I had no problem at Hendrick in Cary, NC. They are a high volume dealership. At the time there were 40 or 50 C7's on their lot and in their show room. I expressed interest in buying one, the salesman asked for my license (and I assume did a credit check), then handed me the fob to a red C7 convertible and told me to enjoy myself. I test drove it for about a hour, and bought my C7 off the show room floor for the same day. I would have never bought one without test driving it first.

 

Congrats. Beautiful car.

I had the same problem in CA. No test drives plus most dealers asked for 5k markup.

I order mine from out of state and I am very happy with my z51 2LT A8

By the way, A8 does have rev match and I love it

 

I've bought a new '13 from stock and ordered/took delivery of a '15 from the same dealer. These were my 5th & 6th Vettes. No test drives offered on either model, and none requested or needed.

Every dealer sets their own policy. If it's not consistent with a buyer's needs then that buyer will go somewhere else, as it should be. I'm in the camp that if you purchase a 'new' car, it has to be delivered to me 'new' with the same mileage that it came off the transporter with, otherwise it's just not new. Satisified both times, and if I ever buy new again, this dealer will get first shot at my business.

 

My local dealer had the no test drive rule also. They stated that no one wants to buy one with more than 12 miles on the car for that kind of money.
Most that I have seen had under 5. Mine had 4 miles.

 

Along with the 'none wants one with a lot of miles ....'

One of the local dealers here stopped doing test drives after a "potential customer" got to the interstate, pulled over, stuck a handgun in the salemans face and told him to get out.


C7 was my 2nd corvette from the same dealer, and I have a relative who has worked at that dealership for > 20 years. Still had to jump hoops to drive one....about 3 miles - 4 right turns around the block (and through a residential section.) nothing over 45mph

Even then, then saleman went with, kept his hand over the mode dial, and would not take it out of E.

OTOH, once they knew I was ready to buy (a few months after the 1st drive), they let me take one for a day, unescorted. And that's the one that now sits in my driveway

 

 

Since the C6 was admitted to be an evolution of the C5, I ordered my C6 without ever driving one. First drive was on the way home from the dealer after picking mine up.

I've now ordered my C7 without ever SITTING in one, much less driving.

I wouldn't do that with any other car, but with a Vette, no problem.

I understand the dealer's problem, but if I drive up in a Vette (or a 911) and ask to drive a new one, I would expect them to accommodate me.

 

I ordered mine in April of 2013 and picked it up mid September when it came in. The first time I ever saw a C7 in person was when I went to pick it up.

I knew id love it.

 

My dealer didn't want to give me a test drive. Car had 2 miles on it and I talked the guy into it. This was my first vette and I wasn't about to risk it.


I think your car looks great, would love to hear your take on the car (Porsche vs Vette)?

Bruce

 

I honestly thought that there would be at least a hint of remorse about losing my Porsche. I had dreamed of a Porsche since I was a kid. In 2010 I had bought a Transformers Edition Camaro 2SS, then in 2013 I traded it on a 2009 Aqua Blue Metallic Porsche 911 Carrera. Loved it. But I started wanting that "new" feeling again, so I started looking for a 2015 Cayman S. I worked hard to find a deal for about a month. Came real close, but wasn't happy with the financing they had available. Almost on a whim, I went to look at the Vette. Went to those two local dealers who refused me a test drive. But once I started looking around online, I fell in love with that torch red/carbon flash combo. Once I had a deal set, I pretty much decided that it couldn't drive any worse than my Camaro, so I put a deposit. I had seen a couple Vettes in person for a total of about 10 minutes, so it was a real impulse buy. While I had missed the raw HP and torque of the Camaro, I really loved my 911. I had 100% trust in the car on the track, especially having done several track days in very wet conditions. So I thought there would be at LEAST a few weeks of missing the Porsche. It took me all of 5 minutes to forget about the Porsche completely. When I look at the pics of the Cayman S that I almost bought that are saved on my computer, it just pales in comparison from a visual standpoint. And the power of the Vette is amazing. I just had my 500 mile service done today, and on the way home on the interstate, I kept downshifting from 4th to 3rd and nailing it - it's just a freaking rocket. Totally different driving experience compared to the Porsche. I haven't been able to test out the handling yet to any drastic extent, but already I enjoy driving it much more than the Porsche. And I REALLY liked driving that Porsche, so that's saying a lot. While the interior may have been a slight notch up on the Porsche, the superiority of the tech features at your fingertips on the Vette more than makes up for it. And the reaction - I was gassing up yesterday and some guy pulled into the parking lot just to check out my car, had me pop the hood, etc. He was practically gasping and kept repeating, "this thing is a supercar" over and over. Everyone just freaks out when they see this car. People just didn't "get" the Porsche. I am 100% satisfied. Ecstatic might be a better word. If someone offered me a new 911 S or a Z06, I'd take the Z06. And I have NO regrets in taking my Z51 over a Cayman S or base 911.

 

Do you feel better now?

 

I ordered my car a year ago without actually seeing a C7 in person, much less taking a test drive. I wasn't too concerned about comfort becuase I was currently driving a C6. But the C7 was receiving a lot of good press so I figured it was safe to order, site unseen. I was not disappointed!

 

I'm not a Corvette guy so I came to the C7 cold--I don't think I'd even sat in a Corvette before taking one for a test drive. I fell in love with the look of the car first and thought "I'd like to own one", but there was no way I was going to take the plunge without a test drive. I needed the driving experience to convince me that I would like owning the car.

I understand how owners of previous generation Corvettes might not have to take a test drive before buying, but there are a whole bunch of people buying the C7 as their first Corvette.

I have to laugh at some of you guys--"Corvette owners don't want any miles on their new Corvettes". Have you priced a pickup truck lately? The MSRP of a one ton dually with a diesel engine is mid $60s or higher and you have no problems taking them for a test drive. Do a search of new vehicles at your Chevy dealer, sometimes their Corvettes aren't even the most expensive vehicle on the lot. I do suspect there are fewer tire kickers taking pickups for a joy ride compared to the Corvette.

 

Have not tried to get a test drive yet at a dealer, but, we will definitely want a drive to decide on manual or auto.

We did go to a local dealer who had one on the floor and he let my wife start it up, right on the floor, to hear the special exhaust option. My wife stated to the salesman, that it had to at least be as loud as her C5 with Corsa pace car exhaust. After her revving it up a few times, he said "OK, thats enough !!"

 

Would love to hear what specific things about the c7 you enjoy over the 997...is it mainly the intoxicating power and torque? Have u driven a 981s..how would you compare it to the c7?

 

I would like to know how many of the ones that said they wouldn't buy a car without a test drive would buy one with a bunch of miles on it from other people test driving it.

 

Would never gotten Married to Wife #1, 2, nor 3 without test drives first.

Although #2 was low mileage, test drives showed #1 & 3 were better daily drivers....

 

The big question is in the end how many of them took you for a financial ride.

 

It looks like you parked in a construction zone

 

Yeah, we were just up the road from the dealer and felt the need to pull into the nearest parking lot just to get things situated for the long drive home, and to take a couple quick pictures to text to my brother.