Test DRive at RV dealer

[georgecat]

Help!  I want to test drive a class C at camping world--I've been told they only permit test drives "at the point of sale".....??   WHAT?  Maybe I'm naive...so help--part of my decision making is knowing what size Class C I'll be comfortable driving--how it accelerates/parks---what kind of "noises" etc to expect (or not to expect!"

Please...enlighten me--I told the salesperson via email that if they cannot accommodate my request--I'll move on---unless--this is the STANDARD for the RV dealers?

[CC38EL]

It's not the standard.  But have seen at other dealerships.

one option.....let them drive and tag along.

Jim

[8Muddypaws]

I wouldn't buy from CW then.  Actually I'd not buy from CW in any case because I have had to fix so much of their botched work that I don't trust them at all.

[Rene T]

Walk away if they won't let you drive it BEFORE the sale.

[YaddaYadda]

I have not read good things about CW.....sales, service or service contracts

[SeilerBird]

Walk way if they won't let you drive it BEFORE the sale.

^^^^

[JSplaine]

We test drove Diesel pusher at CW with salesmen, ending up not buying. Test drove 34' gas class at another dealer by ourselves, ended up buying it. Simple do not buy a vehicle without a test drive. If dealer will not accommodate you there are many dealer who will.

[Arch Hoagland]

Did you actually go to that Camping World or were you doing it all by phone and Email?  I've driven a couple with no hesitation from the dealer, however they knew I had driven big RV's and owned one.   

I suspect if you drove into the dealership in a Prevost they'd have you behind the steering wheel faster than you can say Boo.

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Many dealers are cautious about test drives - they get more than a few tire kickers and test driving an RV is an expensive risk for them. I suspect if you go there and appear serious, i.e. it's the "point of sale", they will accommodate you. If you just want to experiment with various sizes and styles, expect some reluctance from some, if not most, dealers.

Unlike the others here, I don't think a test drive is all that important for an RV.  The house part is of much greater importance than the vehicle part and as a newbie, you are going to have a learning curve no matter what.   They are noisier than a car, accelerate & brake much more slowly, and also wider and longer. A Class B or C will seem more familiar initially, but you would quickly adapt to the different view/seat position of an A.

All that said, if one dealer won't accommodate your needs, move on. There are lots of fish in the ocean...

[SeilerBird]

Unlike the others here, I don't think a test drive is all that important for an RV.

Normally I agree with everything Gary says but not this one. I test drove an Itaska about ten years ago and it shifted really rough. It was jarring. After the test drive the salesman wanted to know if I wanted to make an offer. I told him no, the transmission was not very good feeling. He insisted that it was fine. The sales manager came in and announced he had driven it the day before and it drove perfectly. He said even a million dollar RV shifts the exact same way. How do these clowns sleep at night?

[JSplaine]

Sorry Gary, not good advise. My brother and I test drove a DP in Lake Havasu he was interested in. At highway speed there was a definite chassis problem as it vibrated severely. Absolutely no way to know that without a drive.

[whiteva]

If you are serious then go for a real test drive. Get on a major highway and up to 60 to 65 mph and note the noises and how it feels. I recently drove a class A to a show for a local dealer. That specific RV was really loud and wandered over the road. I told the dealer of my findings. Following the show the service manager had the coach looked at and found tire and alignment problems from the factory. I was asked to drive it after repairs and it was like a different unit. It is interesting driving/pulling different campers of all makes and models for delivery or to a show.

[WILDEBILL308]

Did you actually go to that Camping World or were you doing it all by phone and Email?  I've driven a couple with no hesitation from the dealer, however they knew I had driven big RV's and owned one.   

I suspect if you drove into the dealership in a Prevost they'd have you behind the steering wheel faster than you can say Boo.

I wonder what someone driving a Prevost would be doing at Camping World
Bill

[RVRAC]

That is strange.  I visited several dealers before buying and none were reluctant to allow me to drive with a salesperson coming along.  You need a different dealer.

[Gary RV_Wizard]

CW did not say "no test drives". What they said is that a test drive is available as part of a prospective sale for a coach.  It appears that georgecat requested an opportunity to drive one or more rigs to help decide what size & type they might want to buy.  That's not the same thing at all.

I'm not a fan of CW or there business practices, but let's not blame them for things they didn't do.

[Mile High]

MHSRV in Texas did that to us on a used Anthem.  I couldn't believe it.  We talked to them on the phone, discussed trade, then flew down there to look at it.  After being insulted by them because we live in CO, he said they don't allow test drives until the paperwork is signed and loan approved or money down.  I was furious.  We told them we were not buying anything from them now, but to make our trip worthwhile we were going to use one of their golf carts and look at all the rigs he has on the lot to help us decide what we will be buying from someone else. 

