went to go test drive new evo

[Hyun]

got denied. He said downpayment required for test drive. I asked him if i can see the inside and engine bay, he declined. Doesnt that defeat the purpose of test drive? Sometimes im not sure if these dealers want my business or not.

Went to audi Dealer right next to it and they were happy to show me their RS4. Damn evo just looks cheap when you compare it to rs4 although there is price difference of 30k hehe.

 

[MS3077]

So basically you got to commit to buying it before they let you test drive. Wow! That blows massive donky ballz. I would never buy a car without a test drive. I don't care if it's a 2008 BMW M3, no test drive, no buy.

 

[JCell]

at the same time, think of all teh kids that just want to drive it around the block and posibly burn the clutch....

 

[MS3077]

at the same time, think of all teh kids that just want to drive it around the block and posibly burn the clutch....

This is also true. However, I think the dealerships should have one vehicle disignated for 'test drives"

 

[SharkDiver]

Theres no reason to not let you look at the engine bay..Also the sales person could take you for a test drive instead of letting you drive it at the very least.

 

[CHICO2003]

I'm sure this won't be a popular stance but... if you're TRULY serious about buying the car you'd appreciate this policy. I know it seems a bit off at first but in reality, all they're trying to do is find SERIOUS buyers. We've all feigned interest in a car just to get a test drive.. I'm just as guilty as anyone. And if you're gentle with the car.. it's probably no big deal. But let's face it... everything else aside (like possibly damaging the interior in some way) there's a reason why knowledgeable types break their cars in properly. It increases the lifespan of the car and maximizes performance. Some cars need to be broken in differently than others... even still, I've never heard of romping on a car with 3 miles on it. That sounds like a different kind of 'break' in. Yet, let's face it... most (not just the 'punk kids') do just that when they test drive a car. (especially if they're part of the majority that aren't really serious about buying it.)

So in short... if I had the scratch for an Evo and was 95% sure I wanted to buy one... I'd have no problem putting a (refundable) downpayment down before the testdrive. If it's as good as I think... I'll be buying a car nobody else has driven. If not... I'd simply explain what I didn't like and get my $ back. In a way... I wish more dealerships did this. Virtually every MS3 I've looked at has had at least 15 miles on it... 1 had as many as 113! I was like wtf? dumbass salesman tried to convince me it was from a "handful" of testdrives. haha I was like... you know you took it home for the weekend to impress a chick!

 

[MS3077]

I'm sure this won't be a popular stance but... if you're TRULY serious about buying the car you'd appreciate this policy. I know it seems a bit off at first but in reality, all they're trying to do is find SERIOUS buyers. We've all feigned interest in a car just to get a test drive.. I'm just as guilty as anyone. And if you're gentle with the car.. it's probably no big deal. But let's face it... everything else aside (like possibly damaging the interior in some way) there's a reason why knowledgeable types break their cars in properly. It increases the lifespan of the car and maximizes performance. Some cars need to be broken in differently than others... even still, I've never heard of romping on a car with 3 miles on it. That sounds like a different kind of 'break' in. Yet, let's face it... most (not just the 'punk kids') do just that when they test drive a car. (especially if they're part of the majority that aren't really serious about buying it.)

So in short... if I had the scratch for an Evo and was 95% sure I wanted to buy one... I'd have no problem putting a (refundable) downpayment down before the testdrive. If it's as good as I think... I'll be buying a car nobody else has driven. If not... I'd simply explain what I didn't like and get my $ back. In a way... I wish more dealerships did this. Virtually every MS3 I've looked at has had at least 15 miles on it... 1 had as many as 113! I was like wtf? dumbass salesman tried to convince me it was from a "handful" of testdrives. haha I was like... you know you took it home for the weekend to impress a chick!

Very good point but I still think It might be a good idea if they had a designated "test drive" car at the dealerships. But then again that might cost them too much $$

 

[Hyun]

I'm sure this won't be a popular stance but... if you're TRULY serious about buying the car you'd appreciate this policy. I know it seems a bit off at first but in reality, all they're trying to do is find SERIOUS buyers. We've all feigned interest in a car just to get a test drive.. I'm just as guilty as anyone. And if you're gentle with the car.. it's probably no big deal. But let's face it... everything else aside (like possibly damaging the interior in some way) there's a reason why knowledgeable types break their cars in properly. It increases the lifespan of the car and maximizes performance. Some cars need to be broken in differently than others... even still, I've never heard of romping on a car with 3 miles on it. That sounds like a different kind of 'break' in. Yet, let's face it... most (not just the 'punk kids') do just that when they test drive a car. (especially if they're part of the majority that aren't really serious about buying it.)

So in short... if I had the scratch for an Evo and was 95% sure I wanted to buy one... I'd have no problem putting a (refundable) downpayment down before the testdrive. If it's as good as I think... I'll be buying a car nobody else has driven. If not... I'd simply explain what I didn't like and get my $ back. In a way... I wish more dealerships did this. Virtually every MS3 I've looked at has had at least 15 miles on it... 1 had as many as 113! I was like wtf? dumbass salesman tried to convince me it was from a "handful" of testdrives. haha I was like... you know you took it home for the weekend to impress a chick!

I dont know man, im having hard time impressing chick in this car lol while it is the opposite with the dudes lol.

 

[CTGrey02]

I test drove one then ordered new. If any of the dealerships didn't let me test drive I wouldnt have bought from them. While I can totally understand not wanting to buy a new car thats been beat on early in it's life, you do have the option of ordering an unmolested car. Getting your test drive down payment back is bound to be a nightmare too if the sales crew are a bunch of pricks. I'd just go to another dealership.

And the only female comments I've ever gotten about the mazda is 99% "Oh cute car!!!"

