TransAmRacer

Have been a Porsche owner for over 30 years. In the ZR1 Chevrolet has finally made a sports car I want to own. The problem is I can't seem to arrange a test drive. I won't put 140 LARGE down own a car I haven't even sat in. Anyone got an answer?

jvp

At this relatively early point in the game, no dealer worth their salt is going to let you test drive the car. Not in the least. Specially when it's key to break the car in properly, and test drives rarely do that. So I wouldn't hold your breath trying to find such a dealer. Don't worry: Chevrolet will sell the ZR1 you won't buy.

Now, that said: perhaps there's a near-by friend, or someone else that happens to own one. As far as test drives go, that's pretty much your only shot.

TransAmRacer

Wow. Thanks for the response. Seems kind of ridiculous. I remember when the Dodge Viper came out a a dealer here town had no problems letting me take it for a spin. I would assume that's the cost of doing business. Might try the, "racing," experience in Vegas. Too bad Chevrolet talks about, "listening," to their customers. I love my Duramax pickups (I have two '06's). Maybe I'll call Porsche and see if they'll listen.

3 Z06ZR1

Test drive a Z06 with the same transmission. If you like that the you should love the ZR1. Lot of stuff is the same in both cars. The front end is the main difference.

TransAmRacer

Wow again...thank you so much for the insight. I believe you're correct. 'Have read articles and watched reviews saying Corvettes are a bit the same until you mash the throttle. Still, seems silly that Chevrolet will let you drive a Cobalt and not their flagship. I will not give up...

Warp Factor

I wouldn't want to buy a car that someone else had hammered, prior to breakin, on a test drive. Would you?

Spring Mountain racetrack has more than a dozen ZR1's, already broken in, that you can hammer to your heart's content, if you can demonstrate that your are a good enough driver to handle that.

TransAmRacer

That's cool...no problem. I race a Trans Am GT1 Mustang. I'll certainly check out Spring Mountain. where are they located? Never mind...got it. Vegas. Many thanks to all responders. You guys have been very helpful.

Glenn Quagmire

Dave80C3

Seriously doubt in this point in the game there is a dealer with an un-sold ZR1 on their lot.

Spring mountain you can spend two days on a race track in the ZR1, that should be a great evaluation of the car.

Nyvetteguy007

09Z06pj

The only problem with that is you have to be a ZR1 owner before you can drive one of the Spring Mountain cars.

DebRedZR1

+1 that is accurate .
Doubt any Dealers or Chevy are worried about people upset over test drive issues. Long waiting list for the ZR. Driving a Z06 gives you an idea but ZR has many differences in handling, shifting, acceleration etc. Good luck.

RichieRichZ06

You'd probably be surprised how many dealers have them sitting on the lot, just waiting for that sucker born every moment customer. It's the same dealers that have a $25k - $50k markup on the window. There are several dealers around us that have one in stock, some already up to 45 days old!

I believe GM owns the ZR1 cars at SMMR and as far as I know, you aren't allowed to drive them without being in the ZR1 owners school, which requires purchasing a ZR1.

hcvone

Where you live, I am sure there is an owner near you. As said a Z06/Z07 is pretty close in several ways if you can find one of those. I never sat in or test drove a Corvette, even my first in 86' , saw it drove it off the lot, that was my first time driving a Corvette, did the same thing with my first Porsche 86' 911 turbo. ordered it and drove it off the lot, first time I had ever driven a Porsche too.

Questar

Just to be clear...

The ZR1's currently at Spring Mountain aren't actually "theirs" they are GM cars and as such they can ONLY be used for the ZR1 Owners School course, at this point. Rick told me that they are going to be getting their own inventory of ZR1's (school owned) like the rest of the corvette models they have, and once that happens they will be able to offer these cars to "non-ZR1 owners". I discovered this when I tried to book one of the "Private Sessions" with the ZR1. I'm in the upcoming ZR1 owners school and wanted to add a 3rd day as Private track time one on one... but they couldn't do it... not in a ZR1... not until they get their own ZR1's to replace the ones they currently have on site.

desmophile

You might want to consider Exotic Racing in LAS also. You can drive a Z06 on a track and compare it same day to a variety of other cars. Since the ZRI is going to be a lot like the ZO6, certainly at least compared to any other car in the world, it would be a good test. A drive on the track in my opinion is worth 1000x more than a drive on the street if you are assessing track performance. I am assuming you are not just looking for only a DD/cruiser. If you were, the Stingray would be a great choice and half the money. Since you race the GT1 Mustang it isn't like you need a fancier car to impress your friends.

WaxWeekly

SoCal dealers are the worst for this. They want them to generate foot traffic. They'll sell it to any sucker who's ready to blow an extra 25+ over sticker for 'market adjustment'

There's less than 1000 of these on the road so far. Once the pre-order backlog gets cleaned up more will become available as inventory. Very few dealers will offer a test drive unless they get a used one on the lot. A vast majority of the people walking into a Chevy dealership can't afford a Z06, much less a ZR1.

You'll stand a better chance of getting that test drive if you pull up in your new GT2 or enough car to confirm you're serious. I'll never forget the Mercedes dealer that immediately tried to push us to the used small sedans because he decided the moment he saw us we couldn't afford what we were asking for, but my wife sure enjoys her new CTS.

TrackAire

I would NEVER buy a vehicle without test driving it.
I do feel this "no test drive" mentality is bull crap. I do believe the dealer should pre-qualify you to verify that you can afford a ZR1, but it boggles my mind to know that I can go into a Porsche, Mercedes, Land Rover, etc dealer and test drive pretty much any vehicle, even those costing much more than a ZR1 just by giving them a copy of my drivers license.

If there are any questions, giving your Social Security number to the finance manager will prove that you can afford it or not. If you have a personal relationship with your banker, you can also have them call the banks branch manager to verify your financial cabilities.

If I was really serious about buying a specific model car and the salesman said "no test drives", I would speak to the sales manager and finance manager. If they still say "no", then I find another dealer. It's only a Corvette....not some one off never to be built again vehicle worth 20 million dollars.

vetteb_96C

That's funny. I've never test driven any of the 6 Corvettes I have purchased. I was always a Corvette fan since I was a little kid. I just knew I wanted them, no need to test drive (for me at least).

m3incorp

You would really prefer to give this personal information (in bold) for the privilege of test driving a vehicle? As it stands right now, you probably are not going to get to test drive a new ZR1.......that's just how it is. I personally would never spend ZR1 kind of money to BUY a car that has been used for test drives. I'm pretty sure that dealers know that many people that spend that kind of money, feel exactly as I do. Give it some time and the situation (supply more than demand, C8 released, dealer has some sitting on lots, used vehicles, etc) will change and you will indeed be able to drive one before buying.

I do understand that you are/were coming from a different brand and would like to know how the car drives and fits. I'd say that most of the early buyers already have or had C7 Corvettes. Again, driving a Z06 is a great alternative, as you will be driving on the street at mostly legal speeds and they are very similar cars. Again, I like you, would prefer a test drive, just not in THE car that I would buy. Different strokes for different folks and know that many people are perfectly happy with buying cars that have been used for test drives.