What Cars Cannot Be Test Driven?
 

First off, hello! I have really just started my car buying process and have yet to narrow down to which cars I am serious about trying to work a deal on.

I have two budgets really;

My ideal budget is $100,000 or less. Here are the two cars I am looking at in this range:
New or Used 2012-2013 Nissan GT-R Premium (Very close to $100,000)
New 2013 Chevy Corvette Z06 (Seems like a 3LZ can be bought for $75,000-$80,000)

My comfortable budget is around $125,000:
Used 2011-2012 Porsche 911 Turbo ($115,000 - $125,000)
Used or New 2011-2012 Audi R8 ($105,000 - $125,000)
New 2013 BMW M6 ($110,000 - $123,000)

To get to the moral of my story and question. So far I have driven a 2013 Z06 and thats it. Today I swung by the Nissan dealership to test drive a GT-R and was told thats a no go. They don't allow this. I refuse to consider a car that I can't driven. Am I gonna hit this same problem with the more expensive cars? The Z06 keys were practically thrown at me, so I didn't have trouble there. This is my first very expensive car purchase.

I have a BMW 535xi and wife's Range Rover which are both moderately expensive and had no problem with test driving these either.

You run into that nonsense everywhere. Go find some used cars of similar vintage and do the test drives with them. At the dealership I use for my P Car service they are fairly generous on test drives with the new stock however I have a relationship with them. Would love to hear an alternate solution. Good luck.

Unless you can find a used one to drive, you might as well cross the GT-R off your list, because any GT-R dealer that's worth a crap will not allow test drives of brand-new GT-Rs (thankfully).

I guess to each his own, but spending that kind of money. I would want to compare it to something and make sure it is exactly what I want. They do this with 20k cars to make sure its what you want, I would think they would if you were dropping 5X as much. I understand needing some qualifiers like proof of income and if not paying cash a credit check..

As you stated, "spending that kind of money", we owners don't want cars that have been test driven by a bunch of people either. I can tell you that when I'm looking to buy a new GT-R (which has a strict break-in period by the way), I won't buy one that has been test driven. This applied to my '12, my '13, and will also apply to the '14 that I currently have on order.

There are many dealerships that will let you test drive these high end sports cars as long as they believe you are a serious buyer and don't mind the salesman sitting shotgun. Prime Porsche in MA offered me a test drive in a new 2011 TTS last year. Same with Nashua Porsche in NH. I also test drove my 2005 Ford GT before I bought it. If they won't you can ask someone who owns one to let you take it for a test drive. You can go to the forums and see if anyone in your area will accommodate your request. I was picking up my Ford GT after service at Tasca ford in RI when a customer who was looking at a GT in the showroom which the dealer would not allow him to test drive, asked me and I said yes as long as I went with him. If you're in the MA area before snowfall, I'll be happy to let you take my 2011tts for a ride.

I've been to 2 dealerships here in Virginia and have driven both 2010 GTR's. Younger guys catch hell but I'm 47 and had no issues. The car was electric but rides too rough for daily use. Perhaps the '13 model is a bit more refined. Getting back to the major point of the thread, STAY AWAY from the M6 because their values plummet like nobodys business. I think that if I were spending $125,000 I'd grab a Audi R8 V10 convertible. Rare cars are where its at.

wow god bless, wish I could afford to flip cars like that sir :D

I live in MO so a Spyder isn't really useable. But I might look at a 5.2 Coupe and go a little further than planned. But all depends on what I find.

When I was trying to decide I took a trip to vegas and drove everything I was considering (gtr, r8, 997tt, 991s, z06) at exotics racing. It's a bit pricey but you get to drive them balls out on the track and really get a feel for what they can do. Even did some laps in the Ferrari and Lambo just to see what they were like.

Decided on the 997tt and now on the hunt for the perfect one.

I get good deals when I buy them and don't have to pay sales tax (all of my cars are titled legally in a tax free state). I honestly don't lose much at all, bro.

I just bought my first "real " expensive car purchase....Just bought a 2013 991(911) Carrera S and the dealer let me drive it without any problems. I also drove the 2013 997 Carerra Turbo S without any hesitation from the dealership. In the end I liked the 991 body and went with the 991 and ordered it custom from Germany. Porsche dealers generally are classy people and cater to the wealthy. I am sure they will be professional and let you drive it. Usually only "serious " people go to Porsche dealers. Nissan sees kids who want joy rides!! My other car is a C63 AMG and the dealership at MB let me drive it witout a problem.

Montana?

Probably NH

I use Alaska, but Montana works as well.