No ZR1 for me...

artplumber · 07-03-2009, 07:56 PM

So always enthusiastic about raw performance, I elect to go see the beast. None here locally, so I call a dealer 1.5 hrs away (bigger city) and say I'd like to drive the car at such and such a time. Should have been warned by the "well you can buy the car at 1pm" Trot down there, and look through it. Nothing very special/distinctive visually IMHO vs Z06's and I have a coupla folks I work with that own the latter. I figure they don't want me to drive, so I say you drive, I'll sit. No go. Various empty excuses arise. Now admittedly, I didn't dress up or wear real driving shoes, because I figure I wouldn't be allowed to get on it.

I then go to the Porsche dealer, and am invited to fool with everything on the lot tho I'm most interested in a Cayman S. (No they didn't have a GT2 or 3). Guy basically starts throwing keys at me. Maybe something shows? Or P dealers aren't so stuck up after all....

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

I'd love to try that but being 18 they won't let me drive a Civic. s

HHI944 · 07-03-2009, 09:24 PM

I had a similar...ish experience not long ago. Stopped by a row of dealers, hit the Ford place first and they were hesitant to let my test drive a freakin explorer (I wasn't exactly dressed like a bum), I stopped by the P dealer for kicks and express interest in a VERY attractively priced used Cayenne on the lot and he tells my to drive a new Turbo first. SUV's should not be that fast, it's almost freakish.

artplumber · 07-03-2009, 10:42 PM

Think it really depends on the dealer. The Porsche dealer in Beaverton (OR) was pretty head in butt, but these guys seem eager to sell cars. Maybe Porsche just wants to move vehicles (shouldn't Chebby too?) but I think I will prob purchase from this dealer just because of the customer service.

jyl · jyl's Garage

Porsche's sales in the US are down by over 50% YOY. That might have something to do with it.

widgeon13 · 07-04-2009, 04:29 AM

I'm planning on a test driving a Mustang and ripping the guts out of it, just for fun!

Ford screwed me one too many times, it's payback time.

ChkbookMechanic · ChkbookMechanic's Garage

My experience is about like yours.. I could never get a test drive in a Z06 or a a MazdaSpeed3 (of all things) when I was thinking about those cars. But, I could go drive down to the local Porsche dealership and they'd be dying to have me test drive the cars, even when I told them I'm just looking.

onewhippedpuppy · 07-04-2009, 07:06 AM

Now that the government owns GM, they don't actually have to SELL cars. Silly man........

kaisen · 07-04-2009, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by widgeon13

I'm planning on a test driving a Mustang and ripping the guts out of it, just for fun!

Ford screwed me one too many times, it's payback time.

.....exactly why they don't let tire-kickers loose in ZR1s, Mustangs, etc

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

You DO realize how much information is logged via OBD-II, right?

pwd72s · 07-04-2009, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by widgeon13

I'm planning on a test driving a Mustang and ripping the guts out of it, just for fun!

Ford screwed me one too many times, it's payback time.

How mature of you..

Quicksilver · 07-04-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Quote:

Originally Posted by widgeon13

I'm planning on a test driving a Mustang and ripping the guts out of it, just for fun!

Ford screwed me one too many times, it's payback time.

How mature of you..

But you're forgetting that the world's perfect offroad vehicle is someone else's car!

artplumber · 07-04-2009, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaisen

.....exactly why they don't let tire-kickers loose in ZR1s, Mustangs, etc

Like I said, I figured that they wouldn't necessarily want to let me drive it, so I told them (Chebby) you drive and I'll sit, and they still wouldn't take it out. OTOH the Turbo was the first thing at the P-car dealership.

peppy · 07-04-2009, 12:26 PM

Peter, back in 1994 I was in Raleigh NC at the Porsche dealership on Capital Blvd. I was driving my Chevette diesel, got out and talked to a salesman about a 911. They had none on the lot, so he talked me into driving a new 968.

So yeah not all Porsche dealers are snobs.

I have also had good experiences at the one one in Richmond VA. I think the sales mans name is Robert. (he looks like Puddy from Seinfeld)

kaisen · 07-05-2009, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artplumber

Like I said, I figured that they wouldn't necessarily want to let me drive it, so I told them (Chebby) you drive and I'll sit, and they still wouldn't take it out. OTOH the Turbo was the first thing at the P-car dealership.

So it's different when you'd like a chauferred joy ride?

pwd72s · 07-05-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artplumber

Like I said, I figured that they wouldn't necessarily want to let me drive it, so I told them (Chebby) you drive and I'll sit, and they still wouldn't take it out. OTOH the Turbo was the first thing at the P-car dealership.

So, car to plug the good guy P-car dealership?

Hebrewhomeboy · 07-05-2009, 09:15 AM

A little over a year ago when I was looking to replace my old E36 I was looking around at a BMW lot and started chatting with a salesman, and he offered to let me drive the new 335. When we were driving it he told me to "go ahead and hammer it, feel those turbos." Nice car, but out of my price range. I saw an old old 6 series and remarked at how much I love old cars, so he took me over and showed me this beautiful pristine '78 911 targa, which I also test drove (and of course purchased).

I think the reason some dealers are so anxious to let people test drive cars is because they know they'll fall in love with the cars. I'm still a fan of the 335 to this day, even though it's massively overweight and full of computers. And of course that one drive of an old 911 forever turned me into a Porsche fanatic.

Hebrewhomeboy · 07-05-2009, 09:15 AM

..

Hebrewhomeboy · 03:20 PM

forget the double post, I had an epic triple post here. now deleted.

pwd72s · 09:59 AM

Good point...I had no problem getting a Mustang test drive. Told the dealer I was looking for a Bullitt...they didn't have one in stock. So, I was asked if I'd like to drive the Owner's personal GT that had been "bullitized" with cold air intake, sports seats, track-pak suspension, etc. While on the test drive, they searched other dealerships for a Bullitt...mine was in Spokane, WA.

Very accomodating folks. I guess they figured out I was a serious looker, not a tire kicker.

(edit) On the other hand, I'd earlier called a dealer in Seattle after my own internet search discovered they had a Bullitt. Told the salesman I wanted one, that I was in Oregon so I wanted a no sales tax sale, asked him to talk over price with his sales manager and call me back. No call back. So, I guess things do vary from dealer to dealer.