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Is requesting a 70 mile test drive acceptable?

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OP: I don't think it's very reasonable. Sure, take it a few exits down the highway and do 10 miles or something. 70 is a bit out of line.

You'd be essentially asking, "Hey, I know that a 5 or 10-mile test drive is sufficient enough for the typical buyer to make up their mind about this car, but I'd like to take it for about 10x as long as that. Is that cool?"
 
If they only have a few cars and lots of willing buyers, they aren't going for it. Slower moving models, you can get them for the weekend sometimes.
 
Originally posted by: Eli
If I ever buy a new car, it's having less than 10 miles on it. Preferably less than 5, and optimally less than 1.

It isn't a new car if the odometer reads "000070", IMO.

Brand new means I get to break it in. Anything else is used.
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Most dealers have the cars driven from dealership to dealership for whatever reason, trade in stock, sale of a car with particular features the dealer doesn't have on site. Its unlikely that a dealer is going to hire a semi or flatbed to move a car less than 20 miles for a sale. Though I'm sure they would if you offered to pony up the several hundred dollars to make it happen.
 
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: pontifex
Originally posted by: Eli
If I ever buy a new car, it's having less than 10 miles on it. Preferably less than 5, and optimally less than 1.

It isn't a new car if the odometer reads "000070", IMO.

Brand new means I get to break it in. Anything else is used.
Click to expand...

are they supposed to use a crane to move it around the lot, etc?
Click to expand...

I'm okay with a mile or two, though I would be unhappy. When you get into the 10s, that is unacceptable to me. I'll pick it up on the dock if necessary. I don't want a "new" car that other schmucks have driven.
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I've been doing this a long time. Most cars come in with 15-25 miles on them. From the time the odometer is connected, each time the car rolls miles begin to accumulate. It's not unusual to see a new car come off the truck with as many as 75 miles, due to the fact that random quality control test drives are conducted at the factory.

As for test driving a brand new car 70 miles....not happening. Used car, maybe. Salesperson goes on test drive because it is dealership and insurance company policy, unless upper management authorizes issuance of a demo permit, which gives a stated amount of time the vehicle may be out. The other reason salesperson goes on test drive is to make sure the car doesn't get flogged. There are certain models you will never be able to test drive by yourself.

 
Most test drives that I have been on have been 15 miles tops. The area I live in offers a nice combination of highways, residential areas, bumpy, curvy backroads, and anything in between. 15 miles is plenty of distance to get a feel for how a car will handle on almost any road in my area.
 
Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: pontifex
Originally posted by: Eli
If I ever buy a new car, it's having less than 10 miles on it. Preferably less than 5, and optimally less than 1.

It isn't a new car if the odometer reads "000070", IMO.

Brand new means I get to break it in. Anything else is used.
Click to expand...

are they supposed to use a crane to move it around the lot, etc?
Click to expand...

I'm okay with a mile or two, though I would be unhappy. When you get into the 10s, that is unacceptable to me. I'll pick it up on the dock if necessary. I don't want a "new" car that other schmucks have driven.
Click to expand...

I've been doing this a long time. Most cars come in with 15-25 miles on them. From the time the odometer is connected, each time the car rolls miles begin to accumulate. It's not unusual to see a new car come off the truck with as many as 75 miles, due to the fact that random quality control test drives are conducted at the factory.

As for test driving a brand new car 70 miles....not happening. Used car, maybe. Salesperson goes on test drive because it is dealership and insurance company policy, unless upper management authorizes issuance of a demo permit, which gives a stated amount of time the vehicle may be out. The other reason salesperson goes on test drive is to make sure the car doesn't get flogged. There are certain models you will never be able to test drive by yourself.
Click to expand...

I'm aware of these things. That doesn't mean I won't try. Like I said, I want a brand new car with 1 mile or less on it. 😀 Picky? Yes. I would be more than willing to work with the dealership in whatever way necessary to be the first one that puts the pedal to the metal.

I used to be in the "gentle break-in" bunch, but that is no longer the case. I'm aware that engines are test run before putting them into the car and such, but I still want to break my car in properly. That means 3/4 of redline with a heavy load to properly seat the rings. It only takes 3-4 runs to seat the rings.

A gentle break-in is one of the single worst things you can do to a brand new engine.
 
70 miles is pretty excessive IMO. You may be able to get away with it if the dealer is hurting for sales (which these days is fairly likely) but I'd expect 15-20 miles at the very most. You shouldn't need much more than that though. If you still haven't decided after 20 miles, then you probably don't care much for it and are just in denial. When you like how a car drives you'll figure it out pretty quickly. Just try and get a little of everything:
-slower, traffic light ridden areas
-faster highways
-merging, etc...

 
Any respectable dealership should have a fairly new dedicated test drive car for customers to try out. Would be silly to let people just pick a zero mile car with shrink wrap still on to take it out to the highway.
 
Before my last test-drive the dealer asked where I was going; I told him I was driving it home to see if it would fit in my garage. BTW OP, I don't think that a 70 Mile test-drive is excessive in today's market.
 
Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
70 mile commute? I'd be looking into a new house closer to work, before a new car. 😛
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70 miles if I drive directly from the dealer and skip the side trip to daycare. In reality, it is about 90-95 miles daily.
 
