Went EVO shopping yesterday....
I've heard that it's a recent government mandate that ALL dealers must do it. I've also heard that it's a way to pad the numbers to look like they're doing well.
Who knows. What I do know, is that I wouldn't be letting anyone run my credit if I was about to pay cash for the car.
Who knows. What I do know, is that I wouldn't be letting anyone run my credit if I was about to pay cash for the car.
Evolved Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,350
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From: San Antonio, TX
Neither would I. But you have to do something to show you are a legit cash buyer as opposed to someone just talking smack. Show them your funds. Or have them call your bank to confirm the needed funds. Or pull up in the $250k exotic sports car or something. I think you need more than a Range and your word of how much money you have for the dealers to believe you and take you seriously.
I went to three different dealers to shop an Evo X about 5 months ago. All of them told me that they "must" run my credit before they let me test drive especially Evo X. I thought it was fare request and it didn't bother me. So, I had them run my credit and I got to test drive them.
Seeing that you're in LA I assume this to be SOP to turn away people looking for a joy ride. However, I was allowed to test drive three Evo Xs at three different dealerships when I was car shopping. The only place that asked for a credit check was a Subaru dealership. And when I told the salesman I already had financing (because I did) he just walked back into the showroom and never came back. lol, thanks for helping me make the better choice, guy!
If you're looking for a test drive (also the best prices normally found) I'd head over to South Coast Mitsu in Costa Mesa. I got a test drive there without a credit check (circa 2008) and drove a brand new X off the lot a couple days later. I drove up from San Diego and it was worth the effort.
If you're looking for a test drive (also the best prices normally found) I'd head over to South Coast Mitsu in Costa Mesa. I got a test drive there without a credit check (circa 2008) and drove a brand new X off the lot a couple days later. I drove up from San Diego and it was worth the effort.
Evolved Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,350
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, TX
If you're looking for a test drive (also the best prices normally found) I'd head over to South Coast Mitsu in Costa Mesa. I got a test drive there without a credit check (circa 2008) and drove a brand new X off the lot a couple days later. I drove up from San Diego and it was worth the effort.
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From: chicago, michigan, arkansas
So i've been kicking around the idea of getting a EVO. My buddy just bought a STI and I am going to get a EVO to prove a point to him. It would be a 4rd car for me that I would Mod to make it a fun track/weekend toy. I pull up to the dealer in my Range Rover and sales person comes out asking if they could help. I told them I was interested in the EVO MR. The sales person takes me in the back they have a bunch of MR's and GSR's. I find a MR that I like that has the options I was looking for. He asks if I was interested and if he should go get the keys to open it up? I told him yes i'd like to open it up and go for a test drive. The sales guy looks at me a says he can open it but we can not go on a test drive with out running my credit. At first I thought he was kidding, I told him i'm a all cash buyer and I dont want my credit ran. He said sorry but with out running my credit I could not test drive the car.
I was pretty taken back by this. He then explained that this was standard policy that ALL dealers do this. That if they let people test drive them than the cars would have to many miles on them. I'm 34 years old, I have owned exotic cars in the past and not even when I went to purchase one of those did they want to run my credit to test drive a 250k+ car!
I'm not a dick by all means but this just rubbed me the wrong way. After telling them how I felt about their policy I walked away. I am a impulse buyer and if I liked the car I would have bought it.
Did everyone here have to have their credit checked to buy their EVO?
I was pretty taken back by this. He then explained that this was standard policy that ALL dealers do this. That if they let people test drive them than the cars would have to many miles on them. I'm 34 years old, I have owned exotic cars in the past and not even when I went to purchase one of those did they want to run my credit to test drive a 250k+ car!
I'm not a dick by all means but this just rubbed me the wrong way. After telling them how I felt about their policy I walked away. I am a impulse buyer and if I liked the car I would have bought it.
Did everyone here have to have their credit checked to buy their EVO?
When I showed up to buy my X I didn't care to test drive...already new I wanted it. Dealer did offer to let me test drive and without a credit check but I just wanted to just get the deal done. So my first drive was when I left the lot.
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Joined: Feb 2012
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From: NJ/Venezuela/Taiwan
Thats why finding a good dealership makes a huge difference. I walked into the dealership and was well taken care of and they took me seriously... i only went in to find out how much it cost and stuff and i wanted to leave because my mom was with me and she was hungry. So the sales lady said you have to test drive it ... i told her no thanks its okay my friends have them so i dont need to test drive it, but she insisted we go for a test drive and we did , but she didnt run my credit.
Thats why finding a good dealership makes a huge difference. I walked into the dealership and was well taken care of and they took me seriously... i only went in to find out how much it cost and stuff and i wanted to leave because my mom was with me and she was hungry. So the sales lady said you have to test drive it ... i told her no thanks its okay my friends have them so i dont need to test drive it, but she insisted we go for a test drive and we did , but she didnt run my credit.
Yea, like what others have said, it's different for every dealer, the dealer I went to did not allow me to test drive it; their main reason is, "if they let everyone test drive it, they would lose $." Even though my family has been loyal to this mitsu dealership for more than decade. But I knew I would never get disappointed with an EVO, so I bought the car without test driving it.
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Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Los Angeles, Ca
Simply put, they want to know if something happens during test drive you are able to afford the repairs and the difference on price after being in an accident. Some dealers are **** about things.
I do understand your point though, rolling in a Range and being asked that but they dont really know you own that car, could be your uncles/moms/dads etc... I am not taking a side, I am just telling you their side no matter how it might not make sense in your shoes.
I did test drive a brand new zo7 (zo6 with zr1 performance package. 95k for price) with nothing asked but a copy of my DL and insurance. Which is what that salesguy should have done to you. Running credit... I've never even heard of that crap.
I do understand your point though, rolling in a Range and being asked that but they dont really know you own that car, could be your uncles/moms/dads etc... I am not taking a side, I am just telling you their side no matter how it might not make sense in your shoes.
I did test drive a brand new zo7 (zo6 with zr1 performance package. 95k for price) with nothing asked but a copy of my DL and insurance. Which is what that salesguy should have done to you. Running credit... I've never even heard of that crap.