Anybody else like to wander around used car lots on weekend?

[Roboturner913]

I've always done this, as far back as I can remember when I was a little kid my dad would take me and we'd go around to all the dealerships and browse. We would usually go later at night.

I've always wondered how dealers feel about people doing that, but I've never gotten in any kind of trouble for it. One time a cop did pull in and ask me what I was doing and I said something about wanting to look around without an aggressive salesman up my butt, the cop just goes "Ok carry on" or something like that.

I haven't done it in a long time but I went out tonight. I'm fortunate to live in a town with a ton of used car lots and they usually have some pretty interesting things. Tonight's sightings (sorry my phone pics didn't turn out, no flash):

ZL454 Camaro: I had never even heard of this car before. It was white with orange "hockey stick" like stripes and had a lot of styling cues from the first-gen Camaro, like the little vents in front of the rear fender and old school SS badges. Torq Thrust wheels, painted gunmetal with a chrome lip. Very cool car.

first-gen TT 3.2 quattro: For whatever reason I have never gotten up close and personal with one of these, but have always really liked them. I never realized just how small they were though! Makes my Versa look big by comparison. This one was a very nice shade of light green that I'd never seen before on a TT. Still can't get over how small though. I always thought I might want to own one but it would be difficult getting in and out of.

Mini Cooper S "rally edition": Never heard of this particular version. It was dark green with white striping and white wheels and big honking foglights mounted on the front bumper. I've never loved the Mini but this one was a pretty cool/funky little ride.

Land Rover Discovery II: I think it was an 03. The thing that struck me about this one was the price: $4200 smackers. I'm sure they have plenty of drawbacks/maintenance issues but I figured the Land Rover prestige alone would command a much bigger price tag.

[BRealistic]

I used to do this all the time- but most dealers have fenced in their lots and put up "no trespassing after dark" signs.

[punisher89]

As a salesman I'd rather you come poking around after hours, its the people that come poking around while we're open that piss me off. Waiting two hours for an up on a sunday only to get a "heisman" that wants to just look around and get mad at me for doing my job.

[2.0T_Convert]

Most dealers around here will park the biggest vehicles on the lot (trucks typically) across any entrance after closing so you'd have to park in another business lot nearby and walk.

A nearby Honda dealer even has a private security guy sit in a car all night and watch the storage lot down the road.

[MrRline]

I've got a pretty nifty setup here. The dealerships actually have a little block with a private road in front of it. It's nice to take a late night drive and just see what's there. I love cars and I love seeing what people trade in and to what places as well the new cars that come out. The night time is the best time to look as everyone has left for the night and you can really get a chance to stare at a car.

[volkstyle]

No blockage around here

[airman401]

If by "wander around used car lots" you mean "browse craigslist"...than yes.

[:Jeremy:]

Discovery II? Might as well buy the head gasket set with the vehicle.

[Cubster]

Our lot of just traded in cars is in a hard to just walk to place....but we get some odd stuff for sure. We take just about anything on wheels or with a motor.

[1Point8TDan]

I do so I don't get approached by a salesman but haven't really recently done it.

[Bariman82]

Absolutely. It gives me a no-pressure window shopping environment and doesn't waste their time or get their hopes up.

[iamnotemo]

Absolutely. A few of go once or twice a month on Sunday nights. I just got back in fact. It's something I've done for years.

[Biff Beltsander]

As a salesman I'd rather you come poking around after hours, its the people that come poking around while we're open that piss me off. Waiting two hours for an up on a sunday only to get a "heisman" that wants to just look around and get mad at me for doing my job.

That's a good point.

If by "wander around used car lots" you mean "browse craigslist"...than yes.

That's all I do now as well.

[GTE77]

You guys have never had a problem walking car dealerships parking lots at night?

I would think it was a quick way to spend a night in jail......

[Bariman82]

Not in the least. I read window stickers and stare with my hands in my pockets. If you don't look stupid, what's the cause for alarm?

