I think my local mazda dealer is trying to pull some serious BS on me.

Warning: I'm sorta ranting, so kinda long. Sorry.

First off, let me state that I'm 18 and I'm Chinese. I went in the dealership about 2 months ago, interested in an RX-8. When I first came dealership, they showed me some Mazda3s, trying to get me to buy one. I let them see my drivers license, and they asked me if I wanted to test drive one. I said not really, I'm more interested in an RX8, auto since I can't drive manual well enough at the time (was learning though).

The guy gives me a funny look. Mind you, I don't dress like some punk *** ricer. I was really polite, dressed properly, and I go to one of the top universities in the country. They even saw me pull up in a pretty new car costing more than any of their cars in their lot, so I'm not poor. He paused and finally said, "Uhh.. let me go check the computer and let me see if we have any." He comes back and tells me that there arent any autos. As I was leaving, a chinese salesperson comes up to me to chat. I told him it was too bad they didn't have auto Rx8 I can test drive. He said yes there is, and rushed to get me the keys. He even let me drive drive it by myself for a little while. Then he called me back and rode with me to chat some more. But I was never really interest in an auto. I left the dealership feeling a little angry that the other guy lied to me, so for sure I'm going back to the chinese salesman.

I finally learn how to drive stick, and have been driving stick daily for the past 2 months. I have some free time between my classes today, so I went back to the dealership. Unfortunately the chinese salesman wasn't there, so I had to go to someone else. I told them I came in here before and test drove an automatic Rx8, and I want to drive the manual for a little bit. Again, this old guy gives me a funny look. He asked for my drivers license, then takes his time staring at it. He goes and talks with the guy who lied to me before. He comes back to me and says, "I'm sorry but our insurance doesn't cover anyone under 21. Whoever let you drive before should have." I was like WTF , and I just said Thanks anyway sarcastically and walked away. I know they just told me another blatant lie because my neighbor test drove every model many times before finally buying a Mazda6 2 weeks before, and he was my age.

I don't know if its just me, but I'm suspecting it's some racial bs, which is weird because this was near CHINATOWN. I guess they think younger chinese people should only be in Mazda3's . I never had any dealership treat me like that before. I went to the nearby Honda dealership and asked to drive an S2000, the guy was practically running to get keys. Same with the Nissan and Mitsu dealership. The Rx8 I asked to test drive was the cheapest car out of the bunch. This really turns me off from ever buying a Mazda, because if I want one I have to travel much further to get it or do maintanence on it. Yeah I understand that the dealership is owned by the Porsche/Audi dealership across the street, but I'm not asking to drive a 911 turbo. This really sucks, and I can't believe people still pull this kinda stuff.

Bleh.

 

what i would do is get some baby powder and apply a generous portion to the palm of your hand and walk in there biotch shmackin some ****'s.

i went to look at a 350z about a year after they came out, and they gave me the same 21 years old to drive b.s. i think it is because of insurance reasons at some dealerships, like you cant drive the car off the lot but you can drive it once out on the road, weird

 

Doesn't sound racist, just sounds like age discrimination... I mean seriously, what racial stereotype could they pin on you? That you're good at math? :p

 

sucks that you got that kind of treatment, but i don't think it was a racial think as much as it was an age thing.

dealerships get teens coming in all the time to test drive (abuse) the sports cars with no intention of buying one.

now, it is possible that their insurance doesn't allow anyone under 21 to drive a car, but not at all likely. if there is a lower age limit, i would guess it to be 18. they probably thought you were just there to rag on a car and then leave.

basically i'd say, either only deal with the chinese salesman that treated you with respect, or just go to another dealership.

another thing you could do is when you are ready to buy, call and ask for the GM. explain how you were treated and because of that you are going to buy a car at one of their competitors. if he cares (some still don't) he'll apologize, tell you some sob story about how most times when people your age come in, it is just to rag on the cars, and then he might offer you a discounted price or possibly some other comps.

 

I've had that under 21 hassle before when I was buying my first car. The salesman was very eager to let me drive the car, but he had to make sure I was not under 21. I was, but I had my Dad with me coz he knew more about cars. If anything, you just got a break from the Chinese salesman coz you're "his people." We all know how this concept works on all races.

 

Yeah, I'm good good at math. :D

I think it has a lot to do with age, but I do detect a bit of racism.

But noticed how my neighbor (white) was not discriminated against because of age, and how the chinese salesmen did not discriminate.

They are probably thinking I was one of the many asian ricers around Chinatown, who just drive in circles revving their little Crx all day.

 

haven't you heard? all people of asian descent are bad drivers </sarcasm>
but seriously, i agree 100% that it was age discrimiation.

 

