First Car You Ever Test Drove?

"Fyoeu" (fyoeu2) 07/14/2018 at 20:10 • Filed to: None

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Reason why I’m curious, is because last weekend, I stopped by a local used car dealership, to test drive a car (that wasn’t mine, or a friend’s) for the first time: A 2007 Mazda 3 Hatchback. I know, I know, nothing special, but I’ve always liked first gen 3's and would seriously consider replacing my Camry with one. - Especially after driving one.

Being only 19, I was a little nervous going in, because I thought I’d get laughed at or turned down. I’m glad that the dealer I stopped by was so genuine and accommodating - not what I expected. When I asked to test drive the 3, at first he was a bit hesitant, because he said that they typically don’t do test drives under 21, but he said that I seemed like a “sensible young man” and gave me the keys.

After test driving the 3, and now feeling confident, I remembered that there was also a Toyota dealership down the street...

I decided to stop in, not at all expecting to test drive anything. I walked in, asked a salesman if they had any Camry brochures. He goes and grabs a brochure for me, then we start ge tting into a conversation about why I was in the market for a Camry. I explained to him that I wasn’t in the market, but I just wanted to “check out” the new Camry. Since they didn’t have a Camry in the showroom for some odd reason, he grabbed some keys and took me outside to look at a 2018 Camry SE. After starting it up and looking around, he asked if I wanted to test drive it. I was quite shocked when I heard him say that, and immediately told him that I didn’t want to waste his time, since I had no intention of buying. He assured me that it was not a waste of his time and that they weren’t busy at that time.

So, of course, I accepted his offer and test drove the 2018 Camry. To be honest, I guess I was so surprised that I was even allowed to test drive a brand new car, I didn’t really pay much attention to how the thing drove.

What did surprise me on that test drive, was how clueless this salesman was about the 2018 Camry. He mentioned that it was only his 4th day, but I mean come on. As a salesman, when I ask some thing as simple as, “Does this have LED headlights?”
(It did ). I don’t expect to hear: “Huh. I don’t know.”

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Fyoeu 07/14/2018 at 21:14

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Pre owned 2006 Cobalt. I had always driven hand-me-down cars. I was so nervious going into a dealership for the first time. 

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Fyoeu 07/14/2018 at 21:20

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You asked a Toyota salesperson a question that an average Toyota salesperson with decades of experience might hear once in their lifetime.

The 3 is a fabulous car. Aside from the rear seat pitch not being quite large enough for an infant seat, I don’t think we’d even be contemplating replacing it.

Jay, the practical enthusiast > Fyoeu 07/14/2018 at 21:22

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The first car I ever bought from a dealership, a new 2014 Mazda5. They insisted that I take it home for the night even though I wasn't going to buy the one they had available for a test drive (it was the wrong color). I expected a test drive but I didn't expect to take it home for 12 hours. 

fhrblig > Fyoeu 07/14/2018 at 21:29

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My memory is a little foggy, but I think the first two I test drove were a ‘91 Ford  Tempo coupe with a manual, and an '87 CRX DX with an automatic. I bought the CRX. This was back in '93 when I was 18.

WilliamsSW > Fyoeu 07/14/2018 at 21:31

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1965 Skylark convertible. A high school classmate ( not really a friend of mine) was selling it, asking $ 2 500 I think. I bought it - it wasn’t my first car, but I bought my first car before I had my license, so my dad test drove that one.

It was a fun car, but not that quick - 300 ci 4 barrel and a 2 speed auto. The Cutlass I got rid of for it was quicker. Handling and braking was LOL because mid 60s.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Fyoeu 07/14/2018 at 21:36

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First car I test drove? That’s an interesting question for me, honestly. I had to stop and think for a minute.

