certain age to test drive a car?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 183
From: illinois
Car Info: 2005 WR blue WRX w/ premium package
certain age to test drive a car?
so about 3 weeks ago, a friend and i went to look at some wrx's at a dealer and my friend was planning on getting one (already has his) and we wanted to test drive the car. so my friend told me to go for it. i asked the salesman if i can see how the car feels. so we get inside the showroom and he takes out a piece of paper and asks me for my license. he asks me if i'm over 21 and i said no. he tells me to fill out some paper with my name and address. i thought this was for their records. he comes back with some young guy and they explain to me that their dealer insures people over 21 and that i'd have to come w/ a parent. i was pissed. not only did i not end up driving the car, that sheet i filled out put me on their like calling or subscriber's list. what an idiot i was. now they are going to call me up every now and then. they said i can drive the car as much as i want as long as one of my parents come. the heck with that. i'm going to be buying a wrx, not my parents. are all car dealers like that? supposedly that car dealer is the #1 seller of wrx's in the midwest. i don't know if he was lying. stupid policies and dealers! i'm surprised that they didn't ask me if i knew how to drive a stick since i'm young.
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I'm 18 yeah it sucks... I had to test drive with my dad in the car, no biggie though, cause I actually bought the car. That policy is prob to avoid having extra miles put on the car especially from people who have no chance in buying it.
Insurance is another reason... that paper work asked how much money you made didn't it. Dealers in my area normally do a credit check before allowing you to test drive.
It blows I know. But my WRX only came with 24 miles on it. 6 of which were from me.
Insurance is another reason... that paper work asked how much money you made didn't it. Dealers in my area normally do a credit check before allowing you to test drive.
It blows I know. But my WRX only came with 24 miles on it. 6 of which were from me.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 128
From: San Diego, Ca
Car Info: Still Looking
I test drove the wrx and Im 19.They didn't give me any crap about being 21. All he did was photo copy my I.D. and we were off driving. I went with my friend and he was 19 also. Maybe its just the dealership.
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i went to one used car dealer in maine, and he wouldn't let my drive the 01 RS with out someone else over 21. i was only 18 at the time. i went to a nissan dealer, and they let me drive my current car, 95 talon, without any questions. so i guess it kind of depends on where you go. but i think there is a general rule about being 21.
-PJ
-PJ
Registered User
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 9,016
From: Oakland, CA
Car Info: 2009 wrx & 2000 4runner
when i went in there they just asked how interested i was in getting one and i said that i was planning on purchasing one within the next week or so and they didn't have a problem with me driving it at all. never asked my age or how much i make
hrm, i guess it's different with each dealerships, on what kind of insurance they buy maybe? i just went to test drive a VW gti 1.8t the other day with a friend, i'm 18, he's 16. They let me test drive it, but not him. so i guess it varies?
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well flyby the 21 years of age rule is just something stupid that dealers make up when they dont want to waste their time with you. I'm sure if you told them that you wouldnt have a cosigner and had cash in your pocket to pay for the whole thing there would be no questions asked. I had the same problem with the 350z and some other cars.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 128
From: Maui, Hawaii
Car Info: 2004 WRX STi
It just depends on the dealer... there are some really cool ones out there...
I was on Oahu one weekend and went into the Infinity dealership to look at the G35C. I'm just walking around it... pop the hood... and a saleslady comes up to me does the usual chit chat stuff, asks me what I drive currently (Still had my 02 WRX then), asked how I was able to afford it at my age, and was just generally very friendly. Then she asked if I was actually thinking about tradeing my car in for one... to which I responded that I loved my WRX and wouldn't ever trade it in, but that I might think about buying a G35C a few years down the road.
So she lets me oogle at the car some more and then she says "Wanna take it for a spin?"... like she had to ask, without me saying anything her next question was "6speed or Auto?"... judging by the look on my face she said "Lemme get the keys, do you mind if I make a photocopy of your drivers license?" One pass of a Xerox later and I was out in the parking lot sitting in the drivers seat of the G35C and getting a run down of all the wizzy-gizmo features.
At one point we were at a stop light at an empty intersection and I asked "Mind if I light up the tires?" her response was "I'm not saying yes, but I haven't told you not to"...
So... all in all she was hella cool and when we got back to the dealership she just said "Here's my card, if you're in the neighborhood in a few years and still interested, stop by and we can work some numbers."
So... moral of the LONG story... not all dealerships are jackasses...
I was on Oahu one weekend and went into the Infinity dealership to look at the G35C. I'm just walking around it... pop the hood... and a saleslady comes up to me does the usual chit chat stuff, asks me what I drive currently (Still had my 02 WRX then), asked how I was able to afford it at my age, and was just generally very friendly. Then she asked if I was actually thinking about tradeing my car in for one... to which I responded that I loved my WRX and wouldn't ever trade it in, but that I might think about buying a G35C a few years down the road.
So she lets me oogle at the car some more and then she says "Wanna take it for a spin?"... like she had to ask, without me saying anything her next question was "6speed or Auto?"... judging by the look on my face she said "Lemme get the keys, do you mind if I make a photocopy of your drivers license?" One pass of a Xerox later and I was out in the parking lot sitting in the drivers seat of the G35C and getting a run down of all the wizzy-gizmo features.
At one point we were at a stop light at an empty intersection and I asked "Mind if I light up the tires?" her response was "I'm not saying yes, but I haven't told you not to"...
So... all in all she was hella cool and when we got back to the dealership she just said "Here's my card, if you're in the neighborhood in a few years and still interested, stop by and we can work some numbers."
So... moral of the LONG story... not all dealerships are jackasses...
Guest
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I'll chime in as the old fart around here at 29 years old. I went in for a test drive at my local Subaru dealer in San Jose and they didn't take any info at all--not so much as a DL number. I guess I just looked like I was ready to buy a WRX (even though I wasn't at the time--the test drive was what completely hooked and sold me on the car).
In any case, it does suck that dealers treat those under 21 the way they do, but look at it from their perspective. How many 16-20 year old losers who want to drive a fast, powerful car do you think they see on a daily basis? (And we all know any variation of the WRX qualifies as a damn nice ride!) And how many of them take the car out and abuse it, screwing with the gears and otherwise driving like asses? I'd bet there were far more before they implemented the restrictions against those under 21.
Hopefully you have more than one dealer where you are? Maybe another dealer will be more lenient if you show them you're not one of those tools who just wants to go for a joyride.
In any case, it does suck that dealers treat those under 21 the way they do, but look at it from their perspective. How many 16-20 year old losers who want to drive a fast, powerful car do you think they see on a daily basis? (And we all know any variation of the WRX qualifies as a damn nice ride!) And how many of them take the car out and abuse it, screwing with the gears and otherwise driving like asses? I'd bet there were far more before they implemented the restrictions against those under 21.
Hopefully you have more than one dealer where you are? Maybe another dealer will be more lenient if you show them you're not one of those tools who just wants to go for a joyride.