MJBird993

I'll suggest that car salesman are people too, and you should treat them with the same respect and consideration that you want from them.

For that reason, you should call ahead and make an appointment.

It's never been an issue for me with this method, be it Porsche, Ferrari, Aston-Martin, Bentley, etc.

Gus_Smedstad

It's true that calling ahead is usually little effort. And I do call ahead for an appointment if it's an unusual / in demand car. For example, before I test drove a BMW i8, I made an appointment.

On the other hand, car dealerships should be expected to offer test drives of cars common to that kind of dealership. It's part of running a dealership, and part of being a car salesman. It's not discourtesy to walk in and ask to test-drive a 911 at a Porsche dealership.

What's reasonable depends on the kind of dealership. I can see a Chevy dealership wanting some advance notice to test drive a Z06, since they're mostly in the business of selling sedans, SUVs, and the like. Expectations for a Porsche dealership should be higher, even if they do sell more Macans than 911s.

That said, if Rusnak is making the ridiculous demand of a credit check just to test drive a car, it seems extremely unlikely they're going to wave that check just because you called and made an appointment.

NoGaBiker

^^ Very good points. I call ahead if I want to deal with my fave SA, just to make sure he's not spending 4 hours selling a Macan to a first timer when I arrive. But if I just want to take the latest .2 for a spin... [shrug] what's the big deal? Credit check??? Ya gotta be kidding me.

Now that said, in my opinion a person ought to find a real car-guy salesman and latch onto him. My guy at Hennessy Atlanta has been selling Porsches since the 80s. He is a lifelong car guy in his early-60s and he leases a new 911 every other year. I followed him from Jim Ellis (formerly the only Atlanta dealer) to Hennessy when they opened in 2001 or 2002. This sort of relationship makes test drives so much easier.

Gus_Smedstad

Mostly, yeah. When I went looking for a 911 last year, the SA who sold us the Cayman and the Panamera was quite eager to get me to test drive a variety of cars. Particularly more expensive ones .

On the other hand, my first test drive of a 911 was with a SA I'd never met before, but who was far more inclined to show me what the car could do than most SA's I've met. That was fun.

Porscheforever

Discrimination & racism at its best. I am glad you take your business elsewhere as they do not deserve your money.

PF

stephen k

There is nothing right about how Rusnak treated you but all of this could have been avoided by a simple phone call into Rusnak prior to your visit or even working a deal out online by email before stepping your foot into the dealership. Why waste your time to drive over to Rusnak without having any prior arrangements if you are that serious about buying with cash? Sounds like a waste of time to me.

Archimedes

Working out a deal before just test driving a car? Are you serious? My SA offers me a test drive of something without me even asking almost every time I'm in there. Giving test drives is how you get customers interested in your product. A customer shouldn't have to do anything but show interest and a valid drivers license and insurance card to test drive a car, unless, for some reason it's a special model that they are not allowing test drives on. In which case, they should communicate that.

I've never done anything but hand over my license to do a test drive. Livermore Porsche handed me the keys to two Carreras and let me test drive them alone with nobody even accompanying me, because the guy had to take a call. Nobody should have to fill out a credit app to test drive a car.

goin2drt

At least they talked to you. My wife and I walked into them and 2 others on the weekend in shorts and t-shirts. Not one dealer sales rep even came up and talked to us until we drove 2 hours away to Auto Gallery. I know they are the most hated, they treated us right and we bought from them.

falco1098

Notice how you can go to, for example, Ruth Chris Steakhouse in LA or Phoenix in flip flops, shorts and a tshirt and they will happily seat and serve you then take your money. But go to a Porsche dealer in either city and there is no service or dealing?!

I had the same experience in Scottsdale where once I got someone to pay attention and I said I want to buy that S today for this price (10% off msrp) he damn near laughed at me and took the time to mention how they were the 7th largest dealer, couldn't keep cars in stock they sold so fast and thus the price you see is the price.

Happily went 1800m away to Porsche of Kings Auto Mall in Cincinnati as the were offering over 10% off msrp.

DerekS

I've filled out an insurance form to test drive a Porsche, but never a credit app.

goin2drt

My dealer gave me a ride. Then he insisted my wife drive. He got out and she got in and the two of us went for a ride. I handed him my license so he could see that I had one, he handed it back, that's it.

Homeles

This must be a Westcoast thing. I've bought a lot of Porsche's from dealers across the US. Never had a problem on the right coast. Only thing close I can remember is from Suncoast in Sarasota. Saturday afternoon, guy walks in wearing bib overalls. No one wanted to wait on him, so a friend of mine de ides to talk to him. Bought 3 cars cash. Never judge a book by its covers

ipse dixit

Better question is why you're subjecting yourself to Ruth's Chris.

#FindARealSteakhouse

Gus_Smedstad

I'll say it again. There's no way that if they're unreasonable enough to require a credit check for a test drive, that making a phone call was going to change that.

The correct way to respond to this nonsense is not to make an appointment. It's to visit a more reasonable dealership.

falco1098

Well, that was merely an example of a place everyone knows that you wouldn't think would allow shorts and flips!

Now French Laundry and Per Se don't allow that so would work in this story!