I didn't see anyone mention it, but, I find it hard to believe this guy was just being an innocent polite young man, and they decided to freak out on him.

 

Agreed. I've read in several places that when they ask to photocopy your license for the test drive you should make them sign a form to agree not to run your credit history until you agree upon it. Usually, while you are out they run your credit and when you get back they determine how "worthy" of a customer you are. No credit checks until I say so! Thank you.

Also, I think that age has little to do with integrity. I'm 23 and own my own business (since I was 17) as well as have a VERY good job at a fortune 200 company. Granted, I'm not your typical 23 year old, but we're out there.

 

why what is your take on the situation?

 

I don't really have a take. I mean, I have test driven a lot of cars with absolutely no intention of buying and I make that perfectly clear. I have never gotten cussed out for that. But, I could see myself getting cussed out if I try to hide that fact, or if I am trying to take advantage of them, or I make comments about the car, brand, or dealership. Comments that I might not neccesarily find too offensive, but somone who makes a living off of them might. I just can't imagine a business would cuss out a person like me, so I have to think he was being a little sly or rude. His story makes is sound like he was totally innocent.

I read through more of the thread, and paulie has it. He acted like he was interested in order to get a free gift. It sounds like he wasn't upfront about the situation. Don't waste peoples time. You could have easily said, "I have an rx8 next door, saw your advertisement, thought I would take a test drive. I don't really have any intention of buying right now, but maybe down the road a bit if I like the car." If they said sure, then great, no cussin, they know exactly where you're coming from, rather than towing them along.

 

I have test driven alot of cars, I usually have it all set up ahead of time via emails or phone calls. It usually takes me driving 5 or 6 different cars to decide which I want to get. I looked at a 3000 GT VR-4 (when they were still around) new and I hated the mitsubishi dealer. I walked off the lot before he could even offer a test drive. But I have run into alot of bad dealers and I never go back. That is why we have bought 3 cars from our Mazda dealer. I like how they do business.

You should call and ask for your trip, just to hear what they say.

 

Just so you know they can't check how much money you have in the bank only your credit rating.

I too have had a bad experience at a Mitsubishi dealership before.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

BlueEyes - while I don't rule out the fact that he was rude or cocky to the dealer, I also find it very easy to believe his story. Down here when I look at cars, I usually draw some attitude, if I even get a salesman to stand up out of his chair. Add to the fact that he was at a Mitsubishi dealer, and his story becomes about 100x more plausible. Ever since the Evo came out, Mitsu dealers have had this holier-than-thou attitude and they seem to have no interest in selling their cars. I went to my local Mitsu dealer in Sarasota to check the Evo out before I got my 8. Not one salesman came to greet me or help me, they all just stood there with their thumbs up their asses watching me walk around the lot to make sure I didn't steal one of their gargantuan wings. Fine, if they don't want my business, I'll just go spend a couple grand more on another car (the 8). Good job Mitsubishi, you lost $30k in about two minutes and now after I've heard all the **** you guys pull, you've lost a customer for life.

 

my first post here. sorry to say this, but one of my Type-R highschool friend beat the crap out of a black Rx-8 last summer at a test drive in Escondido, San Diego. I feel so sad when I heard that, i hope no body got that one!

 

You should have rolled up in your RX8 and shown them that you were someone who could afford the EVO! :p

I actually had a bad experience with a Mazda dealer when I bought my car...he was a jerk when I would not come up to his price and he told me that there was no way I would find a dealer willing to sell for my offer and that I should just quit wasting his time...needless to say I got the touring for the same price I was asking on his sport model at a dealer just a few miles away.

When I had a 3000GT the Mitsu dealer let me take out an EVO and drive the hell out of it he was like "don't hit the brakes just take the turn!"...they were really nice about it even though I told them I was not looking...I was in for an oil change and they asked if I wanted to look at the EVO. Just goes to show that some dealers are good, some are bad, some are mean, some are nice, some make good deals, some try to rip you off

...but I am sorry you met up with a bad experience...

 

Maybe this event happened or not... but to let them run a credit check just so you can get a free gift is a bad idea. :P I would never let people run checks just for free stuff... that's what naive college students do when they see that free gift if you sign up to their credit cards that offer (in very small print) 18%-25% interest.

 

Changing post because of another "Fast reading dumb moment." Dang work....

But beating on the RX-8, that's still blasphemous.

 

Rude dealers permeate throughout EVERY make, and with all the morons who come in to just beat on new cars, who can blame them sometimes...

PS: Nothing exciting at Mitsu; uhhhh Evo????? And the Eclipse is a pretty exciting daily commuter car; and Road and Track gave it great reviews, saying it had power everyhwere. So where did you get the underpowered bit, must be making up lies to compensate for something?????

