Greeting guys, a 3G'er here thinking about adding another TL to the stable.

When test driving your new 4G. were you offered to 'keep' the car for few hrs or a day or were you accompanied for a ride around the lot?

 

you're in power here.
if you want it for a few days or hours alone, tell the salesman.
here are a few examples:
"hey, I'm pretty serious about buying, I would like a few hours to really get to know the car."
"buying is a pretty serious step, I want to make sure that I am comfortable with the gadgetry, and most importantly how comfortable the seats are, as these could be deal breakers for me."

Most importantly, build rapport with your salesman.

 

They told me to keep it for the day and bring it back before they closed.

 

I have 2 dealers in town. The first accompanied me with my wife and daughter for a quick spin around the block. I haven't been the second one yet. Before I commit to a purchase I would love to spend the day with one, especially to take a decent hour or two trip on the interstate to judge seat comfort.

 

I picked up a TL SH-AWD on my lunch hour and they told me to keep it overnight and bring it back the next during my lunch. If you ask them to keep it overnight so you can show the wife or your girl, they will more than likely let you do it. Good luck and enjoy the ride.

 

It's not like these things are flying off the lots (well the 6MT's are hard to find). But yea, in the economy you have control. If they want to make a sale, they'll do what's needed.

 

Extended test drives FTW. Drive it on the roads you plan on driving every day... get a real feel for the car and how it would feel driving it everyday. Park it in the garage - make note of anything you like and don't like...

 

Audi and Acura both offered the car for the day. One Audi dealer offered for the weekend.

 

Great, Thanks for all the responses you guys. BMW dealer gave me keys for a 550 then 535 and sent me on my way but I did show up 20 mins later while hoping i didn't brutalize their ‘trust’ in me. I want to be able to take couple of hours to test the car and your responses gave me a gauge of what is acceptable so much appreciated!

 

When making a purchase of this magnitude, you simply must take extra time to get a feel for the car, even something small that can only be noticed over time could be the dealbreaker for you. If they somehow refuse an extended test drive, then go elsewhere with your business. I delt with dealerships in a three state span until I was satisified with how I was treated and with the vehicle.

 

That \/

 

I agree with the previous posters--- take the time to get to know the car, drive it on different types of roads, highways, and side streets. Take it along the roads you will drive most during an average day and practice manuevering through traffic.

Though I don't have the TL (I have an RDX), my dealer (whose service and sales experience has been great over the years) was very willing to work with me and my schedule. When I was interested in the 4G TL as a potential option for lease-end on my current vehicle, they let me take it out for a 3 hour period and even offered to let me keep it out longer or keep it overnight.

Good luck... if they are unwilling to work with you, find a dealer that will...

 

Quick question. If you take a car out and have an accident, who maintains the insurance on the vehicle? You or the dealership? Who pays the deductible?

 

Dont you ever test drive cars? What do they always ask for? Sure u are liable.

 

I only got to do a test drive of about 10 minutes. However, seeing as I live 160 miles away from my closest dealer, I don't blame them for not letting me take it overnight!

 

we had the car out for about 30mins and i made my decision from there... had the dealer with us but still worked out

 

They ask fo my license. Nothing more. They have no idea whether I have car insurance when I get behind the wheel so I suppose the obvious conclusion would be that they would be responsible. After all, their cars are insured, right? And the insurance goes with the car, not the driver. Is that not true?

 

Not sure but when my daughter was in the process of buying a car she did not have car insurance. She had no problem test driving cars. They only asked to see a valid driver's license.

 

I'd imagine this could vary by state. Here, the sales consultant carries the dealership insurance card. If he is accompanying you, then you only need to show your drivers license.

If you are going to borrow the car for an extended test drive, we will fill out a loan car agreement (like a rental agreement) and you will provide the insurance while it's in your possession.

 

I've test driven so many cars I could never count them all - never been asked for my insurance card.

 

As an Insurance Broker, i can shed some light here. Delerships have what's called a "Garage Auto" policy. This covers their business, inventory, and it would also cover if a mechanic crashes your car while it's in for service. That's why they have "Dealer" plates. A car that you are Test Driving is considered inventory. You are not liable until the vehicle is registered and plated in your name. That is how it works in Canada, not sure about the U.S. but can't see it being much different. That being said, if you are involved in an accident which is your fault, you could still bee charged for an "at-fault" accident on your own Insurance Policy, as it will be recorded against your Driver's License. Hope that helps you guys understand.

 

When i took the car for a test drive the salesman did not come with me after the test i told him that i was going to lunch and will discuss the purchase over with my family, they then offered to loan me the car so that i could go to lunch, of course i think they did not want to lose out on a potential sale,but i also wanted to drive it some more so i took the offer lol.

 

The dealer I use for servicing has a very robust loaner program. Over the past several years I've had the use of everything in the Acura stable for 24 hour periods except the RL and the TL SHAWD MT. Thanks to that, the only "test drive" I needed yesterday was a spin in a TL with MT.

 

You are 100% correct

 

You have to provide, and they make a copy of your valid DL and proof of insurance here in NV if you are going to take it off of the lot without them in the car with you. Also when they give you a loaner your insurance card and DL is copied.

I have always known it to be this way over the last 15 cars purchased in CA, WA, NV and NM.

fwiw, I have never had a problem asking a dealership to let me have the car overnight, and have never been turned down on that request.

 

They usually get our insurance info for loaners. Not for a test drive though, just license. Haven't done an "extended test drive".

Regardless, I'm pretty sure you'd be responsible.

If you have "good" full coverage insurance, you are insured in any car you dirve AND your car is insured no matter who drives it.

Which one pays first is really your question. And I'm pretty sure that in the "extended test drive" scenario, your insurance would pay out. If you were "under-insured" or un-insured, then the dealer insurance would kick in.

 

lol when i test drove the rdx the dealer almost had a heartattack. when i test drive i floor the car, turn it hard, brake it hard, park it and thats all i really care about.

 

EXACTLY how i drive every car. Hence my S2000 story i told here. Or somewhere..lol. It's been a while.

 

The best thing to do is show that you are serious about the car and ask for a overnight test drive or something similar.

A few dealers near me that I have dealt with actually let me take a used car off the lot instead of the new one (keep the miles off the new car and allow me to "push it instead of babying it") and keep it for 2 days.

If the dealer is hesitant, I'd suggest that you suggest the above idea about a similar used car! If you like it, do a quick drive around the block to make sure the one you are buying is a-okay and you'll be set!

 

Great, thanks guys! Glad to see that it is almost business as usual to take an acura for an extended drive . I am supposed to bring my 3G TL in for a recall (power steering hose) and will ask to test drive the 4G then.

 

Or a Service Loaner.