Test drives
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,136
Likes: 212
From: Long Island New York
Test drives
Wanted to get some info from you guys. The other day The wife and i drive my C6 to a local dealer to pick something up at parts and while there we figured we take a C7 for a test drive. We pulled into the lot and there were three salesmen outside coking and smoking. Drove past them to pull into a spot and one of them tells me the car sounds great and asks if it has a cam. I tell him no its the super charger you hear. I told him I was picking something up in parts and when I'm done maybe we could take a C7 out. He looked at me funny and said, " we don't give any tests with the new Vette". I couldn't believe it. I said how do you expect to sell cars w/o a test drive? He said I sold one last night. I replied, well you won't be selling one to me and walked away.
In all my years I never had that happen. When I bought my C6 new the dealer tossed me the key to a new car and said, have fun! A year later he did the same with a Z06 when it made its debut. Any of you guys have n experience like this or is this an anomaly? I'm really curious to know who's had test drives prior and who hasn't. Thanks.
In all my years I never had that happen. When I bought my C6 new the dealer tossed me the key to a new car and said, have fun! A year later he did the same with a Z06 when it made its debut. Any of you guys have n experience like this or is this an anomaly? I'm really curious to know who's had test drives prior and who hasn't. Thanks.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 514
Likes: 3
From: Macedonia Ohio
Dealers with low allocation don't need to let you test drive. I test drove the c7 3 times before I bought. Find a dealer that has a good allocation and they will let you try one. It sold me, I just couldn't between a stick or auto!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 6,671
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2020 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
They don't have cars to test because a demo loses thousands on the sale. Why bother? Most people who want a Vette want a Vette. It doesn't take much to get them to sign on the line.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,377
Likes: 4
From: Rhode Island
True, but look at Porsche they will allow me to test drive a 911 which costs much more than a C7 Corvette. Probably has to do with the dealer attitude unfortunately.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Ft Lauderdale
Tech Contributor
No it has to do with Porsche having a demo program supporting a dealer to offer a demo. Chev will have one when things slow down a bit.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
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2020 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Wait until they get one in a trade back. Then they'll have them. GM is still screwing with dealers allocations. .
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 21
From: Durham NC
It's odd, because when I had my C6, I was one day casually browsing the Chevy dealer looking at the Z06s and ZR1s they had, and the sales lady said I could take the Z06 out for a test drive if I desired. It had the Z07 package and was $90,000 sticker. I declined because I wasn't looking to buy at the time.
When I bought my C7, they said they weren't offering test drives to anyone.
When I bought my C7, they said they weren't offering test drives to anyone.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Best Island in the U.S.
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '17
The dealer here had no problem letting me test drive one. It had 1 mile on the odometer when we left the lot. It had 25 when we got back. I ended up buying it but there was no guarantee I would and the dealer didn't bat an eye when I asked to drive it.
Just because a new car has been test driven doesn't mean it's a "demo" that's depreciated.
Just because a new car has been test driven doesn't mean it's a "demo" that's depreciated.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,228
Likes: 4,355
From: Chirper Island
The dealer here had no problem letting me test drive one. It had 1 mile on the odometer when we left the lot. It had 25 when we got back. I ended up buying it but there was no guarantee I would and the dealer didn't bat an eye when I asked to drive it.
Just because a new car has been test driven doesn't mean it's a "demo" that's depreciated.
Just because a new car has been test driven doesn't mean it's a "demo" that's depreciated.
IMO, if you drive up in a Vette of any gen. (or give strong indications you are a serious looker), they would be stupid to tell you no. I would walk away.
This comes from someone who is a compulsive test-driver, but I have bought 3 Vettes in the last nine years. They never know what drive will net them the sale.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 57
Likes: 2
From: NY
When I was getting ready to order my c7 I was concerned if I would fit in the car. I went to Paramus Auto Mall in August and asked if I could sit in a car (not drive it). I explained my concerns to the salesman and assure him I was really looking to place an order. It took about 15 minutes to get a managers approval and I needed to assure them that I wouldn't touch anything inside of the car. While I was sitting in the car I had 2 people standing outside the car with crossed arms looking at me like I was committing a crime. I wouldn't have even thought about asking for a test drive. Before anyone asks, I don't look like a criminal or anything. I pulled up in a nice SUV, and am well dressed and groomed. Needless to say, I did not buy my c7 from them. 
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,398
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From: Grand Rapids area MI and Palm Coast, FL
Test drove a C4 when it was introduced. While I was doing that another guy came in and bought it sight unseen. Never did a test drive again after that experience. Had to wait months for my ordered C4 to come in.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,875
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As long as they can sell the cars they have without letting people beat on them during a test drive, why would they allow test drives? At some point when it becomes more difficult to sell the car (or a dealer with a large volume), taking a test drive might be easier. They have sold 20+ thousand cars and I bet less than 2% test drove the car first.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,905
Likes: 569
From: Bucks County PA
When the C6 came out it was the same way with the smaller dealers, it is not personal, they just only get 1 or 2 at a time and more miles on it lowers the value to a buyer.
Go to a volume dealer, Kerbeck for example and drive as many as you want.
Mine had 25 miles on it when I bought it, probably 10 miles were my test drive and my wife's test drive (salesman had to go with).
Go to a volume dealer, Kerbeck for example and drive as many as you want.
Mine had 25 miles on it when I bought it, probably 10 miles were my test drive and my wife's test drive (salesman had to go with).