[Bonanza]

Craigslist.

[Roboturner913]

You guys have never had a problem walking car dealerships parking lots at night?

I would think it was a quick way to spend a night in jail......

Jail??? I'm not talking about hopping fences or ignoring trespassing signs. If it's got open access to the public I would think they don't have a problem with it.

[PsyberVW]

I love doing it. It's good excuse to get out for a walk and gets me past stereotypes or prejudices I may have had against certain vehicles when new..

For instance, I may see a Chrysler Sebring Convertible for super cheap and start day dreaming about what a great car it could be... Hey, it's not so bad in retrospect- who else made anything that could really compete - especially at that price?

Also the sightings of cool, rare and dare I say "tuned" cars can also be quite interesting.

Security usually just says hi if they even acknowledge me at all. I can get lost in it though - 2 hours easily lost on a late night (though it's not limited to weekends for me- I usually go on week nights)

[Lithium Lotus]

All the new car lots in my area have open driveways and all the parking lot lights turned on for people to browse at night, with exception to one Ford dealer that has a gate at the entrance, which can be walked around.

[Venom6]

i do this on occasion, some dealers cars are all unlocked too so you can check them out

[Roboturner913]

i do this on occasion, some dealers cars are all unlocked too so you can check them out

When I was truck shopping a few years ago I pulled the handle on a Colorado, just to see if it was solid (the S10 handle was anything but) and to my surprise it popped right open.

I sat in the truck, fiddled with the knobs, the whole spiel. Went back the next day and after a quick test drive, bought it on the spot. Easiest sale that guy ever made.

[eurotekms]

@ OP

My god, I just spent a week in a Versa and it has to be the worst car I've ever experienced in my life. How could you now resist trading it for any of the cars you listed!?

[Roboturner913]

@ OP

My god, I just spent a week in a Versa and it has to be the worst car I've ever experienced in my life. How could you now resist trading it for any of the cars you listed!?

Because I've spent three years in a Versa and it has been a great car. I don't particularly care if anyone else likes or approves of it.

[StL2.5]

"I've got a pretty nifty setup here. The dealerships actually have a little block with a private road in front of it. It's nice to take a late night drive and just see what's there. I love cars and I love seeing what people trade in and to what places as well the new cars that come out. The night time is the best time to look as everyone has left for the night and you can really get a chance to stare at a car."

Are you talking about the Avondale Auto Mall? I used to live in PHX (and am moving back later in the year) and used to love roaming that area to look at cars.

[MrRline]

"I've got a pretty nifty setup here. The dealerships actually have a little block with a private road in front of it. It's nice to take a late night drive and just see what's there. I love cars and I love seeing what people trade in and to what places as well the new cars that come out. The night time is the best time to look as everyone has left for the night and you can really get a chance to stare at a car."

Are you talking about the Avondale Auto Mall? I used to live in PHX (and am moving back later in the year) and used to love roaming that area to look at cars.

Yes I was. They don't have all the flavors I like, but enough for me to get a good look. I don't have to worry about any traffic or hiking around to a ton of dealerships, just roll by there maybe wave to a UTI kid or two and nobody bothers me.

[AQ]

@ OP

My god, I just spent a week in a Versa and it has to be the worst car I've ever experienced in my life. How could you now resist trading it for any of the cars you listed!?

Just curious, did you drive the new-for-2012 Versa sedan or the first-gen Versa hatchback? They are two totally different animals.

[HI SPEED]

My GF used to live near a Lamborghini/Ferrari/Bently/Lotus dealer. It was about a block away from the supermarket. I would go out to "grab Something" at night and just stare into the window of the dealership, and gaze at all the pretty things. I had a thing for the Bently GT Speed at the time, and they got in this sinister blue one that just really pushed all my buttons. I think her fridge always had about 5 gallons of milk in it until they finally sold it two weeks later.


Aside from the truly unattainable cars, I have better things to do with my time.

