Age Requirement at Warwick, RI, Inskip

hen · 10-06-2006, 09:13 AM

Went to Inskip BMW in Warwick last week to test drive a 328i and/or 335i. I had stopped by a week earlier on a rainy day to do it but a sales associate said that the 335i's torque would be unusable in the rain. So I walk in to the same associate, he asked my age and he said he had to check something with his boss before we went. He came back and said that I had to be 21 in order to test drive a BMW. I am 20 and some would say just wait until your 21, but this seems ridiculous that a policy like this would restrict a current BMW owner from test driving a possible upgrade. Wondering if anyone had a similar experience or if this is a larger than regional policy.

E91 Dude · 10-07-2006, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hen

I had stopped by a week earlier on a rainy day to do it but a sales associate said that the 335i's torque would be unusable in the rain.

That is ridiculous. Perhaps you should have asked the SA if he/she warned everyone who purchashed a 335i that they should scramble home as soon as the skies get cloudy because the torque would be unusable in the rain.

Regardless, some dealerships may not let younger folks test drive their vehicles unless they were serious about buying. Why? Since I am not a car salesman, I can only speculate. Perhaps because of policy, cuts down on joy riding, potential damage to the car, not taking you seriously, etc.

Did you go in just asking for a test drive? Or did you say you currently drive a BMW and were looking to upgrade?

BMW F22 · 10-07-2006, 01:24 AM

it is true that if you look young they might not let you test drive the cars. I've been in that situation before (freaking sux) but I kinda understand that they dont wanna waste their time on a window shopper. It's just the way it is in the car business (sucks but true)>

larryn · 10-07-2006, 08:18 AM

No different than rental car companies losing sales due to age requirements. I can certainly see them having insurance reasons for this, where this "rule" is being dictated by their insurance.

Zirenz2006 · 10-11-2006, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hen

Went to Inskip BMW in Warwick last week to test drive a 328i and/or 335i. I had stopped by a week earlier on a rainy day to do it but a sales associate said that the 335i's torque would be unusable in the rain. So I walk in to the same associate, he asked my age and he said he had to check something with his boss before we went. He came back and said that I had to be 21 in order to test drive a BMW. I am 20 and some would say just wait until your 21, but this seems ridiculous that a policy like this would restrict a current BMW owner from test driving a possible upgrade. Wondering if anyone had a similar experience or if this is a larger than regional policy.

Can I ask who the sales associate was?

JOYRIIDE1113 · 10-11-2006, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lni

No different than rental car companies losing sales due to age requirements. I can certainly see them having insurance reasons for this, where this "rule" is being dictated by their insurance.

I see the difference in that. I see it even now after I got my 4.8is. Im paying a huge amount on my insurance (no moving violations ever) just because I'm 19 year old guy. If I had been 26 or so, my insurance would a lot cheaper. Stats show us younger folk as not taking things seriously and making bad calls. Im sure that particular dealer has their reason.

When I had gotten my (e90) 330i I was 18. I made it clear to the dealer that I was here to lease a car and get rid of my Mini which was leased through the same dealership. I had no issues getting a T-Drive.

Ryan 330i · 10-25-2006, 04:51 PM

18 in CA. if your not 18 you cant test drive here at my dealership. sad, but true. simply because if a minor crashed the car, it would be under our company insurance.

toyrunner04 · 10-25-2006, 08:18 PM

Yeah, I know the sales manager at Inskip BMW. The age for testdrives as set by the INSURANCE COMPANY is usually 25 unless accompanied by a parent. RI laws suck for this kind of stuff!

MonacoBimm · 10-26-2006, 12:17 AM

Im 16 and I have test drived more cars than I can remember.

zzinco79 · 10-26-2006, 03:30 AM

I test drove my e90 when I was 19.

Kick his ass...

THE JEDI · 10-26-2006, 08:58 PM

Thats a load of shit....he looked at this kid and said to himself...."he can't buy this car so i'm not gonna waste my time".......and sorry didn't mean to call ya kid........

10-06-2006, 09:13 AM	#1
hen Private 20 Rep 70 Posts Drives: 328 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Age Requirement at Warwick, RI, Inskip Went to Inskip BMW in Warwick last week to test drive a 328i and/or 335i. I had stopped by a week earlier on a rainy day to do it but a sales associate said that the 335i's torque would be unusable in the rain. So I walk in to the same associate, he asked my age and he said he had to check something with his boss before we went. He came back and said that I had to be 21 in order to test drive a BMW. I am 20 and some would say just wait until your 21, but this seems ridiculous that a policy like this would restrict a current BMW owner from test driving a possible upgrade. Wondering if anyone had a similar experience or if this is a larger than regional policy.
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10-07-2006, 01:24 AM	#3
BMW F22 Major General 3652 Rep 9,783 Posts Drives: ///M235i Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (8)	it is true that if you look young they might not let you test drive the cars. I've been in that situation before (freaking sux) but I kinda understand that they dont wanna waste their time on a window shopper. It's just the way it is in the car business (sucks but true)>
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10-07-2006, 08:18 AM	#4
larryn Lieutenant General 2156 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	No different than rental car companies losing sales due to age requirements. I can certainly see them having insurance reasons for this, where this "rule" is being dictated by their insurance.
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10-25-2006, 04:51 PM	#7
Ryan 330i Major 57 Rep 1,181 Posts Drives: '09 E93 335i Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Francisco \| LA \| Oregon iTrader: (0)	18 in CA. if your not 18 you cant test drive here at my dealership. sad, but true. simply because if a minor crashed the car, it would be under our company insurance. __________________ 2009 E93 335i \| Jet \| Black Dakota \| Grey Poplar \| ZPP \| ZSP \| ZCW \| Step \| Paddles \| i-Drive \| CA \| Sirius \| HD \| Logic7 \| 06FL \| 06NF \| PDC \| OEM Alarm \| LUX Retired: 2007 E92 335i Retired: 2006 E90 330i
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10-25-2006, 08:18 PM	#8
toyrunner04 Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2006 Alpine White 330i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Providence, RI iTrader: (0)	Yeah, I know the sales manager at Inskip BMW. The age for testdrives as set by the INSURANCE COMPANY is usually 25 unless accompanied by a parent. RI laws suck for this kind of stuff!
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10-26-2006, 12:17 AM	#9
MonacoBimm Banned 44 Rep 1,859 Posts Drives: Sapp. Black 330i(2nd e90) Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Panama City, Panama iTrader: (1)	Im 16 and I have test drived more cars than I can remember.
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10-26-2006, 03:30 AM	#10
zzinco79 Major 131 Rep 1,411 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Rochester, NY iTrader: (8)	I test drove my e90 when I was 19. Kick his ass... __________________ 2006 BSM 325i / ZPP / ZSP / Adaptive Xenon / BLK leather interior / Steptronic Eisenmann racing / K&N Ram charger / M5 rep. wheels / D1S 6000k / Brex white ring / OEM style rear trunk spoiler / M steering / OEM strut bar / Blk line tail light Future Mod Hamann lip spolier / Mtech rear bumper
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10-26-2006, 08:58 PM	#11
THE JEDI Major 127 Rep 1,461 Posts Drives: 2005 Z4 2.5i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: JAPAN, Okinawa iTrader: (0)	Thats a load of shit....he looked at this kid and said to himself...."he can't buy this car so i'm not gonna waste my time".......and sorry didn't mean to call ya kid........
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