Alex C

Read it again Chris. Salient points; - Phoned up over an hour before - wow! Not really lots time for a dealer to move the car about clean it organise staff such as who is doing the test drive etc. Is 2 hours more reasonable, 1 day, a week? The car was ready to go and there was 1 other customer in the dealership. - I made it clear that I had a budget of £20-21K and wanted to compare to other cars in the same price bracket (B7 RS4, 335i). *Salesman's alarm bells going off* He's sensing someone who is not here to even potentially buy a 370z never mind the actual car they have. Maybe yes, but is the expectation that based only on the looks of the car, I wil dismiss all other competitors immediately? I have to drive each manufacturers respective products and make a decision on their merits. It sounds like what I need to do is go to a dealer, lie to them that I definitely want to buy their car that day, get a test drive and then walk out. Unfortunately that isn't my way of dealing with people. - I considered it perfectly reasonable that I could drive a car that was in stock - I would bet my bottom dollar that this was only discussed when he arrived therefore the dealer is thinking "this guy was bored on a saturday afternoon and on his way into town thought he'd have a razz in our most expensive car on the forecourt to show off to his Mrs. He then proceeds to bore me straight away about buying other cars and having seen another cheaper car at another dealer" Again quite possible, but as there were four R35s outside for sale I didn't consider that this would be the case and was again too honest. Our demeanour and conversation would not have suggested that I needed to impress my 'Mrs'. And judging from the OP's posts he obviously thinks he's some sort of Nissan Royalty. Maybe he should have worn his "My other car is a 300zx". Bet he would have got a test drive then I have owned two Z32 in the past as well as many other cars. I appreciate the history of Nissan Z cars and have some (clearly misguided) interest in the latest generation. Again my misconception was that dealerships would consider this as a plus point. Judging by your comments, both they and you do not.

Precisely...my opening gambit of 20-21k, cars on forecourt for 24k, worth letting me drive and talking figures once / if the car got under my skin?

I won't dismiss a Z just yet of course, but that is exactly how I felt at the time. I still have to drive one somehow though, As I have very limited time to do so at the moment with work commitments, a more local dealer was perceived to be the most logical way to do so. Re the other comment, that wasn't a swipe at the 370 but at the comment that " we get all sorts in here wanting to drive the fast cars". All of the points posted so far a reasonable, what is difficult to get across is the way we we spoken to. We have since received a call from the customer service manager who was effective and polite in addressing our complaints the next day. The aforementioned sales manager also rang and apologised.

Maybe, I'd like to drive one to find out! love the looks, layout, reviews and bloodline of the car, but I can say the same of a lot of cars in he price bracket. A nearly new Z with a warranty is one of the most tempting options...

And now you have a 370Z, what a coincidence. In time I will probably calm down but seriously unimpressed with such a take on sales, they have to expect that people wil have a short list and are looking for a car that ticks the most boxes for them.

Hi all - Long time 300z and GTR owner but just wanted to share a bad experience with 370Z owners as well. I've just returned from West Way Manchester after being basically refused a test drive in a used 370Z by the used car sales manager Neville Goddard. Firstly some background (all explained to the original salesman) - I currently own an R33 GTR but would like to have a more modern car as an everyday vehicle rather than a 500bhp machine in the garage and another runabout. We are in a position where we could pay outright for the 370Z, although a large deposit and some financing while the GTR is sold was an option. Having phoned up over an hour before and booked the drive, my girlfriend and I arrived and made small talk with a Sales team member and I made it clear that I had a budget of £20-21K and wanted to compare to other cars in the same price bracket (B7 RS4, 335i). Although the 370Z in stock at the dealership was listed at £24k, another in the West way group was listed at £19995 with just 8500miles, with a specific mention that group stock can be moved to closer dealerships if required. I considered it perfectly reasonable that I could drive a car that was in stock nearer to us to see if I like the car as a daily proposition. In short, we were told that they would only let us drive a car that was within budget as "it costs them money to do test drives" and "we get all sorts coming in wanting to test drive cars". As a customer experience manager, my girlfriend immediately demanded to speak to the manager (we were!) and then asked for the Nissan customer complaints number to speak to them directly and we were also told we could not have this and "you just phone Nissan". Basically, they had made a totally incorrect judgement that we were not in a position to buy. As you would imagine, this left both my girlfriend and I extremely angry and belittled. I have a car that would paste a 370Z in most departments apart from age and upkeep, surely as an owner of two 300ZX and an R33 GT-R with a brand loyalty, I have acted reasonably here? One thing is for sure; I certainly will not being buying a 370Z, yet again Nissan Customer service has lost itself another potential sale, and I would certainly recommend everyone here to avoid West Way Manchester HPC at all costs.