2016 Golf R test drive--no dice

[JST]

Update: Still no test drives allowed.

Originally Posted by VW Dealer

Customers that purchase Golf Rs are a very particular and insist on being the first to drive it. Therefore we do not permit test drives of the vehicle. In all the years of selling these cars I have not had one single person regret their purchase. We do have a car in the showroom for you to take a look at.

Originally Posted by JST in response

I won't buy a car without driving it, of course--precisely because I am very particular.

I'm disappointed that you aren't interested in selling me a car. That's too bad, particularly since I actually am a Golf R owner.

Thanks for your time.

[ff]

That's so weird to me. It's not like we're talking about a high-$$$, limited-production exotic.

When I was looking at a new GTI in Tampa a few years ago, the VW salesperson was practically begging me to test drive the R.

[FC]

That's stupid (that they won't let you drive an R). Reminds me of this a-hole who refused to let me drive a Corvette years ago. It (and the whole experience in a Chevy dealership) really ruined my desire to buy or own a Corvette.

I must say that I felt similarly slimy at Ford, Toyota, and Honda dealerships. Beautiful new buildings, but I felt like cattle.

I must say I had a pretty good experience at the VW dealership.

[Jeff_DML]

what does the new R buy over your old one? Seems like the driving dynamics are about the same so just want something shiny and new?

[JST]

Originally Posted by Jeff_DML

what does the new R buy over your old one? Seems like the driving dynamics are about the same so just want something shiny and new?

Honestly, I don't know the answer to that question without driving one. My current one is 5 years old and has 28K miles on it. I can (and probably will) keep it for the foreseeable future (or at least until it starts costing money to fix), but at some point I'll have to get something else.

[JST]

Originally Posted by FC

That's stupid (that they won't let you drive an R). Reminds me of this a-hole who refused to let me drive a Corvette years ago. It (and the whole experience in a Chevy dealership) really ruined my desire to buy or own a Corvette.

I must say that I felt similarly slimy at Ford, Toyota, and Honda dealerships. Beautiful new buildings, but I felt like cattle.

I must say I had a pretty good experience at the VW dealership.

I'm sure it varies from dealer to dealer, but as a general matter buying "high-end," limited-production vehicles from a mass market manufacturer is pretty hellish. The customer service isn't what it should be, and these guys treat the cars like they're Ming vases.

It's not helped by the VW enthusiast crew, who generally approach the cars the same way. I mean, the Golf is a nice car, but come the fuck on. You won't buy one if someone else has driven it?? I've literally never applied that metric to any of the cars I've purchased. They're cars. People drive them. That's what they are for.

[TD]

Originally Posted by JST

I'm sure it varies from dealer to dealer, but as a general matter buying "high-end," limited-production vehicles from a mass market manufacturer is pretty hellish. The customer service isn't what it should be, and these guys treat the cars like they're Ming vases.

It's not helped by the VW enthusiast crew, who generally approach the cars the same way. I mean, the Golf is a nice car, but come the fuck on. You won't buy one if someone else has driven it?? I've literally never applied that metric to any of the cars I've purchased. They're cars. People drive them. That's what they are for.

I remember trying to test drive a new Mazdaspeed 6 some years ago. I did talk my way in to the test drive but I did show up in a then relatively current E36 M3/4.

I didn't shop for my Golf R until the discounting had started and I had no problem test driving at that point. I think I tried way earlier in the model run and faced the same wall of resistance. I'm truly surprised they won't let someone test drive a car they've knocked $4K off the sticker of because it's not moving.

It doesn't seem particularly smart.

[bren]

Originally Posted by JST

I'm sure it varies from dealer to dealer, but as a general matter buying "high-end," limited-production vehicles from a mass market manufacturer is pretty hellish. The customer service isn't what it should be, and these guys treat the cars like they're Ming vases.

Reminds me of trying to look at an STI when they first came out. The dealer literally had it up on a platform surrounded by velvet ropes.

[JST]

Originally Posted by bren

Reminds me of trying to look at an STI when they first came out. The dealer literally had it up on a platform surrounded by velvet ropes.

Ha.

This dealer is on my shit list too because the last time I had my car (which I am supposed to be very "particular" about, I guess) in for an oil change:

1. They put a ding in the door
2. They sent it out for repainting, which took 2 weeks
3. They didn't do the state inspection that I asked them to do, and
4. A few weeks later I noticed that they got overspray on the wheel when they repainted the door.

Also they don't give loaners. Instead they have a beat to shit Touran that smells like cigarettes and BO, driven by a guy who served in the Great War and won't shut up about it, that shuttles you to the metro.

Other than that, I'm pretty happy with Wes Greenway's Alexandria VW.

[JST]

OK, I had to respond with slightly more.

Sorry, one other thing. Your reference to “particular” Golf R owners struck me as especially ironic given that the last time my current Golf R was in for service, your shop scratched it, sent it out for a poor quality repaint that took 2 weeks and left overspray on the wheel, and still didn’t do the original work I asked you to do.

I’d been willing to overlook that because I was happy with the purchase experience, and because I figured that it might be worth building a relationship as a repeat customer. But if this is the kind of after-sales support your store gives to the enthusiast VW community, it’s certainly not worth returning either for service or sales—or recommending you to other owners.

Thanks again for your time.

I do not expect a response.