Having decided that a Yeti was a 'good thing', we went into Glasgow recently to try to arrange a test drive at the main Skoda dealer. Fine, they said, until I told them I wanted it for at least three hours, (well you do don't you?). They reckoned we could take it along the motorway to the airport and back. When I pointed out that we live in a land of bumpy, narrow, twisty roads, that taking it to the airport and back on the motorway wouldn't prove much except that it could manage the journey and that an investment of £24,000 was not to be treated lightly, they reluctantly agreed but still wouldn't let us have a 'proper' test unless we arranged cover on both our insurances, different companies, and then they might consider it. Subsequently, we went to another dealer, near Stirling, who was quite relaxed about us having one for as long as we liked provided we presented our driving licences and signed an indemnity form. After playing with one for about four hours, which included motorway driving and bumpy, narrow, twisty roads, we ordered one.

This is the first time that we've come up against this sort of block. Is it common or are we particularly fussy?

Not sure if the attitude of the first dealer is common.

My local dealer, Palmer's Watford, have always been very accommodating with test drives.

I had about an hour in the vRS before I bought it (had already 99% decided to buy one before the drive so didn't need more time)

Both my wife and I had the yeti for well over two hours and took in all kinds of roads before signing on the dotted line for that. The dealer didn't even mind it getting a bit dirty either)

Our most recent was a test drive of the citigo. Again no problem. Had that for an hour but again that was all we needed.

Quite often dealers will insist on accompanying the drive, which inevitably leads to a short test.

A local motorcycle dealer was charging customers £25 for a test ride, but having had a few bikes trashed by prospective customers and to dissuade the tyre kicking brigade, I can't blame him.

If a sale resulted then the £25 was refunded

I had a 170 TDi for 4 days over the royal wedding weekend! Arranged directly wi Škoda UK because my local dealer didn't have a spare car. Test drive sorted through a company leasing scheme so massive fleet muscle, but in the end I bought privately.

In 1995 I booked a test drive in a Mondeo. We arrived at the dealers but no car. Car returned about 15 minutes later. OK we weren't to a few minutes. It turned out the demo car was an estate and the back seat was down. My wife asked where she should sit. ' oh, do you want to come too............' Anyway the seat was reluctantly raised and the salesman drove. Roads fairly busy so he drove 2 miles through 30 and 40 limits half a mile of 60 until we reached a roundabout. I thought he take the A614 and hand over to me. To our astonishment he went all the way round the roundabout drove back to the edge of the 40 limit. Pulled in to a lay-by and then 'allowed' me to drive the mile back in traffic.

Guess what ... I bought a Honda....but I will always remember the test drive!

This is the first time that we've come up against this sort of block. Is it common or are we particularly fussy?

Not fussy in the slightest, it's 24k of your money. .

I think it varies from dealer to dealer. Our first yeti test drive was in Corfe Mullen. We weren't allowed to drive out of the forecourt. We were taken to a car park and then instructed on ow to drive it. I was then taken on what could be described as the salesmans preferred route. About 3 miles in total with 50% of that on a dual carriageway. My missus was allowed to drive the return journey.

Next off we went to Yeovil, totally opposite. Turn up sign a bit of paper and off we went, and told to be back by the next booked test drive which was 3 hours away! We even took along a friend who reported on the ride in the back.

It has to be said that we are both in our late 50's and both test drives were pre booked, so we should have been taken as serious prospects.

I also had a test drive in a Hyundai ix35, same thing - take the car for as long as you want!

Times have changed! When I bought my Roomster Skoda were offering a 48hr test drive They arranged it with their interpretation of my "local" dealer. We took the car back after the 48hrs and said thank you, then went to a more local dealer and ordered it!

Fred

My local dealer did not have a Yeti available to look at or drive, as I was traveling to the mainland he arranged for me to test drive one from White Dove in Cardiff 20 mins away from where I was staying. White Dove knew that I was not going to buy from them but were very happy for me to have a test drive.

Had this issue with a Seat dealer before I got my first vRS. Said I could only have a Leon FR for 30 minute accompanied test drive. I emailed Seat (using the 'arrange a test drive' or similar link on their website) and said I wanted one for at least half a day and next thing I know the same dealer is phoning me asking when I wanted it!

Having decided that my back would never forgive me for getting the Leon, I went to my local Skoda dealer and they were happy for me to take thier vRS demonstrator for a few hours. After doing a deal for a car in stock at another dealer, the first Skoda dealer leant me their demonstrator for a week as I had no car at the time. Great service and I've stuck with Skoda since.

I took a test drive in a Megane and the dealer accompanied me and directed the route to me, the same with the Kia salesperson. Both obviousley trying to keep minimum miles on their demos. When I first test drove the Yeti, the dealer told me to take it for a good spin which I did and promptly ran out off diesel. Then I remembered I had not got the dealers number on my mobile so had to go through directory enquires. The salesman came out to rescue me and was most appologetic, explaining that they had forgotten to check the fuel level (funny so had I). Ended up getting a very good deal because of this and he got my repeat buisness two years later. When I'm buying a car and investing so much money in it a short trip round the block on carefully chosen roads is not what I'm after so you're not being fussy.

Edited 14 July, 201213 yr by Photoemt

I remember looking at a Nissan many years ago. We turned up at the dealer's and he took us to a multi-bay park under a 15 storey block of flats. He got the car out and then drove it for the test drive. We crossed Nissan off our list and went to Mazda next. They lent us a 323 for the weekend. We ended up buying one. During testing for the Yeti we were accompanied by the salesman on a shortish drive, but knew fairly quickly that we wanted one. My wife has just tested a CityGo and our newly opened dealer in Grimsby, Westgate Skoda, seemed very relaxed about how long we had it. They also wanted us to show our driving licences and sign an indemnity form, reasonable I thought. We ordered a five-door, but we are back into the waiting game again as five-doors are not available yet.

Glasgow dealer is nothing short of a joke, obnoxious salesman and receptionists, they won't even get my servicing or parts business.

Hamilton or Stirling for me.

Glasgow dealer is nothing short of a joke, obnoxious salesman...

That was our impression.

Edited 15 July, 201213 yr by alan10