test drive question

[august_west]

Hi all,

I just test drove a new manual transmission Impreza. The car was
brand new with only 5 miles on the odometer. The Check Engine light
was on and when I drove it the engine seemed rough. The salesman
explained these things away. I was told the Check Engine light being
on is very common (always on brand new cars?) when they get them on the
lot. Also, I was told that because the engine wasn't "broken in" yet
and due to it most likely having been started and stopped so many
times, that it had fuel in the lines or something which caused the car
to feel a bit rough.

I drove an automatic the other day (had over 100 miles on it) and it
drove much better. I didn't buy the car but I am curious to know if
any of you could confirm what the salesman told me.

Thanks
Mike

 

[jabario]

I personally would avoid a dealer that didnt take time to prep their
test drive cars. CEL could be anything from loose gas cap to a problem
that will plague you for as long as you own the car.

 

[mulder]

Hi all,

I just test drove a new manual transmission Impreza. The car was
brand new with only 5 miles on the odometer. The Check Engine light
was on and when I drove it the engine seemed rough. The salesman
explained these things away. I was told the Check Engine light being
on is very common (always on brand new cars?) when they get them on the
lot. Also, I was told that because the engine wasn't "broken in" yet
and due to it most likely having been started and stopped so many
times, that it had fuel in the lines or something which caused the car
to feel a bit rough.

I drove an automatic the other day (had over 100 miles on it) and it
drove much better. I didn't buy the car but I am curious to know if
any of you could confirm what the salesman told me.

Thanks
Mike

Unless there was something disconnected for shipping/delivery purposes
or the diagnostic plugs were connected (this would make the CEL flash)
there isn't any good reason for the light to be on or the car to run
poorly. The salesman was just making excuses. Don't buy that one, and
find another one in better shape to drive preferably at another
dealer. No need to settle for an AT if you want an MT.

 

[Jim Stewart]

Hi all,

I just test drove a new manual transmission Impreza. The car was
brand new with only 5 miles on the odometer. The Check Engine light
was on and when I drove it the engine seemed rough. The salesman
explained these things away. I was told the Check Engine light being
on is very common (always on brand new cars?) when they get them on the
lot. Also, I was told that because the engine wasn't "broken in" yet
and due to it most likely having been started and stopped so many
times, that it had fuel in the lines or something which caused the car
to feel a bit rough.

I drove an automatic the other day (had over 100 miles on it) and it
drove much better. I didn't buy the car but I am curious to know if
any of you could confirm what the salesman told me.

We did have a similar experience. My wife found
the exact 2004 WRX she wanted last year. When we
took it out for a test drive it ran like crap and
the driver's seat wouldn't adjust. They called us
back a couple of days later and said someone had
put regular gas in it and the seat was fixed. We
came back, test-drove it again and bought it.

 

[Ragnar]

Hi all,

I just test drove a new manual transmission Impreza. The car was
brand new with only 5 miles on the odometer. The Check Engine light
was on and when I drove it the engine seemed rough. The salesman
explained these things away. I was told the Check Engine light being
on is very common (always on brand new cars?) when they get them on the
lot. Also, I was told that because the engine wasn't "broken in" yet
and due to it most likely having been started and stopped so many
times, that it had fuel in the lines or something which caused the car
to feel a bit rough.

I drove an automatic the other day (had over 100 miles on it) and it
drove much better. I didn't buy the car but I am curious to know if
any of you could confirm what the salesman told me.

Thanks
Mike

He's talking out of his ass. The only CEL I've seen commonly that isn't
bad is the one that lights up when you don't tighten the gas cap properly.

Good thing you didn't buy that one.

 

[august_west]

Thank you all for your responses. I spoke with a manager at a
different dealer (who was actually in competition for my business) and
mentioned my experience with the car at the other dealer and he said
pretty much the same answers as the salesman told me. I felt this was
an honest answer especially due to the fact that he was also in
competition for my business. He asked if the car still had plastic in
it. It did. Actually the radio/CD wasn't even operable yet due to
fuse not installed etc.

I called the dealer (the one where I test drove the Manual Trans.) back
and he said the car hadn't gone through the PDI (I think this stands
for pre delivery inspection) process yet and so I told him I'd test
drive it again after it has gone through the PDI to verify everything
works and that the CEL is not on. After doing some more research I
also found out that the tire pressure is often not correct when
arriving on a lot so I'm hoping the car will drive better as well.

In fairness to the dealer where I test drove the manual trans. and had
the issues, the car was only on their lot for 2 days I think, so maybe
it wasn't enough time to do the PDI.

Any other comments are appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[DG]

You have basically answered your own question in another message. My '05
WRX had just come off the carrier and when I went to look at it, it also had
a CEL on, no functioning radio, etc. Those things are taken care of during
the pre-delivery. I wouldn't want to test drive it that way, though. When
I picked it up, it was perfect, and has been since that day one year ago.

 

[Ragnar]

Thank you all for your responses. I spoke with a manager at a
different dealer (who was actually in competition for my business) and
mentioned my experience with the car at the other dealer and he said
pretty much the same answers as the salesman told me. I felt this was
an honest answer especially due to the fact that he was also in
competition for my business. He asked if the car still had plastic in
it. It did. Actually the radio/CD wasn't even operable yet due to
fuse not installed etc.

