like they did, as that seemed to be your frustration in posting.

Originally Posted by needforspeed

Even with an equity gap on my current finance, I could still manage to swap to a new 335i without increasing my monthly payment. If I sell the 330i privately and order from an online broker with finance I think my payments will actually reduce due to the level of discount.

Can't you just keep your car and not make payments at all ? If it was possible to change for nil cost to you you would've done so by now, so there must be a cost involved somewhere even if it is the opportunity cost of what you could do with the cash instead of making payments.

Originally Posted by needforspeed

If I feel I'd enjoy the extra oomph of the 335i, then I may as well get one and run that for 5 years instead.

That's what the test drive is for.

Enjoy the extra oomph? How could you not? I guess you mean enjoy it enough to warranty whatever it will cost you? There must be other non-performance factors, to be honest I struggle to use the performance of the 335d on most roads, but that's when I enjoy all the toys and the shiny newness and just general superbness of it all - which you'd be getting also.

I think you'l do it, and I can't blame you.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by silverbmwz3

I must have misunderstood your thread then, the whole thrust of it to me was that they weren't falling over themselves to give you a test drive / sell you a car, and based on your explanation of how honest you were that was my conclusion - that's how I would have seen you. Opening with "I'd like to check the performance of this car against mine" sounds a lot like something a testpilot would say IMHO. I'm not having a go - just explaining why I thought they may have acted like they did, as that seemed to be your frustration in posting.

I definitely didn't come accross as a test pilot. They were happy to let me have a car for a day. My problem was that they got into the bullshit figures straight away.

Can't you just keep your car and not make payments at all ? If it was possible to change for nil cost to you you would've done so by now, so there must be a cost involved somewhere even if it is the opportunity cost of what you could do with the cash instead of making payments.

I'm paid a car allowance as part of my monthly salary. I could use my savings to buy a car, but then I would still have to bank the car allowance to replace it.

This being the case, I am going to be making a finance payment for the next 3 or 4 years on a car. The question is .. will that be the 330i I own right now, a new 335i or something else.

I reckon I can get a deal on a 335i where the payments are actually reduced. There will be a cost to change though, which is the equity gap between the finance owed on the 330i and the amount I will receive at sale.

This is worse now than it will be in a years time, so the third option is to wait for a bit.

It all depends how much I like the 335i (I may not be that fussed) and how long I want to wait.

Enjoy the extra oomph? How could you not? I guess you mean enjoy it enough to warranty whatever it will cost you? There must be other non-performance factors, to be honest I struggle to use the performance of the 335d on most roads, but that's when I enjoy all the toys and the shiny newness and just general superbness of it all - which you'd be getting also.

I think you'l do it, and I can't blame you.

I struggle to use the 330i's performance a lot of the time, so I genuinely don't know if an upgrade to a 335i will be worth it.

Because it exists - I feel I have to try it - but I'm by no means definite that I will get one.

[mgarvey]

I always feel BMW dealers take the michael a little on test drives - in my experience they seem to more or less suggest that you can have a test drive after you've put a deposit down on a car, which is ridiculous.

For example, when I first went to buy a BMW my local dealer showed absolutely no interest at all initially (as I was young and wearing scruffy clothes). It was only when they twigged that the almost-three-year-old Golf GTI outside was mine that they suddenly perked up and agreed to allow me a 5 minute spin round the block in a 320i.

Compare that with the Renault dealer my wife always buys from. When you go for a test drive there they give you the keys and say 'bring it back tomorrow'. Of course BMWs are easier to sell so dealers don't have to try as hard, but a bit of good service can make a massive difference to brand loyalty - my wife wouldn't go to any other dealer on general principle, because this Renault one is so good to her.

[booforty]

I've enquired about a 335i test drive at several dealers and heard nothing back. I've also enquired about buying the new M3 and heard nothing.

Audi on the other hand are very keen for my business and respond to every request. I really am going off BMW as their service is appalling and it really affects my enjoyment of owning a BMW.

[- Paul -]

Originally Posted by beauforty

I've enquired about a 335i test drive at several dealers and heard nothing back. I've also enquired about buying the new M3 and heard nothing.

Audi on the other hand are very keen for my business and respond to every request. I really am going off BMW as their service is appalling and it really affects my enjoyment of owning a BMW.

Agreed on the Audi response, I've even started receiving the Audi Magazine now.

[andy69]

Originally Posted by beauforty

I've enquired about a 335i test drive at several dealers and heard nothing back. I've also enquired about buying the new M3 and heard nothing.

Audi on the other hand are very keen for my business and respond to every request. I really am going off BMW as their service is appalling and it really affects my enjoyment of owning a BMW.

Sorry to hear you may be off to The Dark Side, BF......any chance i could have your blacklines before you go ?

Andy

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by mgarvey

I always feel BMW dealers take the michael a little on test drives - in my experience they seem to more or less suggest that you can have a test drive after you've put a deposit down on a car, which is ridiculous.

For example, when I first went to buy a BMW my local dealer showed absolutely no interest at all initially (as I was young and wearing scruffy clothes). It was only when they twigged that the almost-three-year-old Golf GTI outside was mine that they suddenly perked up and agreed to allow me a 5 minute spin round the block in a 320i.

Compare that with the Renault dealer my wife always buys from. When you go for a test drive there they give you the keys and say 'bring it back tomorrow'. Of course BMWs are easier to sell so dealers don't have to try as hard, but a bit of good service can make a massive difference to brand loyalty - my wife wouldn't go to any other dealer on general principle, because this Renault one is so good to her.

Yes i did hear, i go down the pub with the service manager, He loves giving your wife a ''Good Old Servicing''

[booforty]

Originally Posted by andy69

Sorry to hear you may be off to The Dark Side, BF......any chance i could have your blacklines before you go ?

Andy

I haven't turned to the dark side yet!

[NFS]

Originally Posted by beauforty

I haven't turned to the dark side yet!

"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering"

So .. I drove the 335i on Monday.

The salesman was determined to work out some figures and wind me up with them before I even drove the car (wrong figures as well), but since then his enthusiasm seems to have waived.

When I gave the car back I told him I was interested, but only if the numbers worked. Told him what drive the dealer were offering as discount and what I wanted to receive as trade in ....

He said he would come back to me with some proposals .....

Stil waiting ....

[scotw]

The attitude of some of them does leave something to be desired. When I bought my E46, my first test drive the chap said he needed to come with me "for insurance reasons", hmm more likely he wasn't sure if I was a serious buyer or not. Chatted to him in the car and when he realised I'd had A4, GTi's etc the attitude changed and when we got back he said I could have a car for a day.

I think that they must get a few neds off the street asking to test drive M3's and so on, so they're a bit cautious, a quick chat usually puts their mind at rest.

NFS, I hate the pushy salesman thing though, going through numbers before you've even driven it, just annoying

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering"

So .. I drove the 335i on Monday.

The salesman was determined to work out some figures and wind me up with them before I even drove the car (wrong figures as well), but since then his enthusiasm seems to have waived.

When I gave the car back I told him I was interested, but only if the numbers worked. Told him what drive the dealer were offering as discount and what I wanted to receive as trade in ....

He said he would come back to me with some proposals .....

Stil waiting ....

I bet your............................Still waiting.