California dealers that have a demo car for test drives
 

Does any one know of dealerships that have a dedicated demo car to test drive? FRS or BRZ.

Thanks!

EDIT: AT or MT, ideally would like to try out both transmissions.

There's a good chance you might not find any one that has a demo for you. There is a way to get around it. I don't know about BRZ but the FR-S dealers are notified in advance of cars they are going to receive (color and transmission). What I would do is start calling all the FR-S dealers in your area till you can find one that knows in advance when he will be getting a car that you would want to buy. Ask if you can use your credit card to put a deposit on that car and ask that he provide you in writing that you deposit is refunded in the event you decide you don't want the car after you see it and drive it. That way you are guaranteed the car if you want it and you get to drive it before you decide whether you want it or not.

That's the way I bought mine and it worked out great.

Look up Kearny Mesa Scion in San Diego. They have a test model that I've driven before. Ask for Rich.

Edit: Just realized you're in norcal. Pretty sure you won't make it down here for just a test drive.

I am having the same problem, currently in the market to pick up a new car but cannot understand how anybody buys a car without test driving it. I'm in the Bay Area and have been canceled on twice by the local dealer after they sell their demo car. I called the closest Subaru dealer and talked to the sales manager, he said the have sold about 30 with out a single test drive. Told me I could order one but because of demand he was not letting anyone test drive their cars.

That's what they're all telling me too (both Subaru and Scion). The best they can offer is you can put down a refundable deposit (typically $500 or $1000) and get on their wait list. When a car comes in, they call the people on their wait list (I assume in order of signing up) and then you can test drive the car with first right of refusal.

That's how I got mine. I called an out of town dealer and they told me that they were receiving a car like I wanted in about three weeks. After being assured a deposit was refundable I put a credit card deposit on the car. A few weeks later when they called me and told me the car was in I drove the 100+ miles to the dealership, saw it, liked it, drove it, still liked it, got a fair trade for my Miata and drove the FR-S home.

A follow up thought here. When I made the deposit I wasn't sure whether I'd be there the day it came in or not. It's possible it could have sat there for a few days before I got to the dealership. Because of that possibility I had an understanding with the dealership that no one else was to road test the car or even set in it except employees of the dealership and only then if they were doing something for my benefit. My point is that the deposit on a car will surely guarantee you a test drive and first right of refusal. Without a deposit I can understand where most of the cars coming into the dealerships are already spoken, just as mine was, and if the potential buyers are half on the ball they would have the same understanding that no one else was to test drive their cars.

Thanks for giving us your full story, whaap! Around here the dealers all appear to apply that understanding without the customer even having to ask. However, for cars that aren't spoken for, they have let me sit in them, look under the hood, fold down the back seats etc. Today I was able to check out an FR-S in this manner. Coming from a Miata, does this car seem huge to you? I've always thought of it as a small car but coming from a BMW Z3 sitting in the FR-S today it seemed like a big car.

Hmmmmm... I guess I'll just have to put down a deposit. I don't plan on buying one that someone else has driven, I want to put the frist mile on the car. It just seems like a poor business model on the dealers or Toyota's part. Toyota or Subaru should provide a test car to dealers in large metro areas. I have no problem waiting 2 months or more to pick up my car, I just don't want to order one without test driving it. I also don't want to drive 3 hours to go pick one up...

Yes. I had read all the dimensions and seen all the overlay comparisons and even though it's only something like 11" longer than the Miata it did seem larger than I expected. Especially inside. It's much wider and roomier than my NB Miata. That was a month ago. It didn't take long at all to become accustomed to it which I have.

wow thats lame. my dealership has one thats a demo that sits in the lot and people can test it play with the stereo, pop the hood fold down the seats, unfortunately its auto so i have no idea what the manual feels like yet. i have to wait till january for them to get another 6speed manual gear box

Santa Maria Toyota/Scion has a AT that they use for test drives, but that may be a bit north for you guys.

I give up that idea because I found none. My closest "test" is sitting into one in a showroom on a car already sold. Frankly, I don't think a 5 miles test drive with a few stop lights and freeway exits will tell me too much on a new car, so I buy one and ship to me sight unseen. I don't think any dealer will let me to go to some mountain twisty roads, which this car really shine.

Very true, but it can at least tell you things like whether the seats and seating position will work for you and whether you like the overall feel of it. To some extent you can extrapolate from how it drives around the block to how it will be in the twisties. That said, I've given up too and decided to just go for it. Two BMW Z3's are now officially for sale :)

I am willing to travel to a dealership anywhere within the state if it means I can get a thorough test drive.

what dealership are you speaking of? If it's in CA, I will most likely make the trek.

Thanks again for your help.