MazdaSpeed3 can't be test driven???

[redheaddstpch1d]

Grats on your new ride. I really didnt have a problem with the dealer, the first one out of three that I went to that actually had one in stock. By the end of the test drive it had 7 miles on it and a few hours later it was mine. Oh and I didn't have to get my credit checked to test drive...I think Ken(sales guy) knew I was serious when i showed up with my trade in empty and fully detailed.

 

[SharkDiver]

My dealer just copied my driver license and the sales guy and I went for a drive,I drove.I drove a GT in the lot but I took home a sport that was in the showroom.They said they would let me drive the car in the showroom but I said the GT in the lot was good enough.

 

[Mike V]

The first dealership I went to treated the cars like gold and would not allow test drives of the MS3. Ironically, we were standing next to the "take a test drive" sign as the sales drone was telling me this. Haha. I just pointed to the sign and walked away. The second dealership I went to had a GT on their overflow lot. The salesman threw me the key to a Sport model so we could go pick up the GT.

So at one dealer I get to drive none and the other I got to drive 2. Funny thing is when I saw over 100 miles on the GT, all I could think of how many punishing test drives the car has gone through. Yikes. I admit I didn't buy that one for that reason. So I dunno... a dealer certainly has the right to refuse test drives on a car with just 5k copies per year. It's up to them if the trade off is worth it I suppose.

 

[TheFated1]

Any dealer refusing a test drive is silly. Mine gave me no problems, had the car pulled out front and tossed me the keys. I don't understand what they are thinking as the test drive is what actually SELLS this kind of car, otherwise just looking at it, it might as well be a regular 3.

 

[M3_Zoom]

Habuzaki, nice photo! I hear Silver is the fastest!!! (headbang)

 

[zoomzoomnavarro]

It also depends on how many speed3's the dealer has in inventory. I work in sales at a dealership in Oregon, we have 6. We do qualify people before they drive. If the kids is 18 and drives in a metro we pull credit first or take a deposit. If they had more than one I dont see why they wouldnt let you drive it.

 

[VermZ06]

Become a loyal customer first and they'll let you test drive anything you want. Make good connections with them and they'll trust you to drive their new cars for years to come...

 

[mckraut]

I had 2 test drives before I bought my car. One was at a local dealership and they had no problem with me testing it out, they just wanted my license. The second time I *attempted* to go test drive one at another local dealership (to show my wife the car) they absolutely refused and I promptly told them "Well I'll be buying elsewhere then, please tell your manager he lost a sale".

When we actually went to purchase the car (at a 3rd dealership), they also had no problem letting myself and my wife go for a test drive, by ourselves even. So I think it depends on where you go.

 

[leadf00t]

I pulled into my Mazda dealer in a ford focus, walked in, a guy walks up, tell him I want to test drive a speed3, he takes me outside to the car, hands me the keys, and said "I'll see you when you get back" !! Turns out he was the sales manager. bought one the same day.

 

[eperk84]

I talked to my dealers internet person a couple of times and then set up a test drive with him. He road with me, but as soon as the car warmed up he told me to get on the interstate and give it hell, so I did. He was pretty cool though. Now I have my own 09 black mica on the way. Wish it would hurry up and get here.

 

[ZooMIN3]

^^ lol

Anticaption just kills ya! =D

Salesman at the local Mazda dealer called my cell phone because he knew I was in the market for a loaded black CX-9.... AWD leather, the works...

Well I told him, that the wife wouldn't be happy with it in the long run, and wanted a different SUV...he was very understanding, and I told him, since that was the case; that I'm in the market for an MS3. He didn't have any at the time, so I told him to call me when he got some in. Well 3 months go by since I last spoke to Steve(great guy by the way, wish salesmen were like him eveywhere); and I receive a phone call out of nowhere around 4pm, and he mentioned that they got in 4 different colors; and they were just driven off the truck. I asked him if he had a black GT minus Navi... he said yup. I was pysched! I told him that I'd be there in about 30 minutes. So with my credit union check in hand, my wife drove me down there with her MZ3, lol. Steve met us out front, and walked me to the other side of the showcase, after handing me a set of new keys, where an 08 BlackMica Speed3 was parked... He said there you go, take her for a spin; I'll be here when you get back...lol I get in, and everything is just so sexy looking...I take in that new car smell... turn the ignition, and the rumble of the engine was awe inspiring.. The odo no kidding had 1.2 miles on it. I put'er into reverse, and take her out. I drove it as if it were mine already..lol I gave it some gas, but not too much... hehe

