Nothing available for a test drive?

backslashv · 05-10-2021, 07:08 PM

I have called 5 different dealerships in CA and each one of them are saying they don't allow test drives on M cars. One suggested to go an M performance center for a test drive which I have to pay. How am I supposed to try the car before ordering?

Anyone with a similar experience?

themnmd · 05-10-2021, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by backslashv

I have called 5 different dealerships in CA and each one of them are saying they don't allow test drives on M cars. One suggested to go an M performance center for a test drive which I have to pay. How am I supposed to try the car before ordering?

Anyone with a similar experience?

Heard that before. I think it's BS. Have heard the excuse is they don't want mileage on the car, but who knows

Bimmer888 · 05-10-2021, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by backslashv

I have called 5 different dealerships in CA and each one of them are saying they don't allow test drives on M cars. One suggested to go an M performance center for a test drive which I have to pay. How am I supposed to try the car before ordering?

Anyone with a similar experience?

Must be only a few dealers that have an extra car to test drive. I visited 4 with no luck. 5th one I went to, after 45 mins of chat and showing serious interest offered me to test drive one of their 6MT M4s. Was not going to say no to that. It had 80 miles on it at the time. No additional packages on it, was completely base spec. Maybe they ordered it specifically for test drives?

Multimodal · 05-10-2021, 07:55 PM

If you come across as a serious buyer and mature (not likely to hoondog it) you will be allowed to test drive. Bay Area dealers recently let me test drive 2 M2Cs, a 2018 M3, a 2019 M4 CS, 2 2021 M3s and a 2021 M4C.

killhour · 05-10-2021, 08:36 PM

Depends on the dealership and how nice the sales rep is feeling that day.

backslashv · 05-10-2021, 10:56 PM

One dealer just got back to me saying they might have an M4 for test drive. Does the driving experience differ from the M3? I'd like to purchase an M3.

Multimodal · 05-10-2021, 10:57 PM

Not really

merlin3008 · 05-11-2021, 07:19 AM

I'm not surprised. Last year I wanted to test drive an X2 M40 with my wife. Certainly not the same level of car as the M3, but actually seen in lower numbers. I called a local dealer and he allowed me to drive but asked that I keep it to a short drive because people looking for rare cars like that generally get turned off by cars with miles. I can understand that. I wouldn't want to buy a special car with 50 or 100 test drive miles.

When I went to consider the M3, I spent time with a dealer and then asked if there was one on the lot that I could drive. I told him that I get that it's one of the most in demand cars and I can understand if they want to limit miles on the ones they have for sale. The manager came out and told me how much he appreciated that I said that and then offered to take me out personally. Isle of Man Green with Kyalami carbon seats. I didn't need many miles to know that I wanted it.

hz101 · 05-11-2021, 07:35 AM

Depends on the market. If the dealer thinks they can easily sell their cars then they can act like a$$holes and not let anyone test drive cars in high demand and offer any discounts. There are dealers like that in my area. So I went to one a little further away in a less crazy market. They had an M4 on the lot that I was able to test drive without any issues. They also seemed more willing to give me a discount.

snareman · 05-11-2021, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Maboomba

If you come across as a serious buyer and mature (not likely to hoondog it) you will be allowed to test drive. Bay Area dealers recently let me test drive 2 M2Cs, a 2018 M3, a 2019 M4 CS, 2 2021 M3s and a 2021 M4C.

You would think that. granted different brand but my parents, who are an upper middle class couple, drove into the Chevy dealer in a Corvette and said we want to buy the new Corvette. No one will allow them to test drive it. Best they eventually got from one deal or was to turn it on in the showroom. The dealer told them that if someone wants to buy a Corvette driving it is not going to make a difference. They've already made their decision

r3dbimmer89 · 05-11-2021, 10:43 AM

Seems like all of the dealers in SoCal are keeping their stock on the show room floor, locked, with a crazy mark-up. Probably will be able to test drive them when the hype dies.

KnightedBMW · 05-11-2021, 10:49 AM

From a review of all local dealers in my area, there are very few cars on the lots. I reached out to a CA who I have bought 3 cars from previously and with who I have a good relationship. He works at a very large dealer which sells tons of M cars. They have no G80/G82s, no allocations, and no idea when they'll get a car to be able to test drive.

The no test drive thing doesn't really surprise me atm.

HK4 · 05-11-2021, 10:21 PM

Most dealers have presold cars only on the lot as these vehicles are in high demand. Once supply increases and cars that aren’t sold are on the lot, test drives will be allowed.

