Test Driving for Fun

Ice Burn

Sometimes when me and my fiance have absolutely nothing to do, we go out to dealers and test drive cars. So far, the fanciest one I've test drove is the Mercedes CLK500. That's a sweet sweet ride... But I enjoyed the power of the Pontiac GTO. 400HP of pure muscle car...

So far we've tested the following:

05 Mercedes Benz CLK500,
05 Mercedes Benz ML350,
05 Mercedes Benz ML500
05 Nissan Murano
05 Nissan 350Z Roadster
06 Dodge Charger
06 Pontiac GTO
06 Acura RsX-S Type
05 Acura MDX
05 Honda S-2000
06 VW Toureg
Mazda RX-8
05 Lexus IS-350

Sometimes I do feel guilty about test driving with no intention of buying but hey, I get to drive a fancy car...

I also think it's because we drive a Subaru B9 Tribeca, the sales people have no problem letting us test drive cars

But I really liked the Acura RsX-S type and the Mazda RX-8 and since we are the 2nd car we'll get will be of my choice

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Share your experience test driving cars whether you buy one or not

shun_sakurai

The only dealer test-drive I've done was on a Honda Jazz. It was disappointing because the saleslady let me go for only one trip round the Honda Makati block. Therefore I couldn't form enough opinions on how well it was accelerating or how feelsome the steering was.

Car and Driver has an interesting article on how to get that new-car test drive: http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=10574&page_number=1

GreatBop

test drives are OKAY. you can only do so much with a test drive.. it doesnt even let you experience what the car can really do.

so in essence, it's a waste of time..

Ice Burn

When the car sales person DOESN'T come along, it's a fun ride

NeptuneNest

the smaller car companies are likely to be more keen on giving people test drive.

i.e. hyundai

prelupino

What did you think of the Honda S2000?

Ice Burn

^^It's ok but my fiance said it's a no-no because he couldn't fit in it. Literally. He's 6 ft tall and said there's no way we're considering the S2000.

Also, tested out the new 06 Miata. It's pretty cool and a lot more spacious (meaning my fiance can fit in it ) and larger than the old Miata but my only comment with it is, it's rather noisy and I'm surprised they still didn't go for the automatic top down...

shun_sakurai

the smaller car companies are likely to be more keen on giving people test drive.

Locally Ford is one of the exceptions.

They had a test-drive event yesterday at the Fort and I got to putter around in a Focus 2.0 hatch. Even with the sales rep in tow in the front seat, he was way more tolerant of crazy antics (e.g. full-bore acceleration, brake-testing) than your Honda equivalent.

There was also a dirt autocross event too, but that was for celebs. Cito Beltran posted the 2nd fastest time.

Anyhow, the Focus is actually a surprisingly good car. Interior's very quiet and good (save for some naff plastics on the dash), steering's very accurate (if not feelsome), and the brakes are excellent. Acceleration's quite nice too. I just don't approve of the laggy shifts in the automatic transmission's manual mode.

I also got to sit inside a Honda S2000 while vacationing in the US last year. Roof up, it's no problem for me and it has headroom to spare (I'm 5'8" and 170 lb). If not for the lack of a glovebox I could actually call it practical.

shun_sakurai

One month after my last post here, I got to test drive 3 cars at the Auto Focus People's Choice Awards expo at the Fort yesterday: the Mazda 6 2.3, the Honda GD3 Jazz VTEC with CVT, and the FD1 Honda Civic 1.8V.

The Civic impressed me most of all. Good torque just off idling, with a very supple ride and unflappable steering through high-speed sweeping corners. The 6 was also a good car but had surprisingly snatchy brakes.

GreatBop

"it's rather noisy and I'm surprised they still didn't go for the automatic top down..."


the price is a factor, maybe?

shun_sakurai

^ I'd say it's also the weight savings. Mazda always intended the MX-5 as a lightweight roadster.

Then again, there are rumors that this time round, they're considering a folding tin-top version of the MX-5 (ala Mercedes-Benz SLK, Peugeot 206CC and so many imitators).

shun_sakurai

Here are my impressions of the Mazda 6, Honda Jazz 1.5V and Civic 1.8V...driven at speed over the Fort area's back roads.

http://systemshock.blogspot.com/2006/04/goodbye-bumhoodwith-bang.html

RainmanSantiago

Ice, glad to hear that you like the GTO, it's absolutely a blast to drive that car, the low end torque is awesome. I just don't understand why general public never liked it, stupid retro crap, I love that car, its definately subtle 400 hp/ls2 car. My complaint I had in the GTO is I wish they have added fender flares, to add some serious meat on the tires and to fit 19 inch wheels. I feel the standard 18 inch wheels are puny on that car.

As for the Miata, it's a great car no question about it, I just can't get over the stereotype that it's a gay man car from too many ppl hehehe.

I say test drive the new Saturn Sky, that thing is drop-dead goregous looking roadster in a long time.

GreatBop

"Ice, glad to hear that you like the GTO, it's absolutely a blast to drive that car, the low end torque is awesome. I just don't understand why general public never liked it, stupid retro crap,"


3 words: It's a FORD.

shun_sakurai

^ The GTO is a Pontiac...it's basically a rebadged Holden Monaro from Australia, where they like their V8s strong and their powerslides lurid.

RainmanSantiago

shun_sakurai wrote:

^ The GTO is a Pontiac...it's basically a rebadged Holden Monaro from Australia, where they like their V8s strong and their powerslides lurid.

Their fit and finsh is different from a typical Pontiac, I've seem before, not cheap and plastic even on the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solistice. whoever said it was Ford get your facts straight lol . .

Fall Out Girl

i wanna test drive these:





and if i get to test drive this one i'll be the happiest girl in the whole world....

shun_sakurai

My only real complaint on the Pontiac GTO is the nostrils on the hood. Goodness gracious, I have no idea what kind of appeal Americans see in nose-mounted air scoops like those.

I suggest you lose the hideous-looking Pontiac front end altogether and swap it out for the Vauxhall (UK) or Holden (Australia) front end instead.

RainmanSantiago

shun_sakurai wrote:

My only real complaint on the Pontiac GTO is the nostrils on the hood. Goodness gracious, I have no idea what kind of appeal Americans see in nose-mounted air scoops like those.

I suggest you lose the hideous-looking Pontiac front end altogether and swap it out for the Vauxhall (UK) or Holden (Australia) front end instead.

Some nice wheels with polished lip would look especially sick on a Goat.