Used LC500 test drive not allowed by dealer!
02-05-21, 12:15 PM
#1
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Used LC500 test drive not allowed by dealer!
Is this normal behavior? It is a 2018 with about 30k miles and the dealer says they will only allow me to test drive if I agree to purchase and do finance paperwork first! I I want to test drive a 2018 as I want to understand the differences between 2018 and newer cars. The car is also not in the color I want.
I have never heard of this before. I would like to complain to Lexus Corporate. Does anyone know how I can do this?
I have never heard of this before. I would like to complain to Lexus Corporate. Does anyone know how I can do this?
02-05-21, 12:19 PM
#2
Intermediate
Well, scheduling a test drive without any intention to buy may not be the best behavior, but presumably the dealer doesn't know of your non-intentions - so, yes, that would be quite odd of the dealer. (Or does the dealer know that you have no intention to buy?)
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redhot47fl (02-05-21)
02-05-21, 12:27 PM
#4
Intermediate
Well, that certainly is bizarre behavior by the dealer. Expecting someone to essentially purchase a vehicle before a test drive - bizarre and seemingly unprecedented, not to mention unproductive.
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ECL (02-05-21)
02-05-21, 12:31 PM
#5
Pole Position
Thread Starter
I am going to find out how to report the dealer to Lexus. This is not a half a million dollar exotic, neither is it new. If people dont drive, how do they compare!
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ECL (02-05-21)
02-05-21, 01:04 PM
#6
Advanced
Run, don't walk, away from a dealer that responds in this fashion. 
With an attitude like this right out of the gate, how can you ever feel comfortable with what's to follow?
FYI - Just to be honest with you, I have driven a 2021 and there is NO perceptible difference from my 2018 driving at in town and normal freeway speeds. They feel IDENTICAL.
With an attitude like this right out of the gate, how can you ever feel comfortable with what's to follow?
FYI - Just to be honest with you, I have driven a 2021 and there is NO perceptible difference from my 2018 driving at in town and normal freeway speeds. They feel IDENTICAL.
02-05-21, 01:10 PM
#7
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Run, don't walk, away from a dealer that responds in this fashion.
With an attitude like this right out of the gate, how can you ever feel comfortable with what's to follow?
FYI - Just to be honest with you, I have driven a 2021 and there is NO perceptible difference from my 2018 driving at in town and normal freeway speeds. They feel IDENTICAL.
With an attitude like this right out of the gate, how can you ever feel comfortable with what's to follow?
FYI - Just to be honest with you, I have driven a 2021 and there is NO perceptible difference from my 2018 driving at in town and normal freeway speeds. They feel IDENTICAL.
I have no plans to track this car, but do go out on fast group drives with misc car clubs every few weeks.
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02-05-21, 01:14 PM
#8
I am trying to be careful here but if feels like there may be some profiling going on
No point in giving your business to a store that does not show respect for you as a customer and does not try to earn your business
No point in giving your business to a store that does not show respect for you as a customer and does not try to earn your business
02-05-21, 01:25 PM
#9
Advanced
02-05-21, 01:27 PM
#10
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Hmm, strong words
I agree I may not be able to tell the difference, but I still want to drive one 2018 and one newer in my journey of LC ownership
I agree I may not be able to tell the difference, but I still want to drive one 2018 and one newer in my journey of LC ownership
I will say again, There is NO PERCEPTIBLE difference from my 2018 driving at in town and normal freeway speeds (this would include what would be called a 'fast group ride'. This includes the 'transmission logic' change and the suspension revisions. My 2018 has been changed to Michelin RF tires (same size as original). The tire change made more of a difference than the suspension revisions made by LEXUS. I would defy anyone that say they can tell a difference if they were blindfolded.
02-05-21, 01:30 PM
#11
Advanced
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LexusDawg (02-05-21)
02-05-21, 01:31 PM
#12
Lexus Fanatic
That's ridiculous....
02-06-21, 10:57 AM
#13
New and pre-owned $100k cars are not like shoes that get routinely "tried on" by multiple folks before being purchased.
The risk/benefit calculation that dealers make regarding all test drives goes right off the scale when big dollars are involved.
If you carefully state your specific research project (the shift logic improvement?) and present yourself as a legitimate buyer
of that particular car then the store ought to accommodate your needs. You are however following vastly more drivers that
may very well want to buy a car like this some day in the distant future when they get a better job... The requirement that
you prepare the financial path for buying is a step in legitimizing you as a buyer. You pay at the first window before you
pick up the sack of burgers at the second window, right? Not making light of any heavy handed approaches that some
agencies may employ but once someone bends a car on a joyride it spoils the fun for everyone.
The risk/benefit calculation that dealers make regarding all test drives goes right off the scale when big dollars are involved.
If you carefully state your specific research project (the shift logic improvement?) and present yourself as a legitimate buyer
of that particular car then the store ought to accommodate your needs. You are however following vastly more drivers that
may very well want to buy a car like this some day in the distant future when they get a better job... The requirement that
you prepare the financial path for buying is a step in legitimizing you as a buyer. You pay at the first window before you
pick up the sack of burgers at the second window, right? Not making light of any heavy handed approaches that some
agencies may employ but once someone bends a car on a joyride it spoils the fun for everyone.
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dlgray2000 (04-02-21)
02-06-21, 11:06 AM
#14
Lexus Fanatic
New and pre-owned $100k cars are not like shoes that get routinely "tried on" by multiple folks before being purchased.
The risk/benefit calculation that dealers make regarding all test drives goes right off the scale when big dollars are involved.
If you carefully state your specific research project (the shift logic improvement?) and present yourself as a legitimate buyer
of that particular car then the store ought to accommodate your needs. You are however following vastly more drivers that
may very well want to buy a car like this some day in the distant future when they get a better job... The requirement that
you prepare the financial path for buying is a step in legitimizing you as a buyer. You pay at the first window before you
pick up the sack of burgers at the second window, right? Not making light of any heavy handed approaches that some
agencies may employ but once someone bends a car on a joyride it spoils the fun for everyone.
The risk/benefit calculation that dealers make regarding all test drives goes right off the scale when big dollars are involved.
If you carefully state your specific research project (the shift logic improvement?) and present yourself as a legitimate buyer
of that particular car then the store ought to accommodate your needs. You are however following vastly more drivers that
may very well want to buy a car like this some day in the distant future when they get a better job... The requirement that
you prepare the financial path for buying is a step in legitimizing you as a buyer. You pay at the first window before you
pick up the sack of burgers at the second window, right? Not making light of any heavy handed approaches that some
agencies may employ but once someone bends a car on a joyride it spoils the fun for everyone.
Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mclaren, Rolls Royce, even perhaps a Bentley...fine. But a used Lexus LC? Thats ridiculous lol. You can buy one at Carmax!
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02-06-21, 01:09 PM
#15
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
the dealer is free to do as they wish, and you are free to refuse. following up on what mcomer wrote, this is a rare car and i don't know what kind or brand of dealer this is, but maybe this is a very unique sale for them and they want to pre-qualify buyers. really nothing wrong with that.