When to Test Drive - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

tskim · 03-15-2014, 02:55 PM

I'm hoping to be in the market for a new car later this year, and I've pretty much narrowed it down to the FRS and the Fiesta ST. Obviously I'll need to test drive both to determine which is best suited for me.

My question is: should I test drive them now and figure out which is better, even though I wouldn't be purchasing for another few months, or just test drive when I'm actually able to make a purchase?

N1rve · 03-15-2014, 02:57 PM

Test drive now so you can think about it.

I test drove my FRS 1 month before buying it.

tskim · 03-15-2014, 03:05 PM

I was sort of thinking along those lines as well. Only problem is the wait will be even harder after driving them

I should also mention that I've never purchased a car before (I'm 21) and have very little experience driving a manual, though I can do it. How would these factors play into getting a test drive, in addition to the fact that I wouldn't be ready to make a purchase at the time?

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Moetivegt86 · 03-15-2014, 03:09 PM

When I test drove my fr-s I didn't know how to drive standard at all. The car salesman was happy to teach me on our test drive.

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tskim · 03-15-2014, 03:20 PM

Oh wow, that's pretty awesome. I wouldn't figure they'd be willing to do that. Makes me feel better about test driving as a manual newbie.

Moetivegt86 · 03-15-2014, 03:23 PM

I did know the basics from watching YouTube videos and such. But he was totally fine with me riding the shit out of the clutch and all the jerking I did trying to find the catching point. Car salesman are cool with that kind of stuff, they don't care they just want to sell you the car.

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frslee · 03-15-2014, 04:05 PM

It's funny how you ask people should I buy FRS or Fiesta ST in FRS forum. Ask the same question in Fiesta ST forum and see what they'll say...

Just pick what you prefer. I'd pick Fiesta if I need cargo space, but I chose FRS I didn't care about space and it looks better. (This is what typical FRS, BRZ owners will say).

Oh, your main question is whether to test drive them now or before you purchase it...
You're the guy with money, test drive now and before you purchase it. There might be a second thought.

Whitigir · 03-15-2014, 04:09 PM

For me, if you ask me to pick between those two (Fiesta vs FRS) I would pick a Fiesta. Because it has 5 doors, great handling, turbo, still affordable. Because now, I have to haul so much grocery and my family around.

If it was the Me 8 years ago, I would pick FRS, because it look sexy like heck, affordable, and I can draw a Circle with my tires (cheap tires)

When to test drive ?

Any time when you want to, dealers always welcome test driver, just because potential buyer

tskim · 03-15-2014, 06:36 PM

If I test drive sooner rather than later, should I actually tell them up front that I won't be making a purchase for a bit, but just scoping the cars out?

immaculate · 03-15-2014, 06:37 PM

No harm in test driving it as soon as possible. I'm not sure if some dealerships are still anal about giving test drives to younger buyers given that the cars have been out for a while now and most of the buzz has died down.

The first time I went to a Subaru dealership last summer, I was honest and told them I was probably a few months away from buying, and they wouldn't let me take a test drive. The salesman was incredibly knowledgeable about the car, even owned and tracked a BRZ, but said since it's an enthusiasts car they don't like to offer test drives unless ready to buy.

When I went out a few months later to a different dealership and told them I was ready to buy, they got the keys out immediately, both Subaru and Scion. So moral of the story, if you want to drive one, tell them you've got cash in hand and looking to buy.

root · 03-15-2014, 06:59 PM

Test drive it now, go test drive again in a week, go test drive again in a month. Whatevers! I guess being older helps though. I got a test drive when the FR-S first came out, I didn't say anything about ready to buy or not, just said I wanted a test drive. Went back a couple weeks later and put my name down on list.

B3yondL · 03-15-2014, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moetivegt86

When I test drove my fr-s I didn't know how to drive standard at all. The car salesman was happy to teach me on our test drive.

What a nice guy. I wouldn't let anyone touch mine if they didn't know how to drive stick. I even get nervous with people who do xD

Jegan_V · 03-15-2014, 10:00 PM

Test drive early is the best way to go, I did my test drive of the car almost a year and a half ago. Even though you will be waiting, it definitely gives you time to think over your potential choice as this will be a big purchase. Rushing into buying a car is not the best way to rationally pick which one you feel is best. Heck I've been waiting for my actual car since September after cancelling my standard 2014 FR-S order which was ready in November to get a Monogram.

I'd rather be patient to get the car I truly want. Who knows maybe something else will tickle your fancy. Me? I've driven several different cars after my FR-S test drive, it was still the one that stuck out. Even the additional times of driving a Mustang GT failed to sway me.

03-15-2014, 02:55 PM	#1
tskim Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Drives: Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	When to Test Drive I'm hoping to be in the market for a new car later this year, and I've pretty much narrowed it down to the FRS and the Fiesta ST. Obviously I'll need to test drive both to determine which is best suited for me. My question is: should I test drive them now and figure out which is better, even though I wouldn't be purchasing for another few months, or just test drive when I'm actually able to make a purchase?

