Well, I own a WRX, but I've always loved the Lancers. Unfortunately, Mitsubishi was too late with their offering, so my money went towards buying a WRX about a year and a half ago. Still, I REALLY want to try out an EVO. How are the dealerships about allowing test drives in them?

 

I'm yet to find a dealership that will let you drive one, unless you fill out a credit application. I could go test drive a frigging M5 with no such requirement, apparently, having a car that people actually want to buy has gone to their heads.

 

both the dealers i went to did not allow test drives on the EVO's... the only way you can test drive was when you fill out all the paperwork, when at that time, it's your damn car already

 

The dealer I bought mine from let me test drive without credit report, etc. Salesman went with me first, then asked if my wife and I wanted to take it out and she could also drive it.

 

I was able to test drive the one I was going to buy. I think they are nervous of people over revving the engine during the break-in period.

But I agree, I can go test drive a Porsche turbo but not an EVO?? My guess is Subaru will be the same with the STi.

 

i test drove one for free....they told me i have to put 1000 down and fill out all kinds of paper before i can drive it but i guess alot of people got pissed off at it so they start letting people test drive for free....

 

You can't really complain if they want some sort of commitment from you to test drive (though a credit check is a bit much). Everyone who had an Evo on reserve you know was doing everything they could to make sure no one would take their cars out for joy rides prior to the sale and the dealerships are keeping that same mentality in mind. Sounds like a good thing to me.

Not to mention, this is definitely the kind of car that allows people to be stupid with serious consequences.
-N

 

Stohlman Mitsu (Mclean, VA) did NOT let me test drive the Evo, even when I was going through the paperwork. However, I did get my Lightning Yellow Beast with only 2.x miles on the odometer.

Frankly, I'm glad they didn't let anyone (or me) test drive these cars...mag reviews were enough to convince me to buy this car before driving it.

Cheers,
Leonardo

 

Ehhhh... I'll wait a few months. When the 350Z first came out, the local dealership had 2, and would NOT let you test drive.... and were charging $5k over MSRP. After a few months, the finally got real and started allowing test drives, and my friend just bought an Enthusiast model for under MSRP from said dealership... brand spanking new, 4 miles on the clock.

And with my WRX, I had gone to the dealership a few months early, knew one of the sales guys because he sold a RS to my friend, and he absolutely insisted that I test drive a WRX, even after I told him that I was currently unemployed and totally NOT capable of buying it at the time. He took it out, made me drive it, made the girl I was with drive it, and then he himself drove the hell out of it on some backroads.

I hope the Mitsubishi dealers will come to their senses soon. The one in Hickory is obviously high on crack .... so I won't go there I really would love to try one of these cars out sometime.

 

My boy works for Sea Cost mitsubishi in NJ, and he crashed the evo on a test drive lol! That could be good enough reason why they do not let many people test drive, eh? He crashed right into the curb and flipped it over, over $3000 damage. heh

 

Got to agree with Leonardo, I'm glad mine only had 2 miles on it as well. I know the local dealer in ?????? let their salesmen absolutely rape the first Evo they got, drag racing the car down the boulevard many times. The poor guy who bought it probably never knew it had about twenty dragrace starts on it. Needless to say, I bought elsewhere.

 

Hey... nice to see a local! Where did you end up buying yours? I've driven by the dealership in Gastonia a few times, and haven't seen an EVO on the lot anywhere yet. I haven't bothered to go in looking for it though, as that place has always irritated me. They're the ones that looked at me like I was an idiot back in 2001 when I asked if we would be getting the EVO. They didn't know what I was talking about. Well, 2 months later, I had my WRX... so I didn't really care

 

Lets think about this,If you are going to buy a 30,000.Lancer and saw 150 miles on it and think about it-who is goin to drive a evo slow they re going to dawg it,i work for a company that sells porsche and they wont let us drive em.No one wants a car that all people want to do is joy ride and then drop it of, not knowing what happened on that or those test drives

 

ZapcoLancer-
Are they actually gunna sell that car to sombody? they better get some serius discount if they do cus we all know once a car has been in an accident it is never the same

 

Here's my take on the test drive thing.


Everyone and their Mom wants a test drive. But few people will want to buy a car of this type after it has been flogged by a few tirekickers....especially considering they sell for MSRP or above still.

So with a car that there are 100,000 examples of for sale each year, it's easier to use a car for test drives AND find a person willing to buy, usually at a slight discount, the dealers "rode hard" test car.

With a car that there are only a few examples for sale at a given time, and given that those examples will likely be sold to perfectionistic enthusiasts, there are many less people out there who are willing to buy that flogged test car. The dealerships don't want to take the hit financially of possibly having to sell the car at a discount rate because of it's used condition. And the dealers are always left wondering if this car will be the last of the Evo's they get during the year......and if it is, they sould get all the $$ they can out of the sale.

SC~ who test drove his Evo on his ride back home after buying the car.