"an hour test drive"...wow. i've never test drove a car that long. is that normal?

Some dealers let you take a car for hours, if not overnight...with hopes of convincing you to purchase immediately...although I've heard of this primarily with pre-owned.

 

An hour test drive (or longer) isn't unheard of, it just depends on your relationship with the dealer and how badly they're trying to sell you a car. I remember when the E60 first came out, mine was already on order but it wasn't going to be built for months due to my wanting Nav, HUD, and SMG. When the first E60's were delivered, they let me take one off the lot for as long as I wanted, by myself. I cruised around for probably 40 minutes or so until I felt like I was finished. I took the car back and the salesperson said "Oh man, I meant to let you drive the one with the sports package!" I was then handed the keys to the sports package car and off I went, for another 45 minutes or so.

I also think it helps to drive up in something of value -- many years ago, like around 1984, I wanted to test drive a two-seater car (I think it was something like a Nissan 300ZX turbo) at a dealership I had absolutely no relationship with (my first time there). The funny thing was that I wanted to bring a friend with me on the test drive instead of the salesperson. At first, the salesperson was reluctant to allow us to just take the car all by ourselves but when he saw that we pulled up in an new M-B SL, he asked if he could hold the keys and we said no problem. At that point, we took the Nissan out for a little thrashing!

 

Two comments!

1. Lemoned a LEXUS??? nooooooooooooooooooooo Can that be? Thought they were 1000% reliable... especially compared to a BMW. I keep reading that on the internet... that HAS to be true...

2. HAHAHAHA about time you learned your lesson and stuck with a BMW. J/.K


Welcome to the great E60.net.

 

Speaking of killing my back...I just got home from work in my 530xi after driving 26 mi in my "standard" seats, and my back is killing me, again!!! I had been ok the past month or so, but all of the sudden, that familiar "aching, gnawing" pain is coming back. I am starting to mess with all of my adjustments again on a daily, minute-by-minute basis. It's been 4 months now, and I'm still trying to find that elusive sweet spot. I don't think there is one, not for me at least.

Did you get the Comfort Seats....aka, the multi-contoured? I've heard they're much better.

 

Hmmmm........Are you going to practice what you preach Eric???

 

It is somewhat gratifying to hear that Lexus can be just like any other auto manufacturer. Not that I wish any Lemons on anybody.

Good choice for your entry into BMW.

Test driving a readily available car is one thing but some cars are just not available to test drive. I had my 6er order in well in advance of any possible test drive as my dealer never did qualify in MY04 or MY05 for a ?dealer? car. Each 6er he received was for a customer and the best I could do was look. I will wager many, many M3s will be the same as I know many M6s were sold without a test drive.

 

If it's not too late, I strongly suggest you get the comfort seats. Best seats amongst med sized luxury sedans

 

I'm with DrLev, Our 535i is equiped with comfort seats & I drove 660mls (S. Florida to Atl. GA) with 3 stops! & the return on 4 stops....and that was with a 3 1/2 y/o in the back seat. I was never able to go more than 200mls in our E39 530i.

BTW thanks DrLev for the wheel care tips, & great pics.

 

I had driven up in a 1996 Ford Bronco with 130,000 miles on it, and it looked it. I loved that truck. If Ford was still making them, I would have just walked in, plopped my money on the table, and said "I'll take another one. Black."

In ten years of ownership I only spent $2,500 in unscheduled maintenance (and even those were wear items) and didn't have a single problem with it. Not one.

Given the way things are going for Ford, it may be a good thing for me that they aren't still making Broncos.

 

Yup - they come with the sport package.