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I find this rather interesting. I started test driving cars when I was 16. My parents bought me a new Dodge Dakota at that time (yes, it was stupid of them to buy a kid a new truck - I wrecked it a year later). But I drove a wide range of new and used vehicles while looking for that truck. My parents were always with me, however.
But once I went away to college, I frequently went out to test drive cars just for fun with no intention (or budget) for buying. No one ever gave me any flak about being too young. At the time (1996 or so), I was pulling up in a 1988 Buick Regal, so I didn't exactly look like a high roller or anything.
I remember driving an array of nice brand new machinery - BMW 540i six-speed, BMW 840i, Lexus GS400, various Jags, Acuras, and Infinitis, Audi S4 (which I did end up buying later on), and so on. On the used market, I did even better - BMW M3 and M5, Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6, C4S, and 928S4, Lotus Esprit S4S, Ferrari 308, 348, and 400i (owned by Rod Stewart, no less). I ended up wallpapering my entire dorm room with clippings from the brochures.
In general it seemed like the sales staff were generally bored and just wanted to go for a spin. When I drove the M5, I have to admit that I'd never driven a stick before. The salesman taught me on the test drive! I always went in the middle of the week in the early afternoon. Never on the weekend. I always made sure I knew exactly what I was going to drive, and made sure I knew a lot about the car (more than the dealer, at least). I never made up stories (well, maybe a little for the 911 Turbo) - I said up front I just wanted to look at the car because I thought it was cool, and eventually asked if we could drive it after poking around it for a while. The BMW guys ended up knowing me well enough that I think they enjoyed it when I visited - the 540i was the first of it's kind in the midwest, and a lot of the staff hadn't driven it yet.
I suspect increasing insurance costs, litigation, and general meanness (hah!) have led to a change in the way business (and / or playing) is done. But give it a try - I probably wouldn't be near the enthusiast I am now if I hadn't done some playing when I was younger.
Jeff J
posted by 12.106.19...
, Tue, 28 Jun 2005 13:41:50
, Mon, 27 Jun 2005 23:13:54
, Mon, 27 Jun 2005 22:17:20
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