Similar thing happened with me. Test drove an MR and the sales guy drove it out the lot and then pulled over and let me drive. But damn did he drive it hard first.

 

Same deal here, and I have been to Don Carlton Mitsu in Tulsa Ok and to Sam Swope in Louisville Ky. No test drive policy they tell me and I AM FRIGGING 28(will be 29 in dec.). Buts its ok I do not need a test drive cause I already know what I want. Now if I can just find a blue one before its too late.....

Josh

PS anyone want to buy a Lexus??

 

That's good that they're not letting you drive it. Can you imagine how many accidents will happen with people rippen on these things??

 

Hell, perfect sceneraio - it's raining out - you're test driving and go around a corner - give it a little gas - and there comes the almost uncontrollable drift. There are many reasons I don't let people drive my car.

 

im 22 and i got a test drive...actually droven all 3 flatforms...the rs, gsr and the mr...

 

Thats how all the mitsu dealers are. They only let you testdrive if they know your gonna buy it. Before i bought my evo 8 they told me the same thing. And when the 9 came out i went to go test drive it and they wouldnt let me then either. Even though i rolled up in an evo 8 and told them i was thinking about trading it in for the 9.

 

Test drives are not over rated IMHO. I was choosing between the EVO and the STI. First I drove the EVO, then I went and drove the STI. I was almost set to buy the STI because it just "felt" better for the 1/2 hour I spent in it. Then I went back and drove the EVO again and knew it was the car for me. I drove the **** out of both of them on on/off ramps and curvy back roads. I think the salesman almost peed himself. If you are choosing between 2 cars - I always recommend driving one, then the other, then the first one again. It will help you realize the differences between the two much better than only driving each one once then making a decision. BTW, I did not buy the car I test drove. I got a brand new fresh one right off the delivery truck! Who knows what crazy stuff people do in those test drives!

Also, if you can get it overnight for a 24 hour test drive (more common with trucks and family cars than sports cars) that you will notice things that you won't on a 10-20 minute test drive. Some things you may realize you can't live with for 3-5 years. . . for me it is seat position/comfort and sharp angles on the dash/center console that my leg rests against - it can make or break a purchase decision. . . .

But, like others have said, if you know you want an EVO for sure, just go buy one.

 

I don't understand these dealers' mentalities. They think that just because it's the most expensive car in THEIR dealership, that it is some coveted supercar or collector's car. . .

But you can walk into any Porche, BMW, or Merc. dealership and test drive a $50-$70,000 car no problem . . . doesn't make sense . . .

 

I purposely bought my car from a dealer that wouldn't allow anyone to take an Evo out for a test drive. They were emphatic about it - no test drives, no exceptions. The dealer earned my business specifically because of their strict policy. I love the fact that my car never left the showroom floor until I drove it off!

I know there are conflicting opinions on the topic, but personally I think dealers have every right to restrict Evo test drives at their discretion. As other's have pointed out, if you're really serious about an Evo then you'll find an opportunity to get in one before you buy. Go drive a used one. Go to a car meet. Ask a local Evo owner in your town to take you out for a spin. Be resourceful!

 

Think about it! There are literally thousands upon thousands of these Porsche's, BMW's, and Mercedes's all over the country. Then what, like 6000 Evo IX's for the entire country.

If they tell you to **** off, someone else will buy it.

It isn't that the cars are special, they are just limited production for a nighe market.

My dealer told me the same thing three years ago, and I finally got enough money to buy one and I just bought it.

I had a friend with an Evo 8, and he offered to let me drive his multiple times. I told him no sweat man, I know I want an Evo, even though I never had driven one.

I bought it, rolled off the lot, and was like "Holy damn!" It was one of the best feelings I had in my life.

If you can find a dealer that will let you test drive cool! There is literally a Subaru dealer about 2 miles from the Mitsu dealer here in Bay City, and they will never let people drive them.

I purposely ordered my car so that it would have no miles on it when I picked it up. It had 11, and that was what they put on it in Japan running it through their checklist. They have to test them, and put them through a course a few times before they ship it.

Anyway... just buy an Evo if you want one, and save the test drive for the trip home!

 

Yeah, that's a valid point but it's not a perfect analogy.

The reason it's not the same is because of the clientele associated with the cars. The typical client for a Porsche, BMW, or Mercedes is a responsible 50-something working professional, married, kids, etc. The typical client for an Evo is a 17-25 year old kid, unmarried, no kids, no responsibilties, with The Fast and The Furious in their DVD collection.

The reason why Evo test drives aren't allowed is the same reason why Evo insurance is so freakin' expensive - more expensive than a Porsche 911, or a BMW M3, or a Dodge Viper. It's because of the clientele!

If the typical client for an Evo was a responsible middle age adult, test drives wouldn't be a problem. Besides, I guarantee those same stereotypes would apply to the other car dealerships. I'd like to see an 18 year old wearing jeans and a t-shirt walk into their local Porsche dealership and ask to take a 911 Turbo out for a spin.

 

i dont think age matters. its really the way u look. i came in on my day off from work dressing like a bum w/ 12 k cash in my pocket and the salesman refused to let me test drive the car. they said that i have to buy the car b4 i can test drive it. hel-freaking-lo here, the keyword is test drive. he said "u know enough about the car to need to test drive it". i got up and walked out, and my 12k was still in my pocket. a few days later, mits customer relation or whatever called me and boy did i gave it to em. stupid mits salesturd. its a freaking test drive, if i get the car who the hell wants to test drive the car.

 

Nah, it's not looks, it's just the dealer. I went in wearing jeans and a West Coast Choppers tee shirt and the guy was anxious to let me test drive. Then again, I asked for a quote and showed serious interest.

I'm sort of torn on how I feel about this. On the one hand, I think anyone should be able to try out a car...but on the other, too many a**hats take these cars out and burn up the clutch before serious buyers can get to them.

 

EVIL8MR, who are you? Do I know you under a different name on other local forums? PM me. Thanks!

 

I think that if a dealership has a used one on the lot - that is the the designated test driver. If they have only new ones, then they have to keep ONE as the test drive car. Maybe they will lose a little profit by needing to sell it cheaper because it has 1000 miles on it, but they may gain 2 or 3 or 5 customers to buy other new EVO's, so they will make more $$$ in the end.

If EVO's were easier to test drive, more people would buy them, and then they wouldn't be "limited production" vehicles. That would be good for everyone!!