How many test drove before buying?

[soho]

For the most part, it seems dealers aren't willing to let individuals take a spin out in an R8 -- even those who are skeptical about the r-Tronic. Granted the R8 has been primarily a build to order car, there have been allocations sitting at dealers across the country, especially over the past year, albeit not for very long.

I'm curious, how many of you test drove an R8 before buying? If you saw one at a dealer, did you even ask? If you were allowed to, was it a used R8 or a new R8? If you were looking at private sale, were you given an opportunity to take the R8 out for a test drive? Did any of you get a chance to drive a friend's? How many of you bought your R8 sight unseen, no test drive, nothing, and if it was an r-Tronic, were you at all concerned?

Just trying to get a feel for everyone's buying experience.

I, for one, am in the last boat. The R8 was originally bought sight unseen, no test drive, nothing. We saw pictures, and it was a no brainer. And we ended up getting an r-Tronic.

[porsche racer]

My race cars are six speed and even my Ferrari was stick. However, I am looking into R8's lately and I want paddles. But I have to test drive both stick and paddles to decide.

[harrison]

I saw my very first R8 ,a PPI Razor street/track car cruising the club scene one night in Germany 7-1-09. I dropped into the Audi dealer in Stuttgart 7-3-'09 and the salesman saw his chance to go for another spin in the "CHIEFS" car (dealerships' owners' personal R8 V8). It was a manual and we quickly entered thee Autobahn after a heavy G.s twisting on ramp. Boy was I impressed. When he asked if I was ready to give her a try, I refused. I already knew I had to have one. Found my '08 R8 w/paddles here in the states, and I have been smitten over her ever since. The price of the Chiefs' personal car, slightly used as it was , brought on an astronomical price tag. It was just a no brainer to wait a few weeks and save 100K. I have been "Test Driving" my R8 ever since.

[CALBenzo]

I test drove mine, but didn't feel comfortable doing too much with the salesman in the passenger seat. Mine was a private sale that was being sold through a dealership. My salesman is an instructor at Infineon Raceway, so I let him show me a little of what it could do on the streets. We hit one of the freeway clover leafs at a high rate of speed, certainly faster than I have yet.

I was sold!

[alfessex]

I wanted a R-Tronic Couple V10 but the dealership only had a V10 spyder R-Tronic so test drove that in March'11. Dealer encouraged me to drive it hard, where roads allowed and was safe to do so and I had 1hr test drive.

There was no question, as soon as they started up the engine, i knew it was the car for me, after i drove it, well was easy to put down a deposit for a new V10 which goes onto the factory floor for build this week in fact. Still went for the coupe as just my preference. If I was living in a hotter climate then may be would go for spyder to get more use.

[soho]

Dealer encouraged me to drive it hard, where roads allowed and was safe to do so and I had 1hr test drive.

Holy hell! A one hour test drive?! How many miles did you put on it?! A local dealer is getting an unspoken-for V10 Spyder in the very near future. I'm pitching for a test drive, as I've been considering an upgrade from my V8 Coupe for a while now. I'm not sold on the soft top, though.

[homewood]

Like others struck by the look of the Spyder and the uniformly glowing reviews. Might have bought car sight unseen but hoped to get some drive time before committing to purchase. Currently have an RS4 so did not make sense to purchase with same V8 engine. Love the stick shift in the RS4 and read the overall negative comments about the single clutch R-tronic so was fairly certain I would be looking at the V10 in stick shift.

No Spyders to test drive in Charlotte NC but had a meeting planned in Miami. Thought about renting one for a day from one of the many exotic rental companies in the Miami area but put off by cost (avg $2500/day with 100 mile limit). Called all the Audi dealers and found a V10 Spyder with R-tronic (Ibis white, Tuscan leather interior) in Coral Gables at The Collection. The showroom itself is incredible and worth the trip alone. Sales people were excellent but initially reluctant to let me test drive if I was not ready to purchase ... especially since I told them I was looking for a manual. The more we talked about car the more comfortable they were and eventually let me test drive on local roads for about 20 minutes. Obviously not able to truly put car through its paces and in brief time in the car had no glaring problems with R-tronic.

Dealers are in a bind since this is a car that everyone wants to drive and sorting out those who are really serious about purchase vs everyone else is difficult. Moreover, if you are looking to locate a "new" Spyder in a showroom nobody wants one with any kind of mileage that has been driven hard.

In the end, went back to my Audi dealer in Charlotte and placed an order for a V10 Spyder with stick shift. Hoping to keep my Daytona pearl grey with black leather interior that I have on RS4 but bummed to learn that for 2012 models which are now being produced, Daytona grey is no longer a standard color ($3500 more for exclusive colors). Sorry to see the color dropped since metallic pearl finish looks incredible and has held up well not showing the dirt of a black but still being dark.

[RS4Cab]

Two years ago when I decided I wanted an R8 right away there was only one in all of MA, didn't even bother to go look at it since it had zero c/f. Searched online and found one I liked 230 miles away in NJ, Did the deal over the phone and drove my trade in RS4 cab down two days later and drove the R8 home. This reminds me, May 8 will be her two year anniversary and still getting a lot of love. Went to first big car show of season the other day and about 500 cars there, some very nice ones, and I won "Best in Show". Was not easy getting a 4'6" trophy home 130 miles away in my car, especially with having a passenger.

[NVRL8R8]

Soho, with all due respect, I'm a bit confused in regards to your R8.
See post#5 of this thread.

http://www.r8talk.com/forums/showthr...9264#post69264

Regardless, I bought mine sight unseen, out of state myself.

[R8_050]

In Moscow I negotiated test drives before buying the V8 and the V10 too. Both times these were specially designated test drive cars for journalists and VIP-clients owned by VW Group Russia. With the V10 I got even luckier because they let me keep the car for 4 days

Bastards... They know that if they let people drive this car they'll loose their mind over it