 

I had a less traumatic experience at my local Mitsu dealer. And I was still insulted.

They "don't let people test drive the EVO because it's so expensive"... ?! huh?

At least you got the test drive :D If Mitsu had let me test the car, I might just be on the EVO boards right now. Maybe they could tell I wasn't terribly serious about trading in the WRX, but then, I was even less serious about it when I went to the Mazda dealership. Mazda ended up talking me into testing the RX-8 (fully loaded = just as "expensive" as the EVO), and I impulse-bought the car (still got a good deal, because I had the supplier descount).

I test drive cars all the time. The last few cars I've bought have been a direct and unintentional result of a "just for fun" test drive.

The reason car dealers allow test drives is that they know they generate more sales than just about any other method.

 

im pretty sure he wasn't talking about racing but rather someone who owns a type-r went and test drove an rx8 and beat the crap out of it on the test drive.

 

Yeah what he said Outlaw, on first glance I took it the same way as you did, but on a second read I got what he meant, not raced but beat the crap out of the RX-8 during the test drive

 

I ahd the same thought at first and almost posted the same thing Outlaw did, till I reread it too- I think his friend was just test-driving the 8, and beat the crap out of it then.

 

I think the difference is the dealer is running ads for this he is not.

 

I took it another way at first, he did mention that "Hope no one gets that one." Sorry for the confusion... saw the Type R.. Beating RX-8... and made me blah.

Dumbstrike for Outlaws

Btw, not just Mitsu dealers are bad... try the sales manager at Browning Mazda. This old bald man that was a total *****... wouldn't let me test drive, even though I drove there with my ML350 and a second time with my G35. Said some crap about credit checks and such... tried to sell me the Demo. BLAH.

 

Credit checks should never be done for test-driving. This marks a point on your credit history if you didn't already know that. It should be done when both parties have agreed to take the negotiations to a higher level such as financing.

 

i have to say that most people here have not been cussed out of a dealership. i have not, before that day.

take advantage of the dealership. so i am guessing u have paid MSRP+markup for your rx8. if you havent, please do not act 'innocent'.

first off, i have the say that most ppl like myself as cleg have stated bought the rx8 based on impulsiveness. how else can you really jusfify 30k on a sports car that is not so practical compare to eg. 325i?

So wasnt it because of the fact that the Mazda dealer treated me so nicely, let me go for a test drive getting their free gift that made me forget all about the bmw 325? for which i was sure i am going to buy.

take advantage? and acted interested? i am not sure what you mean. i got to their dealership by their ad. their las vegas 2 days trip was too good to turn down. and it is enough to get some sort of interest in me to walk over there. but after that, wasnt the salemen's job to get my interests to really start? or do i have to, i think it is what you mean, kiss their asses to drive their car?

 

i did filed a complaint. i called the GM of Norco mitsubishi then i called the headquarter of mitsubishi to follow up.


yea, someone mentioned previously......i guess it really would be funny if i walk in there demand that free gift right now...

 

Spending $30K on anything "impulsively" is just stupid. Most people, as evident by the MANY threads about such, tried a multitude of cars before deciding the 8 was the right choice for them.

And a 325i. Hahaha.

Not everyone needs practicality. Using that argument everyone who bought anything other than a Hyundai Accent was just acting "impulsively". Surely an Accent is a practical everyday car that meets virtually everyone's actual needs.

 

Holy **** someone who understands this! I do agree about wasting people's time, but they should NEVER talk **** about a customer.

Until after they leave :D

I don't know how many freaking Joy Rides I have given to people who "don't know if they'd really like a 2004 Mustang Cobra until they know how it drives". My response is usually this "Folks if you like the looks of the car and if we come to terms on the finances, you go ahead and buy the car and it doesn't do everything you hoped it would, then we'll take it right back"

Think about this. If you had known that the first 500 miles on your new RX-8 were put on it by random people just trying to see what a car would do, would you have felt very good about buying it?

Not to mention that while you were out joyriding that Evo that the salesperson you were "stroking" could have probobly greeted and talked with someone else that was ready to buy?

 

sorry, i confused you. what i was shopping at that time was for the value of the car. at that point of time, i thought 325i have more value.

spending $30k on anything impulsively is just stupid?......sorry, but i love my 8.

 

Going to a dealer in person is bad enough, but to run a credit check NONONO!! like the others have stated unless your 100% commited and all the numbers look right, But sure as s***not for a freaking TD, and even when they require a copy of your lic for a test drive, make sure to scribble 'NOT FOR CREDIT CHECK' or similar across it. Just in case they try that ole scam. Also check out carbuyingtips.c** and or pick up the book 'Car buyers and leasers negotiation bible'.