[Badbee]

Were any of you able to test drive a new Stingray prior to purchase?? It sure would be nice to know what $70K drives like before you buy it. If you were able to do a test drive, please advise the name of the dealer.

Whenever I have ordered a car, I insert the following into the purchase and sale agreement, "Final sale contingent on test drive acceptable to buyer". Once a dealer has your money, you loose some of your negotiation power to get things fixed. Plus, it really puts a damper on the new car excitement when you have to schedule service visit when you've just purchased your dream car. A long pre-purchase test drive is an absolute must for me.

One of my current cars, a Challenger Classic, 6 speed, displayed very bad steering wheel shake during my contingent test drive. They had to replace three of the tires before I signed my contract. I doubt they would have replaced the tires after the sale. I would have been going back and forth with alignments, wheel balance, etc., and then they would have said something dumb like that's the best we can do.

Often we get so caught up in the excitement of our new dream car, we tend to overlook problems, and we listen to the dealer, "Don't worry, it's under warranty, we'll fix it for you!!"

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

 

[glen e]

smart move incorporating that into the sales agreement...but I choose my dealer before, and do a lot of talking to them before I commit. I have to like the atmosphere of the dealer. So getting a straight deal and service after the sale is not a problem. I meet the salesguy, the sales manger, the service manager and the general manager before I buy. I ask for all their email and cell #'s - if I don't get them, I find a place that will accommodate me. I find if you don't act like an adversarial jerk, are fair with them and let then make some money, virtually all of the horror stories you read about dealing with dealers are gone. The last two chev dealers I bought from I never had been in before, or knew anyone there. They were both great after the sale so I was not worried about tires or such...

I cannot stress how important is is to elevate your transaction to above the salesperson at some point.

 

[Grandsport]

Had I driven the car first,I never would have bought it.

 

[mjw930]

It is somewhat absurd that there's no way to get a test drive but such is the nature of a new model introduction with limited availability. I know when the new Boxster and 991 were released dealers got demo's as part of their first batch of cars. I was called and offered a drive in both and it wasn't an around the block drive with a salesman, it was an afternoon with the car, no salesman in sight.

It's just the difference between a premium car brand and a main stream, mid market operation.

 

[SeeMy7]

Hey Grandsport - what's not to like?

 

[Dasyatis]

I was talking to a couple of dealerships and one called me and said they had my car (wasn't exactly true) so I went there to have a look. Since it was not ordered for someone they did the unthinkable.. They offered me a test drive, without me asking. So I thought and I though (about a millisecond) and said ok.

 

[rdslon01]

Hey Grandsport - what's not to like?

Check the "Christmas Traditions" thread. He has been drinking in his garage since 10 am this morning.

 

[mjw930]

I was talking to a couple of dealerships and one called me and said they had my car (wasn't exactly true) so I went there to have a look. Since it was not ordered for someone they did the unthinkable.. They offered me a test drive, without me asking. So I thought and I though (about a millisecond) and said ok.

With availability, i.e. not ordered for someone, there's no excuse to not allow a test drive. We'll see if things start to loosen up. You've got to remember, the C7 isn't the most expensive car on the lot. There are a number of trucks and SUV's that rival the C7 in price on those Chevy lots and I never recall any dealer refusing to let me drive a Silverado or Suburban.

I will also say I haven't tried to get a test drive in a C7, I'm not ready to place my order and I have had the opportunity to drive a base car with auto. I really want to drive a Z51 7 speed before I sign on the dotted line and my local dealer hasn't had one of those is stock yet.

 

[mjw930]

Hey Grandsport - what's not to like?

If you search back you'll find he liked his GS better for comfort and interior noise level but he ordered sight unseen and took museum delivery so a test drive and backing out of the deal were not on his table.

 

[glen e]

With availability, i.e. not ordered for someone, there's no excuse to not allow a test drive. We'll see if things start to loosen up. You've got to remember, the C7 isn't the most expensive car on the lot. There are a number of trucks and SUV's that rival the C7 in price on those Chevy lots and I never recall any dealer refusing to let me drive a Silverado or Suburban.

the only thing i would add is customers don't beat the silverados on test drives like vette can get beat....and even if the vette test drive customer does not, it's like death to the next vette guy to buy a demo because he thinks it has been beat. This is particularly true of 7 speeds where demo drives CAN do some wear...

