Test Drove all day today... great way to spend a holiday!

[-EAD-]

Decided a holiday would be the perfect chance to finally go for some test drives (82 degree weather with clear skies didn't hurt either).

So I've been looking at the 370z since it was announced and been following around in the forum for quite a while now... needless to say there is a little anticipation building up, but I'm still about a month away from pulling the trigger due to getting some things in order (refi on the house).

Also of note, I currently drive a '98 Saturn SL, single cam, front wheel drive, manual transmission, no power anything (not even steering)... my only other car I've owned was an '80 mercedes 300D (not turbo)... So every car I test drove today is far beyond anything I've had.

I went over to the dealer close to my house and had a great sales rep who I explained where I was in the process of buying. We test drive both a 370Z Touring w/sports manual and 370Z Touring w/sports automatic. All I can say is I was extremely pleased and well more impressed than I ever expected to be (more on that later).

During, my 370Z drives the rep and I discussed the other cars I was going to test drive later in the day, and he even suggested a couple I hadn't thought of... When I was departing to go check out some other cars he told me to come back when I was done, so I could drive the Z again so to compare with what else I drove.

Long day short, in addition to the Z's I test drove (in the order I drove them):

Infiniti G37 Sport
Infiniti G37 Journey w/sport package
Was quieter than the Z and well different in a more Lexus type of way but better (go figure)... I really enjoyed both of these cars and they are probably what I would consider the front runner if I don't get a Z.

BMW 135i
BMW 328i
In summation... I learned that I'm not a BMW person

Audi A5
A nice car... sportier than I had expected (not sure why), and I liked it better than the pair of BMWs but I had already driven the G37 and liked it more.

Mazda RX-8 r3
Its like a refined go-kart... not really... but really, it was fun, but just not enough to it for me and felt off to me.

Dodge Challenger SRT8
Definitely a different kind of sports car compared to the others I drove. I liked it for what it was, but its not me I think I prefer something with a little more finesse... and the interior cabin doesn't really have a refined feeling to it.

Chevy Camaro - Well I tried but "they don't let you drive one until after you've negotiated a price with them and set up to purchase"... to which I asked "how am I supposed to know if I want the Camaro over the competition if I can't drive it"... and he responded "the Camaro doesn't have any competition, and people just know it's what they want."

Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track
This car surprised me the most... It was enjoyable to drive, honestly a little quieter than the Z, and had a good feel to it. Way more than expected actually. A fully decked out one isn't budget bending at all... imho, a really good value, if value is what you are looking for in a sports style car.

Did I miss anything I should have been even considering?

After a full day of driving cars I went back and visited the Nissan dealer and drove the manual touring sport again... For me, it has a refinement that really appeals to me... It doesn't have the luxury some of the others do, but it doesn't miss a thing when it comes to feeling that you are driving a sports car and enjoying every bit of it.

[frost]

I drove a couple of the ones you drove, and also drove the hardtop solstice.
I would like to heard more about not being a bmw person

[355890]

Originally Posted by -EAD-

BMW 135i
BMW 328i
In summation... I learned that I'm not a BMW person

What's does that suppose to mean ?

BMW makes fantastic vehicles...........

[kgreen]

he didnt say BMW didnt make fantastic vehicles...its just not his cup of tea

[-EAD-]

Originally Posted by frost

I drove a couple of the ones you drove, and also drove the hardtop solstice.
I would like to heard more about not being a bmw person

Well, from the moment I stepped in the dealership there was an air of pretentiousness that I didn't feel from any other dealership. My poor little Saturn was by far the least spectacular vehicle on the lot of those looking at cars...(A SAAB, Infiniti, couple of Lexus, other BMW's and a Tahoe were also looking)... one couple looking at cars actually scoffed at my saturn when I got out of the car, and I got a feeling that the person who greeted me didn't exactly appreciate that I had parked it right out in front.

The Sales guy made a comment that I was way past due for an upgrade and about to step into the world of a real automobiles. While waiting for him to copy my DL and get keys, I made small talk with a few other younger (under 35) people looking at cars... All of them gave an impression that they had now made it in the world and everyone would know it now that they would have a BMW.

The cars drove great! Like they should... but honestly both felt to like I was driving a full size sedan, not a zippy sports car. The interior, though nice, also gave me the feeling of my dads full size Mercedes SEC.

This is not to say that the BMW's didn't have get up and go or excellent handling... they did, but it was in a way that felt over refined to me and lacked the excitement I am looking for.

