Asked to run credit check prior to test drive?
Evolving Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis
OK my background I have been and am still working with a financing company for 5 years.
It is Illegal if they don't request everyone to fill out a credit app before test driving due to discrimination laws.
so if they don't make everyone fill out a credit app before test driving ANY car on their lot it is illegal to make a person fill out a credit app on a specific car... not to mention it is crappy business practices unless it is a 100k plus car.
in reference to my previous statement there were a couple dealers local to me that were increasing the price of the cars if the customer got approved and their credit was bad. trade or not involve they were skull jacking people because they couldn't get done elsewhere.
For the record legally there are still alot of states that you cannot show negative equity on a bill of sale or contract, and there are A LOT of banks that will not take a deal on a car if negative equity is show.
STevo
It is Illegal if they don't request everyone to fill out a credit app before test driving due to discrimination laws.
so if they don't make everyone fill out a credit app before test driving ANY car on their lot it is illegal to make a person fill out a credit app on a specific car... not to mention it is crappy business practices unless it is a 100k plus car.
in reference to my previous statement there were a couple dealers local to me that were increasing the price of the cars if the customer got approved and their credit was bad. trade or not involve they were skull jacking people because they couldn't get done elsewhere.
For the record legally there are still alot of states that you cannot show negative equity on a bill of sale or contract, and there are A LOT of banks that will not take a deal on a car if negative equity is show.
STevo
yes, its inapporpriate, and most wont do it-but it is not illegal. Immoral, yep. Dis. laws protect the 7 classes-not what if's....but thats off topic.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis
as buyers, we should not put up with this. Tell them that you are a serious buyer, but don't want each business to ding your credit by running credit checks. Each time your credit is checked, it lowers your score five to ten points with a few exceptions. Agree on a price, and then if they don't let you test the drive the car without a credit check, then take your business somewhere else.
Besides, with some of the crazy deals the guy out of Dallas is offering, you should buy your car from him and have it shipped.
Besides, with some of the crazy deals the guy out of Dallas is offering, you should buy your car from him and have it shipped.
as buyers, we should not put up with this. Tell them that you are a serious buyer, but don't want each business to ding your credit by running credit checks. Each time your credit is checked, it lowers your score five to ten points with a few exceptions. Agree on a price, and then if they don't let you test the drive the car without a credit check, then take your business somewhere else.
Besides, with some of the crazy deals the guy out of Dallas is offering, you should buy your car from him and have it shipped.
Besides, with some of the crazy deals the guy out of Dallas is offering, you should buy your car from him and have it shipped.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: York, PA
When my buddy went to go check out the IX's when they first came out.....there was no test driving.....period, they were not allowing Evo test drives.
I guess they figured that if you're coming down to the dealer to look at a car that's still on the shipping trailer....you know what you're buying....there is no reason for a test drive.
I told him that it was bull****, he bought the car off literally just looking at it.
Now, check this, I went to the same dealer (pulling up in my Integra GSR) to check out the new X's and they were practically throwing the keys at me.....I didn't want to test drive it, I just wanted to look at it.
I guess they figured that if you're coming down to the dealer to look at a car that's still on the shipping trailer....you know what you're buying....there is no reason for a test drive.
I told him that it was bull****, he bought the car off literally just looking at it.
Now, check this, I went to the same dealer (pulling up in my Integra GSR) to check out the new X's and they were practically throwing the keys at me.....I didn't want to test drive it, I just wanted to look at it.
Evolving Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
From: Annapolis, MD
Really? Wow.. I went to the biggest lancer dealer in MD that I know of (20+ on the lot) and they wouldn't even open the MR for me. They said the GTS is good enough to get a feel from.. I gave the dude my cell number and said call me when I can touch it cause I'm not spending 40k without getting in it.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
I was not required to get a credit check. Though I said , "I know you guys dont want people driving these hard or running up the miles. What if I just take it around the auto mall and dont run it hard" (about a 1/2 mile loop , I put like 3 or 4 miles on the car keeping it under 5K rpm). They knew I was serious and wasnt going to abuse the car in case I didnt buy it. I think statements like that in advance go a long way in breaking the sterotype you are out for a joy ride. That was enough for me to get a feel for the car and decide to purchase it.
What's funny is that almost everyone on this list expects the cars to have less than 20 miles when they take delivery (actually I drove mine with 0 and bought it a week later with nobody driving in between luckily) but expects test drives to be given at will. From what I can tell EVO and STI demographics are the most picky about miles on their new car on delivery, mostly because they know the type that buys them and what could happen on the test drive prior to their purchase of the same car. A dealer from which I didnt buy but offered a test drive told me that they had a IX with only 150 miles from test drives and they couldnt sell the car and had to discount it eventually. (I doubt they wer BSing me since they had already offered a test drive on the X so it wasnt an excuse).
