What? Only $15? Thanks to a recent promotion in the UK, I got a GBP£20 (approx USD$40) voucher for test driving this little rollerskate:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Picanto

Although it still didn't make me want to buy one...

*j*

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That's a bit misleading. It's $15 that you can *only spend at Best Buy*. I would almost call that counter-incentive...

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Dear Mazda,

Use mainstream engines to capture the mainstream buyers. A lot of potential buyers hate the turbo engine because it's different, they don't understand it, and all they know is that it is fancy and takes premium fuel.

Good job putting the 3.5 V6 in the much nicer looking CX-9.

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Yeah, car makers offer these kinds of promotional incentives all the time.

I have so many free things from car makers the last time we were in the market for a car. Free bag for driving the Mazda6... A cool Scion backpack for checking out the new xB... even a $35 Kenneth Cole watch for driving an Oldsmobile!

It's really a lucrative business if you get on the right mailing lists...

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They can't give these gas guzzlers away. One dealer is advertising them at 18K.

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"Use mainstream engines to capture the mainstream buyers. A lot of potential buyers hate the turbo engine because it's different, they don't understand it, and all they know is that it is fancy and takes premium fuel."

Mainstream people wrapped their minds around turbocharged Buick Regals and supercharged Park Avenues just fine. Or are mainstream people dumber than they were 20 years ago?

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What gas guzzler? The CX-7 gets the same milage as a car, and it is a splendid vehicle by reading the tests

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I love these offers, though years ago, they were handing out cash or MasterCard debit cards that could be used anywhere. I used to take groups with me to these test drives and we would fund political campaigns with the money!

But I love the free food, free gifts and the gift cards are great as well. $15 at Best Buy is good for a couple of cheap DVDs or CDs.

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I like the cx-7 but I think they should have considered a V6 instead of the turbo.

Rob
http://www.autoshortlist.com

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I just got $75 gift card from Ford for taking a spin in the Edge. That promo. came from the auto show I attended recently. I have Toyota bags, a shop-vac from Chrysler, a gas card, and cash from a bunch of them.

This $15 offer is one of the smallest incentives I've seen for a test drive. But I might pay them a visit anyway. I'm not particularly interested in a CX-7, but I could check out the CX-9 which is on my "like to see" list.

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What a joke. Build a car people want and you don't have to bribe them with these incentives. Just look at Toyota and Honda. Do you see them doing such marketing gimmics?

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#11 if u know marketing you will understand why Mazda is doing this though i agree that $15 is such a small amount, the main purpose of this is to familiarize people with their product .. its not to lure u in buying the product .. u r so cheap if u can be lured to buy a product because they are giving u something .. there are still alot of car shoppers who dont consider Mazda just because they dont know what they offer or is this ur way of bashing the whole FORD family?

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"Can't beat getting paid to drive cars, right?"

I'm pretty sure there are better jobs than taxi driver and valet.

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I got two offers from Hyundai at two different times. $50 check card to drive the Tuson. $50 Amazon credit to drive the Azera. Unfortunately the Azera dealer was too "busy" to give the test drive as I was not an immediate buyer. Got the gift.

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