 

[mjw930]

the only thing i would add is customers don't beat the silverados on test drives like vette can get beat....and even if the vette test drive customer does not, it's like death to the next vette guy to buy a demo because he thinks it has been beat. This is particularly true of 7 speeds where demo drives CAN do some wear...

True, it's a fine line the dealer walks. That's why dedicated demo's are their best bet and I would expect that to be more the case as dealer stock levels rise. It also helps when you have a relationship with the dealership, something very rare for GM products but part of the day to day business at a premium brand store.

BTW, I've purchased 4 or 5 dealer demo's over the course of my life with 3 of them high performance variants and I never had any trouble with any of them. Your point is taken about the abuse it might sustain, especially a manual but at some point there needs to be a way for a customer to experience the car dynamically when being asked to part with so much cash. It's a conundrum none of us are going to solve on an Internet forum.....

Maybe those who have taken delivery can arrange to meet those of us who haven't for some test drives, your cars are broken in, right?

 

[Grandsport]

Check the "Christmas Traditions" thread. He has been drinking in his garage since 10 am this morning.

Lol Love it!

 

[glen e]

agreed...perf customers are a eclectic bunch....and as I'm sure you know, can be a handful to deal with by the run of the mill sales guy making 45K, who usually is untrained and tired.......

have a good holiday mark, I always read your stuff here....

 

[jsvette]

I ordered RedHot before anyone had them (the first day GM was accepting orders) and well before I drove one. However I had high confidence it would be what I wanted from the extensive research I had done prior to ordering. I absolutely wasn't disappointed and in fact greatly and pleasantly surprised at how the C7 has exceeded my high expectations (now with over 3000 enthusiastic miles on her).

 

[Fdxpilot]

the only thing i would add is customers don't beat the silverados on test drives like vette can get beat....and even if the vette test drive customer does not, it's like death to the next vette guy to buy a demo because he thinks it has been beat. This is particularly true of 7 speeds where demo drives CAN do some wear...

Not to mention, it is so easy for a driver not used to high performance cars, to get in over their head in an instant. "Hmmm. Let's turn off all this electronic stuff and floor it!!!" After all, they rarely ask for a driving experience summary before giving you a test drive in an SUV.

 

[rdslon01]

I have been in a local dealership twice in the last month or so. The first visit was a "look from here, but do not cross the line and touch" visit because all their cars in stock were customer-bought, except the one special edition blue coupe on the showroom floor (it was roped off, and they made it clear the rope was serious). The second time I went in, they had some non-Z51 dealer stock available. For those dealer stock units, it was a "we will pull the rope back for you if you are serious" visit. This time I was able to touch all I wanted and get in and adjust the seat, etc. I did not ask for a test drive, and they did not offer.

 

[Dasyatis]

BTW - it was a special edition - Z51 7 speed that was offered up for the test drive….

How could I refuse

 

[mjw930]

agreed...perf customers are a eclectic bunch....and as I'm sure you know, can be a handful to deal with by the run of the mill sales guy making 45K, who usually is untrained and tired.......

have a good holiday mark, I always read your stuff here....

Glen, Thanks, have a great holiday and try not to wrench on the car too much

 

[zimm888]

agreed...perf customers are a eclectic bunch....and as I'm sure you know, can be a handful to deal with by the run of the mill sales guy making 45K, who usually is untrained and tired.......

Not trying to start anything, but honestly man it's Christmas Eve. Have some respect for others.

 

[Werk-it]

I am a first time Corvette owner. I always thought they were fast and most of the generations were very nice looking but weak on ride and interior. I got interested in the C7 when they started talking about how much nicer the interior was and how good the ride was. After reading everything I could about it, I felt very comfortable about placing my order. When I got in mine and drove it off the lot it was the first time I ever had driven a Vette. I was pleasantly surprised when I first saw my car as the 3LT interior was very nice, the seat very comfortable, and the Cyber Gray looked better in person that in pictures. When I drove it home I could not believe how nice it rode. I have a CTS and the C7 rides almost as good as it does. I had total faith in what I was buying and never had an issue about not driving one before I bought it. I can tell anybody that my confidence was rewarded with this fantastic car.