What's funny is that almost everyone on this list expects the cars to have less than 20 miles when they take delivery (actually I drove mine with 0 and bought it a week later with nobody driving in between luckily) but expects test drives to be given at will. From what I can tell EVO and STI demographics are the most picky about miles on their new car on delivery, mostly because they know the type that buys them and what could happen on the test drive prior to their purchase of the same car. A dealer from which I didnt buy but offered a test drive told me that they had a IX with only 150 miles from test drives and they couldnt sell the car and had to discount it eventually. (I doubt they wer BSing me since they had already offered a test drive on the X so it wasnt an excuse).
Ah yes... The test drive. I've been snubbed a couple of times in the past, but lately I've just about been picked up and thrown over the sales guy's shoulder so he can put me in the car faster.
Sometimes I tell them I didn't care for the car so as to terminate the conversation when you go back. U-turning early right away and saying the car sucks is also a good tactic.
I drove my evo to about 90 mph on the test drive because the young salesman asked me not to wuss out and lay into it more in the corners. They get over every now and then seeing as how I went home with it.
Sometimes I tell them I didn't care for the car so as to terminate the conversation when you go back. U-turning early right away and saying the car sucks is also a good tactic.
I drove my evo to about 90 mph on the test drive because the young salesman asked me not to wuss out and lay into it more in the corners. They get over every now and then seeing as how I went home with it.
I was trying to shop between the 08' Evo and STI, since I still wasn't sure which one I was going to be buying(I've decided on the Evo, pending my car being sold). But anyways, I went to the closest Mitsu dealership, and they had a GSR in the showroom, and a GSR in the lot. I went with my dad to this dealership, just because I wanted him to see the cars I was looking at, and I walked in inquiring about a test drive. I told them I currently have an 07 350Z, but I was looking to get into either an STI or an Evo. They told me they wouldn't take the Evo out of the showroom, and the one on the lot was "kind of sold". They said someone was planning on buying it, but they hadn't got his financing back yet, and they were pretty sure it wasn't going to actually go through. But in the end, they told me there was nothing I could drive, and they walked away from me. I had to actually ask the salesman for his card(more so because he was being rude when he talked to me, and I wanted to remember who I wasn't going to buy from). I then went down the street to the Subaru dealership, and the salesman went inside right away to get keys to the STI on their lot. Unfortunately, his boss said there are no test drives on the car, since they only have one on the lot and people won't want miles on it. He did apologize though and asked what exact trim I was looking for and said they had more on order soon. He at least wanted to make a sale, unlike the Mitsu dealership.
On to the next Mitsu dealership, since I had started leaning towards the Evo at this point. I pulled up in my 350Z this time. This dealership has a demo Evo, and the salesman asked me right away if he could help me. I said I'm driving around town trying to get a test drive in an Evo. He said no problem at all, lets get the keys. We took the car out for a couple miles, and when we got back he did the usual talk about how I liked it. He asked about my credit, which I already knew from my credit union. I was honestly considering the demo car, since it only has 100 miles on it, but obviously I'm not paying anywhere near MSRP for it. So I asked how much better they could do than the sticker. No haggling whatsoever, he came back a minute later and said his boss told him to offer it to me at invoice. So I will definitely me talking to that dealership when I get my car sold and it's time to buy my Evo. Between all the dealerships though, it was either flat out no test drives, or they hand you the keys. No credit checks or anything.
On to the next Mitsu dealership, since I had started leaning towards the Evo at this point. I pulled up in my 350Z this time. This dealership has a demo Evo, and the salesman asked me right away if he could help me. I said I'm driving around town trying to get a test drive in an Evo. He said no problem at all, lets get the keys. We took the car out for a couple miles, and when we got back he did the usual talk about how I liked it. He asked about my credit, which I already knew from my credit union. I was honestly considering the demo car, since it only has 100 miles on it, but obviously I'm not paying anywhere near MSRP for it. So I asked how much better they could do than the sticker. No haggling whatsoever, he came back a minute later and said his boss told him to offer it to me at invoice. So I will definitely me talking to that dealership when I get my car sold and it's time to buy my Evo. Between all the dealerships though, it was either flat out no test drives, or they hand you the keys. No credit checks or anything.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: York, PA
Ah yes... The test drive. I've been snubbed a couple of times in the past, but lately I've just about been picked up and thrown over the sales guy's shoulder so he can put me in the car faster.
Sometimes I tell them I didn't care for the car so as to terminate the conversation when you go back. U-turning early right away and saying the car sucks is also a good tactic.
I drove my evo to about 90 mph on the test drive because the young salesman asked me not to wuss out and lay into it more in the corners. They get over every now and then seeing as how I went home with it.
Sometimes I tell them I didn't care for the car so as to terminate the conversation when you go back. U-turning early right away and saying the car sucks is also a good tactic.
I drove my evo to about 90 mph on the test drive because the young salesman asked me not to wuss out and lay into it more in the corners. They get over every now and then seeing as how I went home with it.