Any one heard anything new?
Evolved Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,312
Likes: 3
From: Birmingham, AL
Whoops, almost forgot:
"Typically the owner will give it a quick supervised drive before signing the paper work just to make sure nothing is seriously wrong with the car."
I believe, ladies and gentlemen, that is what we in the business
call a test drive and was my point all along. We're talking Mitsubishis
here, not Ferraris, albeit is one hellacious Mitsubishi - they are going
to make a lot of these vehicles - not enough to satisfy demand at
the very start, and yes weird stuff like crazy sticker add-ons,
speculating, ebay autctions, and long wait lists and deposits, but
it will soon be treated just like any other product that sits on our
lot. Remember the craze over the Mazda Miata when it came out?
"Typically the owner will give it a quick supervised drive before signing the paper work just to make sure nothing is seriously wrong with the car."
I believe, ladies and gentlemen, that is what we in the business
call a test drive and was my point all along. We're talking Mitsubishis
here, not Ferraris, albeit is one hellacious Mitsubishi - they are going
to make a lot of these vehicles - not enough to satisfy demand at
the very start, and yes weird stuff like crazy sticker add-ons,
speculating, ebay autctions, and long wait lists and deposits, but
it will soon be treated just like any other product that sits on our
lot. Remember the craze over the Mazda Miata when it came out?
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
so the evo is going to be in U.S in 03 for sure...
but i seen import companys that import japanese spec EVO 3's to the U.S.. what is all that? is it a joke, or can u actually import a EVO to the states and drive it Right now?
but i seen import companys that import japanese spec EVO 3's to the U.S.. what is all that? is it a joke, or can u actually import a EVO to the states and drive it Right now?
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Indy, IN
Originally posted by Turbo442
Here is the low down on test drives.
If a dealer is having trouble moving cars off the lot, then let the public test drive. When the dealer only receives 1-2 cars a year there is no need for a test drive. People are lining up to buy the car without a test drive. Typically the owner will give it a quick supervised drive before signing the paper work just to make sure nothing is seriously wrong with the car. This is standard pratice for any high end sports car dealership.
For sports cars that have higher production numbers like the C5 the dealer will typically have one car set aside for test drives that will be discounted a bit at the end of the year if it has not yet sold. The BMW dealer here in SanJose did have a M3 to demo, but I wouldnt bother asking unless I was a previous customer, or pulled up in a newer BMW.
About the only exception to this rule is the 'long term customer' exemption. Typically a dealership will have a small base of loyal long term customers that the dealership can 'trust' I have seen people take cars and motorcycles for days, even weeks at a time for test drives. Typically this does not happen for 'new' low volume cars in demand unless you are really good friends with the dealer.
Here is the low down on test drives.
If a dealer is having trouble moving cars off the lot, then let the public test drive. When the dealer only receives 1-2 cars a year there is no need for a test drive. People are lining up to buy the car without a test drive. Typically the owner will give it a quick supervised drive before signing the paper work just to make sure nothing is seriously wrong with the car. This is standard pratice for any high end sports car dealership.
For sports cars that have higher production numbers like the C5 the dealer will typically have one car set aside for test drives that will be discounted a bit at the end of the year if it has not yet sold. The BMW dealer here in SanJose did have a M3 to demo, but I wouldnt bother asking unless I was a previous customer, or pulled up in a newer BMW.
About the only exception to this rule is the 'long term customer' exemption. Typically a dealership will have a small base of loyal long term customers that the dealership can 'trust' I have seen people take cars and motorcycles for days, even weeks at a time for test drives. Typically this does not happen for 'new' low volume cars in demand unless you are really good friends with the dealer.
most of the time, the car is his after that week. 
And it's so much deeper than that. Even when me or my bro(he drives an e46(new) M3) roll up to take a gander and chat w/them, they walk right up to us, take our keys, wash our cars and park it for us. It's just amazing the kind of service you get from being a loyal(to say the least) customer.
Last edited by focal_m3; Mar 18, 2002 at 08:02 PM.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Indy, IN
Originally posted by Claudius
That's excellent customer service, focal m3! Great!
You are right about another thing: Friends DONT let friends drive benzes!
That's excellent customer service, focal m3! Great!
You are right about another thing: Friends DONT let friends drive benzes!
, you should see the responses i get from the euro-forum's I go to now and then 
merc owners hate the Focal_M3
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
where I live, no test drives on Evos or WRXs (at least from 95-01). The logic being "If you want one, you know what it is and don't have to drive it. If you don't know what it is, you won't want one."
Seeing as these cars cost approx. US$86k here, and more than 80 were sold with a few unlucky people who wanted one but could not get their hands on one, I would say that you don't have to let people test-drive the car to stimulate demand.
Seeing as these cars cost approx. US$86k here, and more than 80 were sold with a few unlucky people who wanted one but could not get their hands on one, I would say that you don't have to let people test-drive the car to stimulate demand.
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