[KandT]

SO having just sold an RV, I had a family of tire kickers come along and I could tell they were just starting and maybe wouldn't buy at all.  He said he sure would like to drive.  I asked if it drove fine is he in a position to buy it?  He said "No" 

You can't expect someone to let just anyone back their RV into a polls and sideswipe their other RV's.

The next couple that came along REALLY looked at the RV.  By their questions I could tell they really were ready to buy.  He drove an e250 for work as an electrician.  I said heck why don't you guys take it?  They said nah - We are OK."  I said "I am not gonna come with you.  Take it down the road and pull off for as long as you like and inspect anything you want.  Just watch the tail wag you might not have with the e250."

They came back and bought it.

By the same token I was pretty ticked when I was willing to drive 6 hours for a Tiffin I wanted and the salesman said I could only drive it after the paperwork was done and I gave him a nonrefundable $450.  Now 6 hours EACH WAY is some pretty good skin in the game and I explained I have an RV currently.  Then I asked if I could ride in it while he drove it and he still said no.  I passed on that one.

You just have to find the right fit.  Sounds like CW isn't a good fit for you.  Lots of dealers out there - just move along!!

[Mile High]

PS, that is not a standard CW policy (nothing about CW Dealers is standard).  We rescued ours from Camping World after no less than 3 test drives, along with test driving some others.  We also drove some very nice ones at the Itasca Dealer (Transwest) but just couldn't get close enough on numbers.

[Bill N]

Walk away if they won't let you drive it BEFORE the sale.

I drove 3 motorhomes and bought none of them.  Two of them were really blocked in badly on the lot and had to be extracted.  My CW was very responsive on test drives but I no long do any business with CW or GS because of the "Lemonis Factor." 

Bill

[SMR]

when we looked at several at different dealerships and the salesmen offered up to let us test drive it. maybe he can tell by the smile on your face or the fear in your eyes if your a buyer.
I would not buy one without a test drive-I would think it would be a given to test drive-
I do get what Gary is saying-narrow down what you think you want and go look at and drive that specific camper or a few of the same class, sales people just want to sell

[blw2]

Yeah, I get Gary's point too.... it's not as much like buying a daily driver where driving around the block for a quick and easy spin is a great way to try it on for size.....
it makes sense to not drive everyone you glance at.....but once you get serious between a few then I think it would be stupid not to drive it first....
you never know, might Seilerbird's hard shiftin' tranny, might be an awful pull to the left.... a weird vibration or shimmy....

I bought mine at a CW....not by choice really, it was just the deal we found....
I didn't seal the paperwork till I took it for a spin down the road.  It was the first and so far only MH I have driven....  They knew I was serious though, we traveled a couple hours form home and had already negotiated the deal, pending inspection and test drive....

[Mile High]

Once established a serious buyer, you really need to drive several to reveal and understand the differences in chassis, tags, independent front suspension or straight axle, etc.  That doesn't include faults you find. 

[georgecat]

Thank you all for your thoughts! Very helpful

[blw2]

Once established a serious buyer, you really need to drive several to reveal and understand the differences in chassis, tags, independent front suspension or straight axle, etc.  That doesn't include faults you find.

Well yes, that's a great point if you are on the fence between different chassis types

[ArdraF]

We wouldn't buy a motorhome without test driving it first - and we certainly wouldn't sign any papers without driving it first!  If you go to an RV show the salespeople are generally really good about test drives.  After all they don't want to have to drive them back to their lot which might be hundreds of miles away.  At one of the first FMCA rallies we attended we talked to a couple who were selling for a specific dealer.  Later we ran into them as we were going from the rally site into town and they encouraged us to come along and drive the coach.  They knew we were debating shorter vs. longer and they were the ones who told us we needed to test drive a longer one so we would know what it feels like.  We enjoyed the drive into town and got a good feel for its handling.  No we didn't buy from them but we appreciated their helpfulness.

ArdraF

[CWSWine]

When we were looking at 40 foot DP we not never drove one and had never even ridden in a Class A coach.  There was no way we going to make the jump to Class A without a test drive.   We didn't buy the first one we test drove but did buy the second one. 

[Stephen S.]

I wonder what someone driving a Prevost would be doing at Camping World
Bill

It's called "slumming". 

[Stephen S.]

At Three Way Campers north of Atlanta the salesman put the keys in my hand insisting I take the RV on a test drive. While asking if there were any others I was interested in trying.

I was riding my motorcycle.

[kdbgoat]

It's called "slumming". 

ROFL!!!!