 

[CHICO2003]

yeah it's not exactly a P-magnet but... for the right type of girl (ie. a girl who actually knows something about cars) it certainly holds its own.

now finding that type of girl (who's also easy on the eyes)... a bit of a challenge.

Back on topic... dealerships might as well sell cotton candy and call themselves amusement parks if they're going to have a 'designated (peformance) car' for testdrives. Dont' get be wrong... some do. Usually these 'demos' are just basic cars... certainly not high-performance/high-demand rally cars.

Generally speaking, anyone that wishes dealerships (that sell cars like this) would be more lenient with their test drive policy aren't truly serious about buying the car. I've testdriven porches and other high-end cars before... never with any intention to buy. Am I ashamed? nah... I didn't beat on the car and it's not like I held a gun to anyone's head. But if I actually WAS serious about buying that Porsche... all things being equal, I'd prefer to deal with a dealership with a strict policy. It's like buying a pair of sneakers that are already laced up. You don't know whose nasty ass feet were in there.

 

[CHICO2003]

...Getting your test drive down payment back is bound to be a nightmare too if the sales crew are a bunch of pricks...

Good point... buying one off the truck is the way to go. Then again, some people are impatient... or (like the 08 MS3s) aren't able to take advantage of that and have to settle for what's on the lot.

As far as the refund being a nightmare. No reason it should... It's not like you're forking over greenbacks. And, by law, they have to accept your request... By the time your CC statement rolls around it'll be ancient history. If, for some reason it's still there, simply call the CC company and dispute the charge.

 

[MS3077]

I can see putting down a deposit on a 50k plus car for a test drive but not so much for a 35k and under car. I test drove a S2000 no questions asked no deposit, nothing. Dude just handed me the keys and I went for a joyride.

*Off topic, how do you find the production # of you MS3?

 

[Munnugles]

i bet they would say you screwed something up with the car just to keep your money...
as for checking out the engine bay tho... i wouldve just gone up to an unlocked one and popped the hood myself...

 

[MS3077]

i bet they would say you screwed something up with the car just to keep your money...
as for checking out the engine bay tho... i wouldve just gone up to an unlocked one and popped the hood myself...

+1

That's just ******* ridiculous that they require a deposit to look at the engine bay!
I think I would just stand there and laugh at them for like 5min straight
(hah)(no)

 

[CHICO2003]

The engine bay thing is just stupid... Part of me feels there's more to the story but if that's how it went down... that's just pathetic. Clearly that clown has no future in sales.

But as far as the $50k rule goes... lol nah, not buying that one bit. It's all relative. To a 22 year old fresh out of college... a 25k MS3 might as well BE a $50k car. That's a big nut to crack and, sine it's clearly a 'performance car' he/she hopefully wants it to be in the best condition possible when they fork over all that dough.

Conversely, a $50k... I don't know... Audi A8 or something might not need to be treated as gently as a turbocharged mazda... so the break-in and thus the test drives might not be as important of a factor. So I don't think price should be the deciding factor. Perhaps type of car combined with price would be more appropriate...

but whatever... to the OP... if you want to testdrive an Evo that bad, I guaranteed you can find a dealership that'll let you. Just wear your best duds and act as professionally as possible. If you already have a nice ride make sure they see you getting out of it as you walk in. If you don't... park far away. lol

 

[MS3077]

I think this whole "breaking in" crap is over-rated. I'm pretty sure they're broken in just fine before they leave the factory. With a turbo car all you need to do is warm it up, let cool down, and don't rev the piss out of it right after turning the key and it should be just fine.

 

[Hyun]

well, i understand dealer trying to keep the mileage and abuse on such a car as low as possible.

The problem was, salesperson didnt want to waste his time on me based on his assumption and made stupid excuses like "Oh the keys are inside and i cant get to them right now" etc.
Dont really care all that much, they lost customer and there are plenty of dealers that want my business

 

[CHICO2003]

Even if it is over-rated (and it's not) your premise that "all you need to do is..." would still warrant the need to buy the car right off the truck. After all... do you really think the people testdriving it are letting it warm up and cool down much less not revving the piss out of it?

 

[4thStroke]

Back in January when I first started looking for MS3s, I went to a local Mazdaspeed dealer and asked a saleman if he could show me their MS3s. He pointed n a vauge direction and just said, "theyre over there." I asked him if I could take one for a test drive. He declined and said that if I wanted to sit down and work numbers, then fine, but they dont let peope test drive the Mazdaspeed cars because theyre such a high performing car and poeple only want to test drive them. I turned around and left.

I went back a few months later. The guy had been fired for judging his potential customers. I test drove the MS3, the sales guy even said we could drive it across town to show my girlfriend. That didnt end up happening, but needless to say, I bought one the following day.

I see where he was coming from, some young kid shows up wanting to drive a Speed 3... however, it was his loss, not mine.

 

[CHICO2003]

sometimes it's not what you say but how you say it. sounds like salesman #1 was a complete douche. If I was him... I might have said something like... "Some dealerships may just let anyone testdrive their cars but we have a slightly different approach. As you know, this is a high-performance car that deserves to be broken in properly and treated with care. You seem to be the type that understands this. Unfortunately, we get our fair share of people who simply want to testdrive it to 'see how fast it goes'. Because we value and respect our customers so much... our policy is to only allow testdrives to those seriously interested. Does that make sense?"

Might be a bit wordy but... if salesman #1 had said that... you'd probably understand where they're coming from and then, based on how serious you were about buying one, inform him on where you stand. Since you clearly were serious... he (if he had any sense... and he obviously does) would naturally let you take one out. After which... a signing ceremony would commence. It's all in the delivery!