Sure. I understand the dealer's perspective, too. Doesn't mean I'm going to buy the car without driving it. Maybe someone else will.

Ideally they should have a demo car. If there is enough demand they could still sell it for good money.

Same experience here except substitute these: Mazdaspeed3 wagon, Audi, and A3 Wagon.

Yep, I wouldn't either.

That and the endless parade of boy racers who want to come in for a "test drive" but have no real interest (or funds) in buying the car.

The best solution for the current business model is to have "drive days" sponsored by the marque, like BMW used to have, and Mazda and some of the others still do. You sign up for a time slot and drive one or more of the many models available over a prescribed course. No pressure to buy and no salesperson chattering away in the passenger seat.

The only car I've bought without a test drive is my current 3.

I figured with so many Top 10Best awards and winning so many comparos , I couldn't go wrong.

And I was right.

I'm happy that this particular VW dealership has pride in their products. The R must be amazingly fast.

I am awestruck.

What does the speed of it have to do with anything?

#sarcasm

bumping this thread. we just had a baby and need to get a bigger car than the Smart. most dealers in the bay area suck (asking 3-10k markup lol) but I was able to put a deposit down for a base model MT R in the pipeline at MSRP at Sunnyvale VW. Gonna go test drive one this weekend.