It's probably not that your Chinese. I'm of European decent and I have been test driving cars since I was 18. I admit, I often didn't really want to buy the car, just wanted to see what they were like. :D Anyway, I used to get that sometimes too. "I'm sorry, but dealerships can't let you test drive before you're 21". I used to call them out on it saying I just came from another dealership and they let me drive their cars. Mind you, I was like you. I was nicely dressed, polite, well spoken, and I was usually pulling up in either an Acura or a Z28. Neither of which are ultra expensive, but they weren't cheap econo-boxes either. What pissed me off the most is when dealers wouldn't let me drive their cars when it came time to ACTUALLY buy one. I would even say, "I'm looking to buy a car in the next few weeks and these are what I am considering..." (RX-8, 350z, C230, BMW 3series, EVOVIII, not cheap cars, etc.) When they would resist letting me drive their car I would tell them that if I can't drive it, I can't consider it, b/c to me how it feels when you drive it is my #1 priority. They would sometimes still deny me. One went so far as to say "Look kid, we both know you're not buying this car..." implying that I was too young to afford it. I replied, "You're right, I'm definitely not now, and I'd like to tell your manager why I'm not. Could you go get him please?" Well, I can tell you that I got great satisfaction out of pulling up to some of those dealerships in a brand new $33,XXX.00 RX-8 and having those same sales people run up to me wanting to help me. I would say "Oh I'm sorry, you don't remember me? I'm too young to buy your cars, so I bought this one. (If the RX-8 was more than the car on the floor I'd mention that I went with a more expensive model than their's). I don't need any help thanks, I'm just looking at this. Besides, looking at your car now, I think I made the right decision." One salesperson mumbled obscenities as he walked away. I tried to say "I'm sorry, what was that? I couldn't hear you" but he just kept walking.

So long story short, it just depends on who you're talking to. Some people are not free of prejudice and you just have to deal with it. Some of the cars I was more seriously considering and I was denied a test drive in I still drove, just at another dealer. If you like they RX-8, find someone who will let you drive it, b/c it is an amazing machine. One trick I've used is calling up before I get there and setting up an appointment to drive one. Often they don't think to ask your age (particularly when you have a deep voice like me) and if they refuse you when you get there, you've now got a reason to raise hell, as you specifically were told you could drive one.

On the flip side of the spectrum, I've also had salesmen throw the keys to a car at me and say "bring it back in an hour or so and tell me what you think". I drove an S2000 that way and boy can I tell you that was fun... lol. Another tip, get a young salesman. Not only are they more likely to let you drive the car, but they're more likely to want to see a sports car driven like one. Old men tend you get nervous when you screech the tires around a turn... :D

EDIT: Lol, there were no replies when I started writing. Didn't realize how long this thing ran...

 

A similar thing happened to me. I drove an RX-8 at my local dealer, salesman was very nice, blah blah blah. I told him I was still looking and not ready to buy yet. He was still nice, gave me his card, and told me to call him when I was ready to buy.
A few weeks later I went back for another test drive, and was told I needed to be 21 for insurance reasons (I'm 20). Fine, but the thing that really turned me off was that the salesman then wanted to discuss pricing! I (politely) explained to him that there was no way I would buy a car without a test drive, but he just kept trying. I walked out, as he continued rattling off numbers to me.

 

Look at it from their perspective. They've probably been punkd more than once by young drivers using a test drive as a joy ride. Sure, it's a pain in the *** to be painted with the same brush. On the other hand, would it kill you to have a parent along on the test drive? More than likely the salesperson would agree to that. Then you'd get the test drive you want before buying the car. Or, will pride get in your way? You can try talking to the GM and if you demonstrate the means they might change their mind. Either way is a hassle.

Don't worry, you'll be past this stage soon enough. Enjoy!

 

In my case that wouldn't be possible, as I've been at school. My parents probably wouldn't drive 8 hours each way to come on a 20 minute test drive with me :p
I do see where you're coming from, but it's still annoying (enough for me to chime in with my $0.02).

 

^^^ you could always do it when they came to visit you, or when you go back to visit them. that or you could just find someone to "play" your dad when when you went to the dealership for the test drive

 

can't say i've ever has that problem. i'm chinese and under 21 also. i test drove rx-8's a 4 different dealerships before buying one. gotta admit, the first two times were just for fun :p, but they still didnt give me any trouble. hell, i've even test driven an STi no problem. the salesman offered and ran to get the keys before i could even respond! lol

 

Yep, I test drove one when I went home for a weekend. It was also convenient that my parents were buying a Mazda6 at the time, so the salesman was very agreeable

lol :D

 

I had that problem when I bought my car. I came back a second time about a week later and they let me drive it. I think that because I came back again, it showed I was serious about the car. (they told me they don't test drive the 6 speed rx-8's, I told the guy he was full of **** and then got into my lexus and drove away...lol:D )

 

oh and---- The second time the moron salesman asked if I was looking to trade my car in... this is a 04 Lexus LS430, with a sticker price of 65k. I asked if he was going to give me two 8's? He was like, "oh....are they that much???"

The Lexus didn't even have plates on it yet!:p

 

The car you pull up in makes a HUGE difference. My father's looking to buy the new Z06 in the next year or so. Personally, I can't wait, b/c I'm going to take it to the local exotic dealer and try to use it as my "in" for getting a sweet test ride... :D

 

I can't say that I blame the dealerships for being cautious about letting teenagers drive their cars. For every kid that can afford one, there are probably 1000 that have no intention at all of buying one. However, the dealerships should also remember that one day a kid may have money to buy one. The dealer takes a chance of denying a test drive that could hurt his business in the future, but in the short term it is probably a wise, conservative choice.

 

cautious is fine

but lieing is wrong

I use to sell cars.. there is no age limit .. it covers ALL LINSENSED motorist... dumb bastards

 

Yeah bastards... I'm 18 and they let me test drive it. Try bringing your parents along. That normally helps the situation. Also try talking to the manager.

 

Ya know I had a different problem when it came to the dealerships..... I had no problems in test driving an 8 about a year ago, but since I'm now in Iraq and need to order mine via email, it seems that no salesmen want to deal with me. It's like I'm not serious since it's all through email. Anyway, after contacting all dealerships in my area and surrounding regions, I finally found a salesman who understands my situation and has been great about keeping in touch and helping me out. I now have a Snowlake White Pearl 2006 on order. Woohoo!