I got my first car probably effectively much in the same way you did, it was given to me. In my case it was bought off ebay, before a test drive... but that’s another story. While I still owned that, however, I started working at a dealership about a year later. I drove a lot of brand new cars at that job. And the next car I bought, I wouldn’t even really say I test drove either. It was a dirt cheap old Audi, that I bought from a manager who bought himself a different car. My “test drive” consisted of my drive to the bank to get money to buy it.

My first actual test drive was probably the car I bought after I sold my first car. The Audi was intentionally a cheap in-between car so I could sell the truck and have money to shop with. That was a 1995 Camaro Z28, with a 6 speed, private party. They let me drive, while my dad rode. And I was probably like you were when you drove the brand new Camry. Pretty gentle, not really paying too much attention to the car (even though this one had 110k miles), and excited no matter the outcome. My dad actually had to tell me to step on it on the on-ramp, to see if anything was funky with the car when speeding up. I probably gave it ~3 /4 throttle in 3rd, and remarked at how much more power it had than my 4 cylinder truck.

Um, I bought that car, the first car I test drove. lol. I have also bought used cars without test driving them personally, which people generally recommend against...

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Fyoeu 07/14/2018 at 21:46

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1973 Datsun 240z. I bought that rust bucket for $900 and it kinda worked for two years.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Fyoeu 07/14/2018 at 21:47

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Mustang Ecoboost

DarkCreamyBeer > Fyoeu 07/14/2018 at 22:17

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1991 or maybe 1992 Oldsmobile Achieva (manual).

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Fyoeu 07/14/2018 at 22:25

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First car I ever test drove was a new 2012 Kia Sportage back when I was 15. My mom and I were car shopping in PA while visiting my dad, and the saleslady assumed my North Carolina learners permit was a drivers license. 

fintail > Fyoeu 07/14/2018 at 22:37

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First private owner car I test drove was the fintail I still own.  First dealer car was a C43 AMG (W202) that I didn’t buy, but later bought a similar car.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Fyoeu 07/14/2018 at 22:52

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A red 1st gen TSX.

Fyoeu > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO 07/14/2018 at 23:26

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  bahaha, that’s funny. I should have mentioned it in my post , but yeah, I found it odd that when I went on that test drive in the Camry, the salesman didn’t even ask to see my license. For all he knew, I could have been lying about my age. Did you guys end up buying the Sportage?

Fyoeu > fhrblig 07/14/2018 at 23:28

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Ah man, a CRX! How long did you end up owning that?

Fyoeu > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 07/14/2018 at 23:29

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yeah, pretty nerve racking just walking into a dealership for the first time. Especially going alone and being young.

Fyoeu > interstate366, now In The Industry 07/14/2018 at 23:30

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That’s actually a car on my list I’d like to test drive. Those cars have aged well.

Fyoeu > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/14/2018 at 23:39

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Yeah, I guess it was sort of an odd question to ask... I just figured that a salesman would know a lot about the cars that he sells. I even asked if the car had smart key, and he very proudly told me that it did, even though it most certainly did not, haha. 

interstate366, now In The Industry > Fyoeu 07/14/2018 at 23:42

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Both generations are very nice to drive. I have a 2nd gen with a 6-speed, although I’m looking to trade it in soon.

fhrblig > Fyoeu 07/14/2018 at 23:56

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I had it a little over two years. It was somewhat fun. The automatic was kinda bad, but it was still light and flingable. It was a DX, so it had the 12-valve. I'm pretty sure it was carbureted too but I can't remember for sure. Only about 74 HP. Still it was pretty cool. I traded it for a Mercury Sable, because sometimes young men make dumb choices.

Longtime Lurker > Fyoeu 07/15/2018 at 04:02

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First test drive was 1 New 2010 Ford Ranger which I bought. The second car I test drove was a used 1986 BMW 325es which I bought. The third and last car I test drove was a New 2015 GMC Canyon which I did not buy.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Fyoeu 07/17/2018 at 14:21

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Nope, If I recall, they offered $5k below book on my moms loaded 2010 accord, so we walked. Ended up buying a Ford Flex that was a problem car.