Hello all,

I have been looking at getting a 1.6 TDi (Manual) Estate in the Elegance trim with a few extras (electric seats, heated windscreen, amongst others) as we need a bigger car with a baby on the way.

I test drove a 1.6 Elegance hatchback today and thought it was very nice, although the drive was only for around 25-30 mins. I currently have a 55 plate Fabia which is still going strong at 148k miles. However it's not the greatest for long distances. My regular commute is about to become just over an hour, about 65 miles each way. As such I'd like to do a longer test drive to make sure it's the car for me. 

Does anyone know if it is possible to do an extended test drive over 24-48 hours? I test drove at a dealership near where I've been working this week as I had some time off this afternoon. The dealer near to where I live has said that their test drives can only be a maximum of an hour due to insurance, dealership policies, etc. That doesn't really help me to make up my mind.

I'm located in the Cheltenham area, so any advice would be gratefully received.

If the dealership are that interested in selling you a car they should agree to lend you a demonstrator for the period; normally they'd put you on their insurance with a fairly silly excess if it gets clunked you might be able to pay for a collision waiver but par of the course (same as courtesy cars).

Spec wise its your call but do think about the options; the Elegance comes loaded anyway (bound to have considerably more trinkets than the Fabia)...personally Id keep options light and go for maximum value for money but your money your choice.

I tend to keep cars until they reach the end of their life. Certainly the case with the Fabia so I don't see that being replaced any time soon. Not too worried about speccing the car out and the resulting loss from depreciation. I was surprised that the dealer was so inflexible when I explained why I was looking for a longer test drive. Might have to look a bit further afield.

I know if it were my local dealer I could talk him into letting you have one for 24 hours.

 

Maybe to show you are serious, you suggest you 'hire' it for the day and then they refund that money if you buy. It is possible that dealers have been stung in the past where people have asked to test drive a larger car as they need to move stuff to the dump (yes, I am a synic). I know I had a 24hour test drive of a leon once and when I dropped it off I never spoke to the dealer again.

 

with regards to comfort, I have had a MKII and now on a MKIII and with 22k on the clock since July last year doing journey from stop/start 5 miles to 200+ miles (have done 500 miles in a day) I can say it is very comfortable.

 

Hope it all works out.

 

enjoy

Skoda has a demonstration fleet although I don't know if this applies to private customers.

 

I had a 5 day test of a 2.0 elegance last May.

 

Worth asking just in case.