05-10-2021, 07:08 PM	#1
backslashv Second Lieutenant 106 Rep 247 Posts Drives: 2022 BMW M3 Competition Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Nothing available for a test drive? I have called 5 different dealerships in CA and each one of them are saying they don't allow test drives on M cars. One suggested to go an M performance center for a test drive which I have to pay. How am I supposed to try the car before ordering? Anyone with a similar experience?
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05-10-2021, 07:55 PM	#4
Multimodal Lieutenant Colonel 2905 Rep 1,865 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 50i, 2018 911 T Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Annapolis, MD iTrader: (1)	If you come across as a serious buyer and mature (not likely to hoondog it) you will be allowed to test drive. Bay Area dealers recently let me test drive 2 M2Cs, a 2018 M3, a 2019 M4 CS, 2 2021 M3s and a 2021 M4C.
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05-10-2021, 08:36 PM	#5
killhour Private First Class 167 Rep 169 Posts Drives: M4C xDrive, Focus RS, DB9 GT Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Upstate NY iTrader: (0)	Depends on the dealership and how nice the sales rep is feeling that day.
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05-10-2021, 10:56 PM	#6
backslashv Second Lieutenant 106 Rep 247 Posts Drives: 2022 BMW M3 Competition Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: California iTrader: (0)	One dealer just got back to me saying they might have an M4 for test drive. Does the driving experience differ from the M3? I'd like to purchase an M3.
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05-10-2021, 10:57 PM	#7
Multimodal Lieutenant Colonel 2905 Rep 1,865 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 50i, 2018 911 T Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Annapolis, MD iTrader: (1)	Not really
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05-11-2021, 07:19 AM	#8
merlin3008 Captain 891 Rep 869 Posts Drives: 2022 M3 Comp xDrive Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	I'm not surprised. Last year I wanted to test drive an X2 M40 with my wife. Certainly not the same level of car as the M3, but actually seen in lower numbers. I called a local dealer and he allowed me to drive but asked that I keep it to a short drive because people looking for rare cars like that generally get turned off by cars with miles. I can understand that. I wouldn't want to buy a special car with 50 or 100 test drive miles. When I went to consider the M3, I spent time with a dealer and then asked if there was one on the lot that I could drive. I told him that I get that it's one of the most in demand cars and I can understand if they want to limit miles on the ones they have for sale. The manager came out and told me how much he appreciated that I said that and then offered to take me out personally. Isle of Man Green with Kyalami carbon seats. I didn't need many miles to know that I wanted it. __________________ 2022 M3 xDrive, Brooklyn Grey over Tartufo 2021 Tesla Model Y 2019 MB AMG C43 (Sold) 2016 M235i xdrive, Alpine White, Terra Leather, Orbit Gray Wheels (Sold)
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05-11-2021, 07:35 AM	#9
hz101 First Lieutenant 171 Rep 324 Posts Drives: 2021 M3C Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Baltimore, MD iTrader: (1)	Depends on the market. If the dealer thinks they can easily sell their cars then they can act like a$$holes and not let anyone test drive cars in high demand and offer any discounts. There are dealers like that in my area. So I went to one a little further away in a less crazy market. They had an M4 on the lot that I was able to test drive without any issues. They also seemed more willing to give me a discount.
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05-11-2021, 10:43 AM	#11
r3dbimmer89 Major 331 Rep 1,268 Posts Drives: P-Car Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Seems like all of the dealers in SoCal are keeping their stock on the show room floor, locked, with a crazy mark-up. Probably will be able to test drive them when the hype dies. __________________ Past: BMW (22 G20 M340i, 15 F80 ///M3, 12 E92 335i, 08 E90 335i, 02 E46 325i) Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, VW, Lexus Present: 24 992 C2
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05-11-2021, 10:49 AM	#12
KnightedBMW Lieutenant Colonel 2347 Rep 1,751 Posts Drives: 2022 M3C Join Date: May 2016 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	From a review of all local dealers in my area, there are very few cars on the lots. I reached out to a CA who I have bought 3 cars from previously and with who I have a good relationship. He works at a very large dealer which sells tons of M cars. They have no G80/G82s, no allocations, and no idea when they'll get a car to be able to test drive. The no test drive thing doesn't really surprise me atm. __________________ @bg_g80m3
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05-11-2021, 10:21 PM	#13
HK4 Private 84 Rep 89 Posts Drives: 2008 Scion TC, 2023 G80 M3 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0)	Most dealers have presold cars only on the lot as these vehicles are in high demand. Once supply increases and cars that aren’t sold are on the lot, test drives will be allowed.
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