Help Me Pick A Ford to Test Drive - 2016

"bwp240" (bwp240)
04/14/2016 at 14:18 • Filed to: Test Drives

Photo stolen from Jalopnik which was probably taken from someone else

It’s that time of year again. I received another $50 Test Drive offer from Ford. They are so gracious at throwing money at me that I can’t turn them down. However, this leads me to combing through the entirety of Ford’s lineup and dealer inventories to find suitable cars. Unfortunately for me, all of the models I want to drive will not be out until after the offer expires (Fusion Sport, Focus RS, Raptor). So the question is just as last year’s, which Ford should I drive?

The decision has become far more difficult as I have driven most of Ford’s lot of good cars. In the past, I have used the offer to drive the Taurus SHO, Focus ST, and a Fusion 2.0L EcoBoost). Past suggestions have included Fiesta ST and verifying that the EcoBoost Mustang is, in fact, not a Mustang II.

Photo borrowed from internet

Logically progressing, the Fiesta ST seems like the next in line, but I want to hear other suggestions. What say you Opponauts?

DISCUSSION (23)

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > bwp240
04/14/2016 at 14:21

I’m going to go to my local Ford dealer, find an Eco boost Stang, present my Test Drive card from the Auto Show, and be like...’lets go’

marshknute > bwp240
04/14/2016 at 14:31

Why not a Ford GT?!?

Ok, back to realityland. The FiST is a fantastic little car. I think it’s more fun than the FoST. However I’d suggest test driving them back-to-back to get the best experience.

The EcoBoost Mustang feels really boring to drive (especially after driving a FiST), so don’t bother. But I imagine a GT should be fun what with all those V8 noises!

Stapleface > bwp240
04/14/2016 at 14:32

Ford GT.

Okay, that probably won’t happen. How about an EcoBoost F150? Although if it were me I’d probably do something weird like the Transit Connect.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > bwp240
04/14/2016 at 14:33

What about a Mustang GT?

Does it work on Lincolns or just Fords?

I’d also totally drive an Edge Sport

bwp240 > marshknute
04/14/2016 at 14:34

A 5.0 V8 Mustang GT has always been my backup plan for these deals if they won’t let me drive what I want. I have been avoiding it just because everyone else I know who does this tries a V8 Mustang.

14FeistyFieSTa > bwp240
04/14/2016 at 14:35

What’s the $50 test drive offer? You pay $50 to test drive a car, I assume for... like what, a day or so?

I would totally suggest either the Fiesta ST or a Mustang GT. The Fiesta ST is a lot of fun and quite peppy. The Mustang GT is definitely more of a cruiser, but it does actually turn surprisingly well and the Coyote 5.0L makes great noises. Also the Mustang is pretty comfortable and fairly luxurious, especially given the price and outright performance.

jjhats > bwp240
04/14/2016 at 14:37

story time my local dealer hates these promotions and treats me like shit every time i go for one.

time #1

February 2013, the focus st was new and i was excited to drive it. my parents come with and they have a card too. the dealer immediately signs all cards after looking disgruntled despite the fact that my rents were suv shopping. he had no desire to offer a test drive and just wanted us gone. i didnt say anything but my mom did. she said hey my son wanted to drive one of your new focuses. Mind you i was 21 with no desire to buy a car. I said yea the ST if you have it. again he looks at me and sighs and says ok lets go. He pulls up a black st2 and im loving it. prior to this my stick experience was under a dozen outings in my dads miata. regardless we get in and i manage to get the car going first try and out on the road. i hit it with medium throttle like i was used to and thrown back. immediately i knew this was what “torque was supposed to feel like”. We drive for 5 minutes then i turn it around. on the way back we come to a stop at a light on a hill. I attempt to get going and fail. again and fail. i am gassing and releasing clutch but car is not moving. third time after my mom is coaching from back seat and cars behind are honking and i fail again. the dealer very pissed off now says ok thats it 3 strikes your out. he forces me out and gets in and peels away. I dont say anything but my mom knows im embarrased. we are silent on way back except for me asking if the car has hill assist. the dealer said yes and i said thats why i couldnt do it. i dont tell my dad what happened and i get my card.

time #2

This time i go and guy says here let me sign it. He goes wait lets go outside. We get in an MKz and he goes this is a MKZ you like it right? I go yea he goes alright then we wont have any issues then.

time #3

I have a card again 2 months ago for a transit connect test drive. I walk up again looking young with no desire to buy a car except this time with a 2013 focus st and the lady again asks for paper and signs it before i utter a word. I go online to redeem and they ask you questions which i obviously dont have answers to. This time however im pissed that ford has no incentive to sell cars so i rat them out. I write she was dismissive and i never drove anything. I dont think this is an effective approach despite the targets appearance or desire to buy a car. Im not sure if they will redeem it but i couldnt just lie and kinda want her to get in trouble for being shitty.

bwp240 > Stapleface
04/14/2016 at 14:37

Ford GT probably won’t happen because there aren’t any at any dealers.

I would be open to a Transit. The 350 XL would make a great road trip conversion van.

misfitmascots > bwp240
04/14/2016 at 14:39

Kinja'd!!!

cazzyodo > bwp240
04/14/2016 at 14:42

Go with the big bad eco-boost F150. TORQUE!

Justin Hughes > bwp240
04/14/2016 at 14:42

I got an offer specifically for the Transit. I still need to take them up on that. Just for a laugh. And maybe a review if they leave me alone with it.

bwp240 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/14/2016 at 14:43

Everyone else drives Mustang GT’s, always a good backup for me, but I want to be a bit different.

Lincoln offered me a $75 card, but I never got a confirmation email. Kind of stinks, but outside of the Continental, nothing interests me. I would have figured they would have jumped on getting me in the dealer since I am under the age of 60.

fourvalleys > bwp240
04/14/2016 at 14:44

Party ST! You may end up leaving with one, though.

bwp240 > Justin Hughes
04/14/2016 at 14:46

I wish dealers would let me go by myself, but they don’t because I go in and say, “I would like to drive ___ car, the one with the big engine that goes fast.”

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > bwp240
04/14/2016 at 14:49

If you can get a confirmation drive a Black Label, it’s their high end trim level they don’t seem to want to advertise.

Also don’t forget the MKZ with AWD was able to run with an M5 on the slalom when it had a simple performance tire upgrade.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > bwp240
04/14/2016 at 14:51

Let's be interesting (well, as interesting as possible): F150 2.7l or Focus electric. Report back as to whether or not they suck.

Stapleface > bwp240
04/14/2016 at 14:55

No matter what I drive it’s that way for me. And I’m a middle aged white guy. I’m about as “safe” a customer to them as it gets.

Which is one thing that always boggles my mind when you read car buying stuff where it tells you to take the car on an extended test drive. Most dealers have a ten minute loop, and you better not deviate from it. Driving unsupervised has only ever happened once, and that was when I was in the process of buying my current Civic and they wanted my trade, so they let me leave in a demo Civic till I could come back later in the day.