Test Drive

Yesterday I went with a friend who is looking to buy a M5, and when he asked for a test drive the salesman said "nobody that buys a M5 test drives them". I dont know if he was just saying that because we're both quite young and he assumed we have nothing better to do, or if he was actually serious.

But this got me thinking about how many ferrari owners first test drove their cars before buying them? I would assume most people drove a friend's car or something before dropping that kind of money on a car, but maybe im just crazy and everyones making blind purchases?

 

Was it a new M5 or a used one? If you want to buy a used car and the seller tells you test driving it is not possible, immediately walk out there. Backwards, so he can't do anything you don't see If he was a dealer, I guess his thought was that two guys aged 20 only want to have fun driving the car, but aren't seriously considering a purchase.

 

Test drove both Ferrari's first. In all cases, I always call first. Always set up an appt. with a specific sales person and convey your serious intent. I was 30 when I started seriously looking for a 550. I had no trouble test driving.

John

 

I was 27 when I got both my Lambo and my Ferrari. For the lambo, I setup an appointment in advance. For the Ferrari, I arrived with someone the dealership already knew. Appointments or refererences make all the difference. Once you do have an exotic car, though, it becomes a bit easier. Pull up in a Ferrari and I doubt many dealers would deny you a test drive in just about anything.

 

It is pretty much true with bmw m cars. MOST M car buyers know exactly what they are getting. They know the brand. It's the same thing with MOST Ferrari buyers, they know what the car is about, what it does etc. No need for a test drive.

I'm sure the dealerships wouldn't mind you guys going out in a reg. 3,5, or 7. I'm also sure a Ferrari/MAserati dealer wouldn't really mind sending people out in maserati's providing it's not an mc12.

 

I would NEVER buy a car without a test drive. If a dealership does not offer you a test drive, leave...every car is different. Our local BMW dealership will let you test drive anything assuming they perceive you as a serious buyer. I would also disagree with the notion that drivers of a certain marque know what they want and don't need a test drive. For me, test drives have often been the deciding factor in virtually all of my car purchases. IMO, I prefer a 3-series BMW over a 5-series or 6-series version...I feel more connected to the road and I despise I-drive. And this is all based on having test driven all of these models. I like the Aston Martin Vantage but it did not thrill me during my test drive. What sold me on my Ford GT was the ease with which it drove and handled...and this was comparing it to test drives in a Lambo Gallardo (2 separate occasions), 360 Spider, and a C6ZO6. No matter how the car looks or what you read in car mags, NOTHING is more important than how you feel driving the car! Would you get married without dating the person?

 

Ya see I dont think we should have to pull up in the Ferrari just to get a test drive. Plus he came in his brand new 5-series, so I dont see why a M5 would be so rediculous for him.

 

I can see where both are coming from. I totally agree that you should drive the car before you buy it, especially one thats quite expensive.

I remember back in 01 or 02 when the first E46 M3s were hitting the market. Two younger guys (mid 20s) showed up and start hounding the dealer to take out a laguna coupe. They hand them over the keys and they edge it out of the dealership pretty easily and they start heading down the road. Not more than 10 minutes go by and these dudes rip by at 80+ (speed limit is prob 25/35). Then another few minutes and they return and break hard for a corner in front of the dealership and swing the rear out, tires and exhaust screaming as well. One of the salesmen I was working with was livid. To this day I still dont understand why they had to perform all the stunts right in front of the place. Im not sure what happend when they brought the car back as I left before then, but I can see why dealers might get a bit nervous.