About that time Carmax let me test drive a ZR1

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
03/31/2016 at 19:59 • Filed to: Fast not Loud, Corvette, ZR1, Carmax

I’m honestly surprised I haven’t been banned from Carmax by now. I use Carmax like I use Best Buy: a place to try out new toys before I inevitably buy them for a better price somewhere else, or don’t buy them at all. Actually that’s not really fair...I sometimes buy things at Best Buy.

Read the full story at Fast Not Loud, a car blog created for car enthusiasts by car enthusiasts

Carmax is like a shopping mall for car enthusiasts. Where a mall has different stores for different consumer goods, Carmax has different sections for different cars. The mall is open all day to customers and window shoppers alike, just like Carmax. When you walk through the mall you get assaulted by foreign nationals asking you to try their lotion, when you walk through Carmax those friendly blue polo wearing salespeople ask you to take a test drive.

2007 Accords by the Dozen

I always pass on the lotion. I never pass on a test drive.

When I’m bored at work I’ll sometimes go check my local Carmax’s inventory. I don’t do this because I need to buy a car, I do this because I need to drive them. All of them. Okay, not the SUVs. Last summer I was browsing the local Carmax inventory when I came across something interesting: A Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Zee. Arr. One. At Carmax. In Wichita, Kansas. As soon as I got off work I drove straight to Carmax. Would they let me drive it? I don’t care, I just want to look at it. Sit in it. Touch it. Lick it.

Clearly not the one I drove, but the ad looked like this, except the car was white and had 14,000 miles

No, I didn’t lick it. But I did drive it. I drove it hard .

“What are you looking for today?” Anthony, my salesman, my hero, asked in an excited tone; like a puppy about to get a treat. “I saw you have a Corvette ZR1 online”, I replied. “I was hoping to get a test drive”, I said quietly, carefully.

Let me frame this moment a bit: I was at Carmax about 6 months earlier test driving a Fiat 500 Abarth when I spotted a Camaro ZL1. I asked for a test drive, but was told that they don’t let just anyone test drive the $50,000 and up cars. The ZR1 was listed at $60,000. If the salesman knew what it was, I was hosed. But he didn’t. When I asked for a test drive I was prepared for rejection, but instead was simply asked to hand over my ID and he’d go get a plate.

I was about to drive a ZR1. The ultimate version of the best sports car money can buy. My favorite car. 640 supercharged horsepower of American fury. Not gonna lie, I had a bit of a chub going on.

Anthony starts to drive the car off the lot. I asked him if he’s ever bummed that’s all he gets to do, and he didn’t understand the question. This was just another car to him. He was in for a treat. We swapped seats and I tried to contain my excitement as I started to let out the clutch and drive a Corvette ZR1.

The cockpit. Image credit ebay.com

I turned onto the big open road in front of the lot, gave the gas a light touch, and fell in love. The car instantly leaped forward, growling in anger. I instantly knew this was something special. A few miles down the road there’s a big circular ramp entering a freeway. I dropped down into second gear, took the corner with gusto, and nailed it when it straightened out.

How can I describe acceleration? The scientific definition is ‘rate of change of velocity of an object’. Physically, acceleration has a feeling. A feeling of being pushed into the seat, of the car rushing forward and gaining momentum. I thought I knew what acceleration felt like, but this was something else. Something I’d never experienced before. Something I hope I can experience again someday.

The ZR1 is unbelievably fast. There are no words to describe it. It’s just raw, visceral power. It feels...American. Like shooting a gun with one hand while chugging a PBR with the other as a Bald Eagle flies overhead, with a lifted diesel truck doing smokey coal fired donuts behind you. The sound it makes is the sound of freedom: 640 roaring, rumbling horses screaming at full volume with the supercharger’s siren song wailing above it.

A little like this

I looked down an instant later and saw the heads up display reading a number that was more than double the speed limit. I was still in second gear! I glanced over at Anthony, who was now bracing himself with both hands, his eager puppy dog face with eyes as big as an owls. I let off, whispered ‘holy shit’ to myself, and felt my cheeks start to burn from the grin that wouldn’t go away for days.

From that moment on my definition of speed has been forever ruined. Cars I once thought were fast now felt pedestrian. I knew at that moment I had just driven undoubtedly the best car in the world, a car that will haunt my dreams for decades to come. I need one.

At the end of the test drive, Anthony asked if I was ready to buy. “Yes”, I said, “Will you take a kidney on trade?”

Image Credit: Autoblog

DISCUSSION (33)

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Jayhawk Jake
03/31/2016 at 20:02

Zed.

Jayhawk Jake > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
03/31/2016 at 20:05

Kinja'd!!!

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Jayhawk Jake
03/31/2016 at 20:07

It’s not.

Steve in Manhattan > Jayhawk Jake
03/31/2016 at 20:14

When I had my ‘87 300D I could pull into any dealership and drive pretty much what I wanted. And once in a while, I did.

