New car test drive website Drivelist. WEEKENDS spent trudging around car showrooms could soon be a distant memory with the launch of a Sydney startup that brings cars straight to your door. Targeting time-poor consumers, the website Drivelist organises test drives through more than 30 dealerships at a time and place of your choosing, free of charge. "It's not rocket science," says Drivelist's co-founder and managing director Shane Herft. (The customer) visits the site, they select which vehicle they want, fill in their details and once that happens they get a booking confirmation. Then an hour before their test drive they'll get an SMS (from the dealer) to notify them their car is on its way. Inspired by US startup Tred, based in Seattle, Herft says he realised there was a need for home test drives in Australia when his mum recently went car hunting. "My mum bought a car and she had a problem with getting the car in the driveway," he says. The car could fit in the garage, but mum just needed extra space, something bigger. When I saw that I thought, 'OK, this is something that's definitely valid here'. One of our customers has three kids and had to hire a babysitter every time he wanted to go out car shopping. That's not necessary anymore. From a Suzuki Alto to a top-of-the-line BMW, Drivelist offers test drives with new cars only, priced between $10,000 and $200,000. The test drive takes about an hour and at present it takes at least 48 hours between the time a customer confirms the test drive online and the time the car arrives at the arranged location. General manager for Peninsula Motors in Sydney's Bankstown, Darren Kumar, who has done six test drives through Drivelist, says it could be just what is needed to lift the car industry out of its slump. While he pays Drivelist $60 for every test drive organised through the website, Kumar says he is intrigued by the startup and believes it is "a way to get customers in." "It's showing the customer what the car is going to look like at their house, how it fits, how it can drive in and out of the gutter," he says. It's about creating extra convenience. Kumar says it could also be a powerful tool for car dealers, who are regularly trying to overcome the pushy salespeople stereotype. "The market's been very tough," he says. Our job as a dealer is to break down barriers. If you have something like Drivelist the sales person is coming into your realm, your comfort zone. You tell them when to leave instead of the other way around. Having it being done all online seems to be a great benefit as well. Drivelist hopes to expand to Melbourne and Brisbane within 12 months. For details visit www.drivelist.com.au Phillip King is on leave.