Originally posted by: Jumpem
Originally posted by: JLee
Don't dealers often let you take a car for a day?
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Depends on the dealer. I also HATE it when the sales guy wants to come with you on a test drive.

The dealers around here just got the 2010 Outbacks in late last week. Only 1-4 each. So they probably don't have to try to hard to find buyers.
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Post back your impressions if you can.

I'm seriously considering this for a replacement to my wife's car in the coming year or two.
 
70 miles is too much. Go drive 20 miles or something. That should give you enough for back roads and highways driving and such.
 
Originally posted by: Jumpem
Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Obviously, you want to drive more than around the block but why 70 miles?

I'd also check out Subaru forums for other's experience with the 2010 Outback. It's a vehicle I had been considering but I'm planning to wait for the 2011 model to see if they fix/improve on the all the issues.
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70 miles is my daily commute. I want to leave the city, hit the highway, then some country roads.

And what issues and Subaru forum are you referring to? I don't see anything negative on SubaruForester.org or SubaruOutback.org.
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Are you fucking serious?

If everyone got to take a car for a 70 mile spin the odometer would be nuts before they sell which increases depreciation.

 
Originally posted by: lokiju
Post back your impressions if you can.

I'm seriously considering this for a replacement to my wife's car in the coming year or two.
Click to expand...

Test drove it for a bit and bought it. Pick it up on Monday hopefully. 2010 Outback 2.5i Premium, Grphite Gray/Black, CVT, all weather package, moonroof, a few other options.

We are coming from a 2007 Honda Fit. The Outback is much larger. With the carseat in the middle, two adults can comfortably sit on each side of it. The carseat fits in the position directly behind either of the front seats! The hatch area is much larger. Even with the stroller, there will be plenty of room for groceries, etc.

Some say the four cylinder CVT model is underpowered. Coming from the 109hp Fit, it feels plenty powerful for daily driving. It gets up to highway speeds effortlessly at half throttle. The CVT is obviously very smooth. Gas mileage is rated at 29mpg. It seems very good for a larg AWD vehicle.

The ride height and ground clearance are fantastic. The Fit liked to scrape the bottom of the front bumper entering some parking lots or driveways. This with the AWD should make it a great vehicle with all of the snow we get in northern NY.

If you have any specific questions let me know.
 
Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
Originally posted by: pontifex
Originally posted by: Eli
If I ever buy a new car, it's having less than 10 miles on it. Preferably less than 5, and optimally less than 1.

It isn't a new car if the odometer reads "000070", IMO.

Brand new means I get to break it in. Anything else is used.
Click to expand...

are they supposed to use a crane to move it around the lot, etc?
Click to expand...

moving cars around lots, plus the typical car dealer test drive will normally only put a max of like 30 miles on the car... they normally land with atleast 1 mile on the car already...
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Indeed, and if not they get taken by flatbed or trailer to the stealership.
 
Originally posted by: SampSon
Originally posted by: Eli
If I ever buy a new car, it's having less than 10 miles on it. Preferably less than 5, and optimally less than 1.

It isn't a new car if the odometer reads "000070", IMO.

Brand new means I get to break it in. Anything else is used.
Click to expand...
Most dealers have the cars driven from dealership to dealership for whatever reason, trade in stock, sale of a car with particular features the dealer doesn't have on site. Its unlikely that a dealer is going to hire a semi or flatbed to move a car less than 20 miles for a sale. Though I'm sure they would if you offered to pony up the several hundred dollars to make it happen.
Click to expand...

Maybe where your from pal, but most often where I'm from they most certainly are taken by trailer or flatbed.

 
why do you want to take it on your commute?

I mean, what are you going to learn in 70 miles that you won't learn in 5-10? couple blocks on local roads, a few miles on the highway, what more do you need?
 
My car had 5 miles on it when I got there, and after some test drives I bought it at 33 miles.

I told the guy I wanted to hit the highway and do a little city drive to go show my (now) wife.

He was cool with it. Told me to test drive any car I wanted.

The mazda and chevy places were just as easy going.

The ONLY place that wasn't easy going was the VW dealership, and the guy came with me.
 
Originally posted by: RbSX
Originally posted by: SampSon
Originally posted by: Eli
If I ever buy a new car, it's having less than 10 miles on it. Preferably less than 5, and optimally less than 1.

It isn't a new car if the odometer reads "000070", IMO.

Brand new means I get to break it in. Anything else is used.
Click to expand...
Most dealers have the cars driven from dealership to dealership for whatever reason, trade in stock, sale of a car with particular features the dealer doesn't have on site. Its unlikely that a dealer is going to hire a semi or flatbed to move a car less than 20 miles for a sale. Though I'm sure they would if you offered to pony up the several hundred dollars to make it happen.
Click to expand...

Maybe where your from pal, but most often where I'm from they most certainly are taken by trailer or flatbed.
Click to expand...

Really? Because they said if I wanted a more trimmed down model in a different color they would just have someone drive it up from Massachusetts.
 
Originally posted by: TruePaige


Really? Because they said if I wanted a more trimmed down model in a different color they would just have someone drive it up from Massachusetts.
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Dont worry bout the people with narrow world views and experiences. In my experience some dealers will and some will not drive cars from location to location. Around here one or two big names own just about all of the dealerships for every brand. So if you want a car they have 75 miles away they will drive it up to a site more local to you.
 
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