While talking with the sales guy during the drives the conversation was much different than what I dealt with at any other dealership. A focus on what I did for work and the impression the car would have... there was definitely a lack of enthusiasm when I talked about what I do... I guess I was supposed to say lawyer or doctor or investment banker.

Also a focus on their maintenance program, primarily oil changes and tire rotations... both of which I've managed for a decade & a half now and didn't realize were such a pain to keep up with.

Another interesting note. Contrary to my previous belief, BMW's do come equipped with turn signals... and its not an optional accessory, they come stock. Even so, during my test drives... I actually felt myself being compelled not to use them.

The whole experience reminded me when I watched the musical "Cats"... I'm not a "cat person" and when it was all said and done, I just didn't get it.

All in all BMW's are nice/probably even great cars... but I just didn't get "IT"... so I guess I'm neither a cat or BMW person.

[frost]

^ logical and well-made point sir!

[ZYUL8R]

Also on my list was the Honda S2000 and EVO X. I never got to drive the X though.

Another thing i was also considering was used...i drove a few 08 Corvettes as well.

When i was on my test drives..i was set on not getting the Z..i wanted to change things up a bit..change flavors of cars this time around. After all the drives in went on and after all the cars i drove....the Z won me over.

[NeedforZ]

Originally Posted by -EAD-

Chevy Camaro - Well I tried but "they don't let you drive one until after you've negotiated a price with them and set up to purchase"... to which I asked "how am I supposed to know if I want the Camaro over the competition if I can't drive it"... and he responded "the Camaro doesn't have any competition, and people just know it's what they want."

Not really the time for a Chevy dealer to have a chip on their shoulder. An attitude such as this doesn't exactly help sales. Now I'm glad GM resurrected the Camaro but to say it has no competition is absurd. I guess that means the other modern renditions of the American muscle car such as the Challenger, Charger, G8, and Mustang don't count as competition? Maybe that wasn't the case but by your wording it sure sounds like it.

[ZYUL8R]

I got that kind of talk too, the salesman wanted to label me a prestige buyer..lol...i told him that i was just a driving enthusiast. I told him was so much of a driving enthusiast that i liked the Mazda MX-5 more than the 335i i was driving.

[frost]

Originally Posted by NeedforZ

Not really the time for a Chevy dealer to have a chip on their shoulder. An attitude such as this doesn't exactly help sales.

I went to test drive a pontiac g8 gxp and they told me the same thing. Talked about what a jewel the car was, and that no one could drove it until after the deal was made. Then they told me they were charging 5 grand over sticker. I laughed my *** off and walked out.

[spearfish25]

Car salesmen have always baffled me. I've seen both sides of it. I've walked into the Audi dealerships and had them ignore me since I'm 'only' 28 and young appearing. On the flip side, one Nissan dealer I visited during my purchase of my 370Z saw my hospital ID in my old car when they were inspecting it. The remainder of the discussion with them focused on the fact I'm a doctor. I finally had to find another Nissan dealer since the GM at the first one during the price discussion actually said "oh come on....YOU'RE A DOCTOR!!!" I almost threw up on him on my way out the door to the next Nissan dealer. Most salesmen I've met just don't get what it takes to be personable and sell a car.

On a side note, I tried to test drive a Genesis 3.6 Coupe with a friend and they told us "no". Apparently the car had 300mi on it already and they were only giving test drives to 'serious buyers'. I told them 1) serious buyers don't buy cars they haven't driven, 2) that car got 300mi on it somehow, and it probably wasn't from sitting on the lot, and 3) if they are selling them so fast, why does it have 300mi on it??? Instead we drove the Genesis V8 sedan which I was incredibly impressed with and left the dealer.

[ChrisSlicks]

When these car salesmen find that their "prestige" cars aren't selling they will quickly change their tune. It isn't like the Camero is some limited production car, it is cheap mass market material.

[nogoodname]

Wow.... Some dealers were so rude to you.

[fly yellow]

What is going on with getting the Camaro out there? I briefly looked for one before I pulled the trigger on the Z, and there wasn't a dealer anywhere near me that had one. I just checked on Chevy's website a second ago and there still aren't any around. It's not like I live in the sticks. The Baltimore-Washington area is pretty well populated. If GM goes BK, which they will, I don't see the Camaro lasting more than another year.

[jbbrann]

If anybody wants to check out the Camaro, just head to your local Avis instead a Chevy dealership. They're already renting them...

Jalopnik - First Chevy Camaro Rental Car Spotted At Avis! - chevy camaro