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03-15-2014, 02:57 PM	#2
N1rve Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Drives: 2019 BMW ///M4 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,332 Thanks: 102 Thanked 1,167 Times in 714 Posts Mentioned: 28 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Test drive now so you can think about it. I test drove my FRS 1 month before buying it.

03-15-2014, 03:05 PM	#3
tskim Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Drives: Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I was sort of thinking along those lines as well. Only problem is the wait will be even harder after driving them I should also mention that I've never purchased a car before (I'm 21) and have very little experience driving a manual, though I can do it. How would these factors play into getting a test drive, in addition to the fact that I wouldn't be ready to make a purchase at the time? Sent from my RM-893_nam_tmous_201 using Tapatalk

03-15-2014, 03:09 PM	#4
Moetivegt86 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: FRS Argento 6mt Location: IE, California Posts: 292 Thanks: 75 Thanked 54 Times in 39 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	When I test drove my fr-s I didn't know how to drive standard at all. The car salesman was happy to teach me on our test drive. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03-15-2014, 03:20 PM	#5
tskim Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Drives: Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Oh wow, that's pretty awesome. I wouldn't figure they'd be willing to do that. Makes me feel better about test driving as a manual newbie.

03-15-2014, 03:23 PM	#6
Moetivegt86 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: FRS Argento 6mt Location: IE, California Posts: 292 Thanks: 75 Thanked 54 Times in 39 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	I did know the basics from watching YouTube videos and such. But he was totally fine with me riding the shit out of the clutch and all the jerking I did trying to find the catching point. Car salesman are cool with that kind of stuff, they don't care they just want to sell you the car. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03-15-2014, 04:05 PM	#7
frslee Just drive it Join Date: Mar 2013 Drives: 13' FR-S Location: Maryland Posts: 1,122 Thanks: 97 Thanked 321 Times in 218 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	It's funny how you ask people should I buy FRS or Fiesta ST in FRS forum. Ask the same question in Fiesta ST forum and see what they'll say... Just pick what you prefer. I'd pick Fiesta if I need cargo space, but I chose FRS I didn't care about space and it looks better. (This is what typical FRS, BRZ owners will say). Oh, your main question is whether to test drive them now or before you purchase it... You're the guy with money, test drive now and before you purchase it. There might be a second thought.

03-15-2014, 04:09 PM	#8
Whitigir Banned Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: 450 awhp twin turbo vr4 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,012 Thanks: 94 Thanked 273 Times in 177 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	For me, if you ask me to pick between those two (Fiesta vs FRS) I would pick a Fiesta. Because it has 5 doors, great handling, turbo, still affordable. Because now, I have to haul so much grocery and my family around. If it was the Me 8 years ago, I would pick FRS, because it look sexy like heck, affordable, and I can draw a Circle with my tires (cheap tires) When to test drive ? Any time when you want to, dealers always welcome test driver, just because potential buyer

03-15-2014, 06:36 PM	#9
tskim Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Drives: Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If I test drive sooner rather than later, should I actually tell them up front that I won't be making a purchase for a bit, but just scoping the cars out?

03-15-2014, 06:37 PM	#10
immaculate Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: 2017 Audi S3 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 237 Thanks: 37 Thanked 76 Times in 49 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	No harm in test driving it as soon as possible. I'm not sure if some dealerships are still anal about giving test drives to younger buyers given that the cars have been out for a while now and most of the buzz has died down. The first time I went to a Subaru dealership last summer, I was honest and told them I was probably a few months away from buying, and they wouldn't let me take a test drive. The salesman was incredibly knowledgeable about the car, even owned and tracked a BRZ, but said since it's an enthusiasts car they don't like to offer test drives unless ready to buy. When I went out a few months later to a different dealership and told them I was ready to buy, they got the keys out immediately, both Subaru and Scion. So moral of the story, if you want to drive one, tell them you've got cash in hand and looking to buy.

03-15-2014, 06:59 PM	#11
root Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Drives: Raven FR-S Location: Hawaii Posts: 268 Thanks: 4 Thanked 80 Times in 53 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Test drive it now, go test drive again in a week, go test drive again in a month. Whatevers! I guess being older helps though. I got a test drive when the FR-S first came out, I didn't say anything about ready to buy or not, just said I wanted a test drive. Went back a couple weeks later and put my name down on list.

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03-15-2014, 10:00 PM	#13
Jegan_V Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: 2023 Subaru BRZ Location: Toronto Posts: 433 Thanks: 67 Thanked 275 Times in 156 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Test drive early is the best way to go, I did my test drive of the car almost a year and a half ago. Even though you will be waiting, it definitely gives you time to think over your potential choice as this will be a big purchase. Rushing into buying a car is not the best way to rationally pick which one you feel is best. Heck I've been waiting for my actual car since September after cancelling my standard 2014 FR-S order which was ready in November to get a Monogram. I'd rather be patient to get the car I truly want. Who knows maybe something else will tickle your fancy. Me? I've driven several different cars after my FR-S test drive, it was still the one that stuck out. Even the additional times of driving a Mustang GT failed to sway me.