The whole time, I had this big grin on my face..and people I passed by looked over and smiled back... with a, "I wonder what he's grinning about look"..lol

I get back to the dealer with nearly 19 miles on the odo, and told them, I'll take it... lol

2008 GT w/o Navi 25,500 OTD. I'd have gotten it for 25,250, but the sales manager added the extra 250 for it being a rare car... I told Steve, its no problem, with the services and help you provided, I'd pay an extra thousand...lol

Anyways, it all depends on the dealership...
the Subaru guys had no problems letting me drive an 08 STi, I was just reluctant to get it due to my buttocks going knumb sitting on those seats for 10 minutes... I appreciated the salesmans time, but I didn't like the interior so much, and my butt told me to go else where....lol

Anyways, looking at the time stamps, someone was bored and was obviously reading through the posts...lol

-Zoom Zoom

 

[DIYSpeed#1193]

I test drove a Mazdaspeed 6 when they first came out. My brother was in the backseat with the salesguy and my friend was in the passenger seat. I wanted to see what it was made of so I pulled it to redline in 2nd gear and then hit a red light. Needless to say I threw everyone back in their seats and the salesguy says "Easy.....don't go too fast" I told him I was interested and I wanted to know what I was getting. Funny I walked into the same dealership a few years before and picked up My MSP without ever driving it once before I paid for it.

 

[coololddude]

a test drive is what really sells the ms3. after my test drive the salesman had to wait 5 min. for my eyes to stop spinning, then i bought the car.

 

[speedsports]

I would never buy a car without test driving it. How are are you going to know if you made a proper purchase?

Take your business elsewhere! They way the market is right now, they should be begging you to buy a new car!

 

[jdm justin]

my dealer let me test drive a cwp sport, he said they dont test drive Gt's till the deal is done. Oh well i fell in love regardless and drove off in a Gt

 

[FrequentFlyer]

my dealer let me test drive a cwp sport, he said they dont test drive Gt's till the deal is done. Oh well i fell in love regardless and drove off in a Gt

LOL! How moronic. I guess the $1,200 more worth of Alcantara seats and extra tidbits really sets the car over the test drive edge for them. Idiots.

 

[FrequentFlyer]

It also depends on how many speed3's the dealer has in inventory. I work in sales at a dealership in Oregon, we have 6. We do qualify people before they drive. If the kids is 18 and drives in a metro we pull credit first or take a deposit. If they had more than one I dont see why they wouldnt let you drive it.

I hope you let them know you're pulling credit.

 

[Nismothecat]

they told me i couldnt test drive one when i looked at them. then i saw a used one with 400 miles on the lot. the guy said well since its used go for it. i test drove it with a salesman and when we were going back to the dealership he stopped at the overflow lot and there were about 12 MS3's there. looked through all of them till i found the last Cosmic Blue one and bought it. Cosmic Blue is the best color hands down(white is a close 2nd)

 

[Mike240SX]

I went to my dealer last November and they had a dedicated MS3 demo unit that had around 300 miles on the odo. With no credit check, I took it for about a 25 mile test drive with the salesman riding shotgun. He said "have fun and push it, but any tickets you get are your responsibility."

Went back in February and test drove the car that would be mine before signing. 7 miles on it when I took it out that night, 21 when done and 21 when I took delivery the next day.

$100k+ exotics are one thing; any dealer that won't let you test drive a $22-25k car without a credit check is not worth your business, IMHO.

 

[daonly1around]

i went to a dealership near my parents house one weekend, and i had checked their inventory and it said they had a CB gt, went their and it still had the covering on the hood and wheels when i test drove it. it was delivered to me the next day. so other than the people i've let drive it, i'm the only one to have driven it