So I take the kids out today to the park. As her in doors had put all three kids seat in the Forester (out of the the T3), I figured I'd just jumo in and go with the bigger 2 kids (the middle seat is the baby chair).

What a pain in the arse. Taking skin off, trying to get the belts in behind the plastic baby seat. Had to do it again at the park, then at Maccas and then at the next park. So Im over it by then.

So I've got the pip, and cant see any point in having the Sube really. So I figure I'll go see the VW dealer in the new Mega-Bing Centre out near the regatta centre, on the way back. Get the kids out, and like the look of the TDi Transporter which may or may not be acutally called a Kombi.

Thesalesman seemed unable to resolve it. Nor offer any practical information on the 1.9 version verses 2.5 version, asside from the Kw written on his photocopy. Nor could he work out if he had either version to drive. But then there are 4 in a line, so he can't work it out.

Then he wants to know if the wife is here? No why, so she can look after the kids and you can drive one...(obviously doesnt know the wife). So I'll take on out for a spin then...well I can drive you round the block....erm not at 50-60k you can't....me and the kids want to drive it at least to Richmond and back...the kids? he sez, oh no sir, we can't allow kids in. If you go get your wife, I can take you for a drive, she can look after the kids.

No test drive and no wiser really than the moment I went in.

Right, rant over....thanks for nothing.

[ Edited on 27-8-2006 by crewcabconnection ]

Thats perfectly reasonable, I know if I was buying one I'd like to be able to test drive it with the kids in......does he expect the wife to take the kids in something else once you've bought it??

try a different dealer ,he doesn't wan't your money.

or buy a new Sube Liberty wagon and with the money left over, convert the T3 into Sube power too...put me right off. We like to buy a new ride for the family every 3/4 years ... and today reminds me how easy it is to buy off a Sube dealer...certainly sir, bring the car back tommorrow....that kind of thing. Then tonight I checked out the depreciation of VW vs Subaru...no contest...just with the fkers made a people mover...the new Triblinca SUV looks way to Yank for me....and how much....did we all get rich? I didn't get the memo.

Cheers...

When I took a Territory for a test drive a few years ago, they let me put the child seat into it and disappear for 30 mins. It wasn't enough for me to buy it, but a good experience all the same.

And how much would that have bombed in money...dealers...ppfffff.

just as easy to say "fine by me... no commision for you then... where's a manager, i want to talk to a professional!"

Volkswagen would like to hear that one. Give head office a call. Unfortunately on the money the sales people are paid these days, we get monkeys.

Hi

I think the best way to get decent test drive is to rent the intended car for the weekend, that way you can use it for your usual chores and rental cars have a rough life, so then you can see how its standing up and also ask the rental agent about any issues that they have had with that model car.

When we were looking for a Prado one dealer let me take one home to see if it fitted in garage OK.

No wonder VW only has a small slice of the local market.

Steve

different dealer ,different attitude
we are looking to buy a new golf gti and we went to town for a look and wern't impressed by the dealer so went to springwood vw and what a difference,couldnt be more helpful they were excellent ,had stock and test drives were like, lets go

unfortunately these days it can be the luck of the draw with salespeople. i have found it depends upon a number of things as to how they sound when you approach them or they approach you when looking at cars.
our local VW dealership was very helpful when we were looking at a new beetle. we spent about 3-4 hours on a sat morning taking a few of them on test drives, so they shuffled the cars around for us and we simply drove in and jumped in the next car and took off for a 30 minute drive.. but i have also seen where it is obvious that the salesperson has absolutely no idea in what features are in the car etc... we took a Honda Euro for a test drive when they first came out and i asked if it had cruise control (which you could clearly see the controls on the steering wheel!) and he said no it doesnt have it... lol.
it will also depend on how much they want a sale... those not selling will make the effort..those selling heaps will not... holden and ford were like this years ago... holden salespeople couldn't care less coz they were selling heaps without trying.. ford was offering discounts and extras galore to get people to buy especially if you told them you were comparing the falcon and commodore.

i would try a different dealer or just go straight to the manager and explain that you want to see if the kids will fit in the car and how much hassle it will be etc...

If you do buy a new Transporter/kombi, drive it back to that original dealer and tell him what he missed out on. Also let his manager know while your there too. And point out all the options you added to ya car - I think that's where the dealers make the most money on a sale. Oh, and tell em you'll never take to them to get it serviced either..

Remember, vote with your feet.

Love the rental idea, will definitely be doing that next time, great advice 1303Steve.

i had one not buying but selling. the gf's excel is for sale and got a call from a dealership to see if i can bring it in. so i drive 30 minutes through peak hour traffic to get there. once there the guyu that rang is not there, but one of the other guys says he will have a look at it. he walks out and goes what do we want so i tell him, and he goes no really what do you want for it. i tell him again thinking this is strange, he then procedes to tell me i have no idea about cars and value. so i tell him i had the car valued at three time what he has offered. he then get shitty and tells me to take my piece of shit and go so i did.

a friend has a Territory. Big and noice car. Not saying its not. People like me buy a new family car every few years because our needs seem to change. 3 years ago we had 1 kid, not we have 3. Its about being practical...we love out T3 Caravelle, but in the next three years we will be doing a lot of Ks, and the practicallity of a TDi makes the swap of a Forester to a Multi-van a good option.

All people movers are expensive, and we want something for 5 years. When we do come to sell it, I want the most back I can. We dont need an urban tractor, as we won't be off road.

A Territory and a multivan are similar price on-road...but having enjoyed Subarus great re-sale prices, the 10k a year plus on a Territory and its thirsty economy is a worry. I wish I could afford to not worry about it...I can see why people buy them, but we really need a bus...I didn't mean to offend Territory owners ... just my criteria might not be the same...some new cars dump value more than others thats all, and Territories seem to dump 40% in a couple of years...but I might be wrong - just going off the Red Book and Car Sales...

Hi

The only problem with a Territory or any Ford or Holden is you seem to get Monday cars. Myself and my workmates have LPG Falcon utes, Ive done 26,000 ks and the diff is about to blow, my workmates have had trans and dffs with similar milage.

After spending way to much on old Audis I bought a Prado, its done 80,000 now and besides servicing all Ive done is change the front brake pads, I get around 15 L/100 ks around town. My gas Falcon gets between 28-32 L/100s.

Steve

Seems to be the bigger the franchise the less keen they are to be polite! Had nasty experience with Parra Chrysler (Lincorp Motor Group) down in Sydney after buying Jeep Cherokee couple of years ago(trying to sell it if anyone is interested!??). Servicing was a nightmare - had to go to Camelia, they didnt do half of what they claimed they did, tried to get me to buy brake pads when I didnt need them and got really shitty when challenged. They then had cheek to put me on mail out asking me to go back and buy again from them - No chance!!