Two nights ago I stopped by my local chevy dealer to oogle at the Z's there (I guess this was about my 4th time), so of course a sales rep comes out and starts talking to me, and actually seemed to be taking me seriously (I just turned 18). I had the M3 with me, so I think that helped. So I tell the guy that my dad and I have been considering the car (although not very seriously at the moment, but I didn't say that). After some more talking I ask whether I'd be allowed to test drive it before coming back with my dad. And he's like "I think so, let me just check with the manager." He comes back and says "sure, let me just get your license to copy it." So I scramble to get my license out of my wallet, and he hands me the keys and tells me to go get situated in the car. So I'm sitting there in a new 03 MY Z, heart racing, when he comes out, hands me my license and says "sorry, but we didn't realize you're only 18, we thought you were about 25, so we can't let you take it out on the street, but you can drive it around the parking lot." Of course my heart sinks, but I was still more than gracious for being allowed to drive such an awesome machine around the parking lot, even if it was only at 10mph.
I'll never forget the sound of starting that engine though, I couldn't help breaking out in a grin.
Rich air and clear skies,
Aus
EDIT:
Read my follow-up down below !!!!!
__________________
Active Autowerke stage 2 Supercharged 95 dakar yellow M3 (ok, it's my Dad's car too).
.080 mls headgasket, ARP headstuds and new valve retainers; Stewart water pump; staggered CSL's. Euro M3 flyhweel and Active Clutch sitting in garage waiting for exams to let up...
387whp, 296wtrq --- girls dig yellow
At least they let you take it around the lot. When I was searching for my car, NO ONE would let me test drive one. One dealership told me to rent one in Beverly Hills and if I came back to buy the car they would pay for the rental.... and I'm 31!
Matt
__________________ SOLD- 2002 Z06 - Vararam, Tint, Hurst shifter, B&B Bullets, Vette Essentials interior, iForged Evo's
2006 superior blue Hummer H3
2004 indi blue/white Mini Cooper S - Aero Kit, Rogue CAI, Tint.
Originally posted by FiveOJoe Austin: Wasn't my test flight (in Tom's car) enough to convince you
Joe
Oh Jeez Joe, I'll never forget that day for the rest of my life. I don't know whether you noticed the huge grin I couldn't fight back as the needle on the speedometer started spinning. That was incredible. I don't need any kind of convincing, I just wanted to be back in a Z again
I had NO PROBLEM test driving one, here in O.C. (Socal) Yorba Linda, to be exact. And I even have a shaved head, and went in with my "CHICK MAGNET" T-shirt on... Then proceeded to go home, and let my wife know i was buying a Z, went back. bought it in record time, with no hassel...
Originally posted by mikedege I had NO PROBLEM test driving one, here in O.C. (Socal) Yorba Linda, to be exact. And I even have a shaved head, and went in with my "CHICK MAGNET" T-shirt on... Then proceeded to go home, and let my wife know i was buying a Z, went back. bought it in record time, with no hassel...
I think the difference is you bought yours this year. Last summer in SoCal the market was crazy. The dealerships wanted up to $10,000 above MSRP for yellow.
Next time I might take the trip to OC before I buy.
Intofx: I had a similar experience in L.A.... at first.
The first place I went, I called up from work and asked if I could come by that afternoon for a test drive. He said sure. I repeated that I was interested in a TEST DRIVE. The guy said come on down.
I get there at about 6:00 and the guy tells me, well, we don't actually have any Z06's right now... but we have ONE coupe, in the middle of the showroom. You can drive that. Fine. He takes my license, etc., etc., makes me sit around for half an hour. Finally he comes back and says, "Gee... the coupe is blocked in here in the showroom, and all the guys who normally move cars are gone for the day. Why don't you come back tomorrow?"
I said, see ya. I went across the street to another dealer, which had over a dozen 'Vettes and 2 Z06's. I asked about a test drive, and his only question was, "What color?"
Needless to say, he made himself a sale, and the other guy is still waiting for me to come back. I very seriously considered driving back the next day and saying, "You remember me from yesterday? You wouldn't let me test-drive a car. You work on commission, right??"
It amazes me that alot of people have problems getting a test drive at a dealer.There wasen't even a question about getting a test drive when I bought my Z,and I have never bought a car there, before I bought the Z.,
Back in the day (when the '01s had just come out) you could get a test drive. Hell, after we took out a QS demo, the dealer gave me the keys and said to have it back in 2 hours! It SOLD me on the Z06 and the color. If they had only NOT wanted to add $5000 to the MSRP, I would have bought my car from that dealership. I ended up getting mine from Kevin Will at Les Stanford in MI. -HarleyB
__________________ '01 QS/Black Z06 • Kirban/Hardbar® • Caravaggio Sport Stg. Wheel • Volant Twintake • Z06 Part's Partition • MetalPedals-traded for E55, which was traded for Jeep SRT8
I stopped by a FORD DEALER today, and they had a QS 01. The guy came out and and told me he'd get the keys. When I gave him my license I thought it would be the same story as Monday, expecting him to come out and hand me my license back saying we didn't realize you're only 18. Instead he walks out with a license plate. It was a very short drive, but it was on the road, and the power is incredible. It really is a monster. It makes our M3 feel like a fun car. I know I don't need to try to describe to you guys what it was like, even though I couldn't open it up without breaking the speed limit in about 2 seconds. I also didn't realize I had the AH and TC turned off. I hadn't imagined how easy it is to lose traction without them. It definitely requires more effort to drive than the M3, but I just look at that as part of the hardcore power experiance
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