I called the dealer (the one where I test drove the Manual Trans.) back
and he said the car hadn't gone through the PDI (I think this stands
for pre delivery inspection) process yet and so I told him I'd test
drive it again after it has gone through the PDI to verify everything
works and that the CEL is not on. After doing some more research I
also found out that the tire pressure is often not correct when
arriving on a lot so I'm hoping the car will drive better as well.

In fairness to the dealer where I test drove the manual trans. and had
the issues, the car was only on their lot for 2 days I think, so maybe
it wasn't enough time to do the PDI.

Any other comments are appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

I still wouldn't go back to that dealer. They apparently aren't smart
enough to prep their cars properly before letting people test drive them.

 

[330xi]

apparently Ragnar is not smart enough to realize that if a car has just
arrived on the lot and that
is the car that someone wants and they are also looking at another dealer
then
you would have no choice but to show them that car.

If he said go away and come back in a coupe of days when it is PDI's then
you would likely
just go to the other dealer anyway.

You are crapping on a dealer because he did the most he could do for the
client while
they were at the dealership and you do not know how demanding the customer
was.

It never ceases to amaze my how the American car industry has screwed itself
through it's behaviour over the year and how many buyer think they are
getting screwed
before they even enter the dealers lot.

(e-mail address removed)

 

[Ragnar]

apparently Ragnar is not smart enough to realize that if a car has just
arrived on the lot and that
is the car that someone wants and they are also looking at another dealer
then
you would have no choice but to show them that car.

Apparently you can't respond without ad homs.

If I went to the dealer and he showed me a car that hadn't been properly
prepped and ran like shit, I'd seriously question whether I wanted to
buy that car or even if I wanted to use that dealer. A good dealer
would want to showcase his cars and make sure the customer got a good
experience from the test drive, not a shitty-running poorly prepped car.

 

[jabario]

The dealer could have a properly prepped example to let the customer
drive with the statement that any specific vehicle can be preppped
should the customer be interested. Why do you think model homes are so
nice? A builder may have a harder time selling if his model home is
unfinished

 

[330xi]

there is a difference between a poorly prepped car and a car that hasn't
been
prepped yet. You seem unable to distinquish between the two because you are
predisposed to beleaving that the dealer is screwing you.

if you went to a dealer and said i would like to see " that car "
and the salesman said that one just came in and it's not ready to be
shown, i'll be happy to show you this car instead. What would you do?

you obviously would presume he was trying to sell you another car or
something
you don't want because you don't believe a thing he says.

 

[jabario]

When I buy a car I look for 1. model 2. color /various accessories/trim
level. When I was shopping in Jan. 04 I drove many vehicles. If a
salesman took me out in a non prepped vehicle I would go elsewhere.
For example I wanted to try the Baja. I wouldnt buy a black car but I
test drove one. I did like the vehicle and was then worried about
color. Had the vehicle run like crap I would not even continue dealing
with the dealer or even the manufacturer. I drove the Rav4 and felt
my testicles shrink so that was it. The Xterra was crude and unrefined.
For a good price I'd have consider it. Dealer wouldnt jew so Nissan
was out. Then I went to a dealer who had outback in ad for good price.
Car was silver drove it haggled and bought it.

 

[hfw]

Surely there has to be some better way of expressing these thoughts. For a
woman, reading what your testicles do in response to something is fairly
crude and not terribly informative. For a Jew, seeing that noun used as a
verb or adjective is downright offensive.

--Heidi

 

[jabario]

Surely there has to be some better way of expressing these thoughts. For a
woman, reading what your testicles do in response to something is
fairly
crude and not terribly informative. For a Jew, seeing that noun used as
a
verb or adjective is downright offensive. <<

BWAHHHHHH!!!!
Try http://www.thefreedictionary.com/jew to show that "jew" is commonly
used as a verb meaning to haggle. Not offensive at all.
A man knows what it's like to lose his testicles so that expression
says it all. Here's a translation for high minded people "Driving a
puny,underpowered, wimpy vehicle can make a man feel like a eunuch"
I'm glad I could educate you.

 

[hfw]

It doesn't matter how commonly it's used, to Jews it's offensive. As it says
on the website YOU cited:

tr.v. jewed, jew·ing, jews Offensive
1. To bargain shrewdly or unfairly with. Often used with down.
2. To haggle so as to reduce (a price). Often used with down.

I'm sorry that anyone should be so insecure about his masculinity that a car
could make him feel less manly.

--Heidi

 

[jabario]

BWAHHHHHH!! I wasnt offended.

 

[l.lichtman]

What WOULD it take to offend you? Call you "Shit for brains?"

(Signed) Male from Jewish gene-pool

 

[Jim Stewart]

What WOULD it take to offend you? Call you "Shit for brains?"

(Signed) Male from Jewish gene-pool

LOL

 

[Tom Reingold]

woman, reading what your testicles do in response to something is
fairly
crude and not terribly informative. For a Jew, seeing that noun used as
a
verb or adjective is downright offensive. <<

BWAHHHHHH!!!!
Try http://www.thefreedictionary.com/jew to show that "jew" is commonly
used as a verb meaning to haggle. Not offensive at all.
A man knows what it's like to lose his testicles so that expression
says it all. Here's a translation for high minded people "Driving a
puny,underpowered, wimpy vehicle can make a man feel like a eunuch"
I'm glad I could educate you.

It certainly offends this Jew. I'll thank you not to use that verb. And
the very entry you refer to does label the verb as offensive. Please
take another look!