Not to be rude, sir, but you could use a reality check as well. The Camaro and WRX are produced in WAY larger numbers than the Evolution, and that fact alone should limit the amount of test beatings by over anxious tire kickers. You went on to point out that $30,000 is a lot of money to spend on a car without driving it....well, yes it is, and I understand your point to a certain degree. But I for one know that I would not want to spend my hard earned $30,000 on a car that has even 30 miles of severe beating on it. When I bought my S2000 (having not driven it until I was picking it up) I was nervous that it had 59 miles on it. In that case I had no choice since it was the ONLY one left in the country with that color combination that was still new. Point being, rare performance cars everyone wants to drive, but few people actually intend to buy. Most just want a joyride at someone elses expense.

So what's the production numbers on the EVO? I was under the impression that it was a "You keep sellin' em.... we keep makin' em" production scheme. The 350Z is a rather limited car too... but the local dealership has a demo car that they allow people to test drive.

Oh well, maybe one of these days.

The Cerritos Mitsu dealer in CA wouldnt let me test drive unless i fill out the credit report...

Headrests... Classic! I gotta remember to use that one.

Having a credit check done before you're allowed a test drive is a bit drastic. You know that every time someone performs a credit check, your credit score goes down. The only exception to this is if several take place in a few weeks time, like when you are shopping around.

As of now, the Evo is a limited production car. Many different magazines and other sources, including high up officials within Mitsu USA say there will be between 4500 and 6000 produced this year. SCC is currently the only source that said that the production is NOT limited, and that Mitsu will build as many as it can sell.

There is speculation all over this forum about how many Mitsu will actually make, and whether it is really limited in production. If you want to make a point on that issue, go find one of those threads.

If the car is in fact limited to such small production numbers, as Mitsubishi is currently saying, it makes perfect sense to me why very few dealerships allow test drives.

They don't care if you as an individual won't buy the car if you can't test drive first. They don't care if you need some self assurance about a purchase you maybe someday will make. They will just let you go to the wayside for now and sell to those who are already convinced that the Evo is the car for them. And maybe someday, if production is increased and demand is such that dealerships can keep a tester on the lot, you can go back and go for a ride.

SC~

I disagree.

Test drives are a necessity. And no, I don't know what any car can or cannot do without driving it. Reading only helps so much. Magazine reviews and real-life personal experiences are different.

Anyway, the purpose of a test drive is not to beat the hell out of the car... It's a shame more people don't know that.