I think we are missing the point here I have yet to purchase a vehicle, I am simply deciding if the vehicle is right for me. Marketing is not using data you have gathered for purposes that you are not aware of. Marketing however might be what gets me there in the first place. Following up a sales lead is fine. Taking data and using it for business and research purposes is unfair unless you are aware of it.

Are you aware when visiting a car dealership and providing your name, you are discussed in sales meetings by name? Are you aware when you give your data to a car dealership that they can discuss you in other towns with other dealers in their network? Do you know that a record is kept and a file on you on every call and email you send in to the dealer? Are you aware this is kept and logged in a file on you? I support that dealers should allow you to OPT out from this and also make you aware when calling, emailing or making enquiries that you are informed on how your data, information and comments are used. What do you think?

If it meant you did not have to be put into the sales funnel at the dealership? If it meant you could enjoy a test drive without obligation? If it meant you did not have to share your data to be used without your consent at the dealership? Are you aware when you visit a dealership and give them your name and details, you are logged and tracked and talked about often with other dealerships? If it meant you could drive several so you could decide what and whom to buy from? If it meant you could be part of a like minded car club?

When purchasing a new ( brand ) I had decided to pay for the car with part exchange and cash to change. Then some smug business manager came out... and said to me no word of a lie....Here was the conversation "Hello I am the business manager" Holding a credit card machine "Em? oh Ok Hello, I was dealing with Mr X here about the car" "Ah yes I am the business manager" - Sits down in the sales mans chair! Sales man stands out the way...Really? "So Mr X , I am wondering why you are settling the balance of £12k for the car in cash, can I ask why you are doing that?" Stunned "Pardon?" Almost walking out "Well have you thought about spreading the payments on a PCP?" "Do you make money from a PCP?" Pause "Well, um, a little yes but its more about spreading the payments of your car you see. You see your car will devalue and if you pay monthly you will not be sinking your own money into a depreciating assett" Pause - getting hot with anger now. I only just met this [EDIT - PLEASE REFRAIN FROM PERSONAL ABUSE]. "But the car will devalue anyway mate, I like the feeling of owning the car and it will devalue whether I defer the payments or not... but out of interest what would my monthly payments be?' Gets excited... taps "£820 a month" "Pardon?" "£820 a month on the mileage you are doing" "Mate are you serious that is a lot?" "Well yes but its an expensive car and you get to keep your cash in the bank" "Earning 2%, minus inflation?" "Well ha ha laughs embarrassingly, well its the way most people do it these days" "Well sure but in my head you still own the car, you get it back and I am your bitch" "Well its a way to spread the cost of your payments" At this point I started to feel exceptionally angry... and almost feel so hot and wound up that I nearly canceled the purchase. Highly irresponsible behavoir and (brand) should know better. Seriously - if a customer spends money with a salesman - let him do the deal you stupid idiots.

Amazing Thread... I got one in McDonalds previously and you helped me sleep at night and were right. They are so going on watchdog. Anyway I today got one outside my friends house in a residential car park in London - I noticed they had visible signs up saying visitors permits only, yet my friend never heard of such permits being issued. Any thoughts? Same as everything else? Treat them with the contempt they deserve?