Hot Takes Salesman > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
03/31/2016 at 20:14

Yeah nah this is pure Murica

Jayhawk Jake > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
03/31/2016 at 20:14

Kinja'd!!!

Leadbull > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
03/31/2016 at 20:18

http://m.imgur.com/04A3rel?r

TheOnelectronic > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
03/31/2016 at 20:19

The ZR1 is like an embassy; any space it occupies is technically part of the USA.

PorkchoPlissken > Steve in Manhattan
03/31/2016 at 20:26

I feel like this is true, at least it has been for me. Pull up in something that at least looks like money, new or old, and your chances of test drive ar multiplied by 1 Camaro.

RoadsterRevolution(wants a Range Rover Classic) > Jayhawk Jake
03/31/2016 at 20:34

Could I be an author on live fast not loud or at least be a commenter.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
03/31/2016 at 20:37

Why zed? It’s not pronounced Zedebra or Zedoo.

Jayhawk Jake > Steve in Manhattan
03/31/2016 at 20:40

I haven’t tried in the Mustang yet, but I suspect it’ll be the same

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Jayhawk Jake
03/31/2016 at 20:40

I wish the Chevy dealer that I went to today was like this. They wouldn’t even let me test drive the Camaro out of the parking lot. I don’t think they took me very seriously. I guess I’ll just buy one from another dealer.

citizennick > Jayhawk Jake
03/31/2016 at 20:42

If only it came with an ecoboost

Steve in Manhattan > PorkchoPlissken
03/31/2016 at 20:47

Yeah - the car before (Jetta Turbodiesel) didn’t work so well.

PorkchoPlissken > Steve in Manhattan
03/31/2016 at 20:49

Multiplied by .025 Camaro. I had no luck when I was driving a VW either.

DoYouEvenShift > Jayhawk Jake
03/31/2016 at 20:52

Kinja'd!!!

I would do highly illegal things in, with, and for a ZR1

TheOnelectronic > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
03/31/2016 at 20:54

I find, anecdotally, it’s way easier to test drive cars from high-end brands than the upper-tier cars from low-end brands.

Similarly, a Honda/Suzuki/Yamaha/Kawasaki dealer will usually let you test ride a bike as long as you’ve already bought it. Ducati and Triumph tend to have a row of demo bikes sitting outside.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > TheOnelectronic
03/31/2016 at 20:57

But this was a 4 cylinder Camaro, it was by far not the most expensive car on the lot.

Steve in Manhattan > PorkchoPlissken
03/31/2016 at 21:07

Right when the Lexus dealership opened (shortly before the formal LS400 introduction) I pulled in in the Mercedes to test drive one. The salesman practically came running out. Wanted to convert me. I recognized some of the same switchgear as on my Camry wagon 5M, but I knew I was driving something very special.

TheOnelectronic > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
03/31/2016 at 21:14

Yeah, I know. I’ve had dealers refuse test drives in Focus ST’s and MS3's because they were too much to handle, but I’ve been given the keys to A C4S and other such fast cars. If I were more cynical I’d say it was to make people think the cars are more premium than they are. “Oh, you can’t drive this. It’s /special/”

PorkchoPlissken > Steve in Manhattan
03/31/2016 at 21:14

Now I just let salesman oggle the 300zx and I steal as many keys as I can. Carrying a clipboard around helps.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > TheOnelectronic
03/31/2016 at 21:21

When I get ready to buy I’ll go to another dealer to try to further test drive, and order from them, provided they don’t treat me like a child.

Jayhawk Jake > citizennick
03/31/2016 at 21:27

A lower end, smaller corvette could be cool

Steve in Manhattan > PorkchoPlissken
03/31/2016 at 21:42

And a smock ... always convinces me.

Your boy, BJR > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
03/31/2016 at 21:50

You ain’t from ‘round here, are ya boy?

Your boy, BJR > Jayhawk Jake
03/31/2016 at 21:51

No it wouldn't. A corvette with not a V8 is garbage.

Your boy, BJR > RoadsterRevolution(wants a Range Rover Classic)
03/31/2016 at 21:52

Fast Not Loud isn't currently taking authors, but you are free to comment. Don't even have to be approved or anything!

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > Jayhawk Jake
03/31/2016 at 22:45

I haven’t driven a C6 zr1, but I have driven a supercharged c5, around 600hp.

I would kill myself within a week of buying that car.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/01/2016 at 08:15

Damn. When I test drove my Stage 3, I drove up in my DD Altima. The sales guy not only let me drive it, he encouraged me to punch it while we were on the on-ramp. By the time we hit the freeway, I was doing 120. Made me fall in love with the car and buy it. Sometimes dealers have no clue what they are doing.

dogisbadob > Your boy, BJR
04/03/2016 at 20:18

you mean like the very first C1? ;)

Your boy, BJR > dogisbadob
04/03/2016 at 20:43

Yeah. That was a glorified kit car and not very good.

dogisbadob > Your boy, BJR
04/03/2016 at 20:53

They were glorified kit cars all the way thru the C6 :p