[eurotekms]

Just curious, did you drive the new-for-2012 Versa sedan or the first-gen Versa hatchback? They are two totally different animals.

2011 model.

Engine and transmission sucked
Seating position was awful. Seats are uncomfortable.


and only 27 mpg on highway... that sucks

[euromaxituning]

Oh yeah, I use to do that in the 80's and 90's but now I have something called "internet", you should look into it, it's awesome

[VR6 GLX Man]

I did this last year and a lot more a few years back, a freind of mine was good freinds with one of the dealers we got our cars from, and he'd let my freind try out any of the cars on the lot. We tried to act like we were interested at the other used lots, but told the dealers we were just looking so that it was clear that we weren't buying anything. I also enjoyed car shopping with my parents when I was a kid, not any new car lots, but I always enjoyed going on test drives.

[.:Chr!sVR6]

I have done this since my parents drove me around in car seats. Whenever there is nothing else to do I hop in my car and go to all the dealerships around town. Usually I just go cruise around the VW dealership lot and look for anything new that wasnt there the last time I went

glad I'm not the only one

[VR6 GLX Man]

I've always done this, as far back as I can remember when I was a little kid my dad would take me and we'd go around to all the dealerships and browse. We would usually go later at night.

I've always wondered how dealers feel about people doing that, but I've never gotten in any kind of trouble for it. One time a cop did pull in and ask me what I was doing and I said something about wanting to look around without an aggressive salesman up my butt, the cop just goes "Ok carry on" or something like that.

I haven't done it in a long time but I went out tonight. I'm fortunate to live in a town with a ton of used car lots and they usually have some pretty interesting things. Tonight's sightings (sorry my phone pics didn't turn out, no flash):

ZL454 Camaro: I had never even heard of this car before. It was white with orange "hockey stick" like stripes and had a lot of styling cues from the first-gen Camaro, like the little vents in front of the rear fender and old school SS badges. Torq Thrust wheels, painted gunmetal with a chrome lip. Very cool car.

first-gen TT 3.2 quattro: For whatever reason I have never gotten up close and personal with one of these, but have always really liked them. I never realized just how small they were though! Makes my Versa look big by comparison. This one was a very nice shade of light green that I'd never seen before on a TT. Still can't get over how small though. I always thought I might want to own one but it would be difficult getting in and out of.

Mini Cooper S "rally edition": Never heard of this particular version. It was dark green with white striping and white wheels and big honking foglights mounted on the front bumper. I've never loved the Mini but this one was a pretty cool/funky little ride.

Land Rover Discovery II: I think it was an 03. The thing that struck me about this one was the price: $4200 smackers. I'm sure they have plenty of drawbacks/maintenance issues but I figured the Land Rover prestige alone would command a much bigger price tag.

I would've really liked to test drive that audi tt 3.2

[rsj0714]

I might start doing this.

[vwguru714]

When I was truck shopping a few years ago I pulled the handle on a Colorado, just to see if it was solid (the S10 handle was anything but) and to my surprise it popped right open.

I sat in the truck, fiddled with the knobs, the whole spiel. Went back the next day and after a quick test drive, bought it on the spot. Easiest sale that guy ever made.

A local RV dealer leaves the used Rv's open for people to check out after hours.
I once went in one and opened the lavatory door only to find the biggest steaming pile of dung I have ever seen. I swear it was at or above the level of the seat. Needless to say I don't look in the lavatory anymore.

Sent from my SPH-D600 using Tapatalk 2

[PsyberVW]

I would've really liked to test drive that audi tt 3.2

The TT is like the Beetle, in that once you sit inside you find a lot more space than you expected.

For me, the problem is how low it sits - getting really low and twisting my weight over one knee while rotating my ass to the seat seems to kill my knees.

But once inside, plenty of room. I've had passengers in all seats on a couple occasions. The longest was a drive to Orange County and back from San Diego... Not sure if 2 passengers being Asian women is considered cheating or not..