I noticed this little blurb in AutoWired at http://www.autowired.co.uk/news/article.aspx?storyid=12749:Subaru dealers move to 24-hr test drive programme

SUBARU UK is testing the idea of offering customers a 24-hour test drive period.

Virtually all UK dealers will be operating the scheme which allows all models in the line-up to be taken for a 24-hr test.

Subaru says it will test the scheme for at least 12-months in order to gauge consumer interest.

Customers have to be between 25 and 70 years of age with a full driving licence for 12 months. Performance versions of the range are limited to those aged between 30 and 65 years old and with at least 24 months qualified driving experience.When I lived in Germany, some years ago, one could get a weekend test drive of a Porsche. Such a policy is definitely something only a "premium" brand would adopt and I wonder whether SOA shouldn't be pushing their dealers to adopt a similar policy.

too bad only in UK.. GM offers that for most of their vehicles in US..

']Such a policy is definitely something only a "premium" brand would adopt
Saturn? :lol:

The dealer I purchased my WRX from let me test drive a WRX for the weekend and I was told to not be afraid to really "drive" it...if you get my drift.

I know its sort of come up before, but how does the dealer encourage people to 'drive' the car when they allow weekend test drives (before the car has been run in) and then try in good faith to sell the car to someone else. Perhaps I'm just being a bit naive :lol:
I know from my test driving experiences I would stay well away from a demo WRX. Encouraging people to drive the WRX hard before its been run in, just doesn't seem right.
Sorry if its a bit off topic.

we let most people do 24 hours with some sort of milage agreement.most progressive dealers also do this I think......Brian

I know its sort of come up before, but how does the dealer encourage people to 'drive' the car when they allow weekend test drives (before the car has been run in) and then try in good faith to sell the car to someone else. Perhaps I'm just being a bit naive :lol:
I know from my test driving experiences I would stay well away from a demo WRX. Encouraging people to drive the WRX hard before its been run in, just doesn't seem right.
Sorry if its a bit off topic.
That is true and I thought about that when I test drove one for the weekend but I didn't buy the one I test drove.

we let most people do 24 hours with some sort of milage agreement.most progressive dealers also do this I think......Brian
I wasn't so much referring to the mileage that would be put on the car, but more the way the car would driven considering its likely that it hasn't been run in. I'm sure the dealers would encourage some spirited driving but if the car hasn't got at least 1000 miles on it :rolleyes: Anyways.....I guess if the dealers keep a car that it just for their test drives it won't make any difference....

I know its sort of come up before, but how does the dealer encourage people to 'drive' the car when they allow weekend test drives (before the car has been run in) and then try in good faith to sell the car to someone else. Perhaps I'm just being a bit naive :lol:
I know from my test driving experiences I would stay well away from a demo WRX. Encouraging people to drive the WRX hard before its been run in, just doesn't seem right.
Sorry if its a bit off topic.

Most higher-end dealerships have specified tester cars, these are NOT sold as new, and often aren't sold at all by the dealer but transferred to wholesalers. This is entirely the case with Acuras. If you got a weekend Acura (I dunno if they do this), I'm pretty sure you'd get a tester, certainly not one off the lot. Those are pretty protected, and almost always come with 10-20 miles on the odometer when you close.