Filed under: First Drive
Consumer track events get you behind the wheel of new cars first
You might love cars, but there's a good possibility you hate going to the dealer. We're not going to speak ill of this particular breed of pitchman, but we're sure you've had your fill of car dealers and their antics. Thankfully, if you want to get behind the wheel of the newest hotness, there are other ways.
The Straightline crew over at InsideLine have put together a comprehensive listing of all the consumer track events that are available for people looking to actually drive some of the vehicles we're constantly covering -- without having to endure a trip to your local dealer and a "test drive" that involves little more than a run around the block. While most of the automakers represented on the list are for the more financially solvent, there's a few, including Mazda, Saturn, Toyota and Volkswagen that are within the average car-buyers reach. That said, Aston Martin's On Track program, BMW's High Performance Driving School and the HUMMER Driving Academy shouldn't be entirely discounted. Some charge, others don't, but check out the list to see what's available in your area.
[Source: Straightline]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ben 7:53PM (2/21/2008)
I really wanted to go to the Audi thing last year in Rancho Cucamonga but you have to be 21 and that makes no sense.
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Krony 1:04AM (2/22/2008)
I've been to events by Mercedes, Subaru, Mazda, and Audi - Audi's was by far by far the best. Small numbers of people - driving instructors instead of sales people,and probably over an hour behind the wheel. We even got to drive the new S5's on the infield at CA speedway. Some lucky dude even got a lap in the R8. Anyway...I highly recommend it.
Seoultrain 7:53PM (2/21/2008)
sigh.. too bad GM's Autoshow in Motion and Mazda's Zoom-Zoom Live are dead. Those were the best free ones.
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jason 7:54AM (2/24/2008)
Mazda killed off "Zoom-Zoom Live"? I went in '05 and bought a Mazda3 the next week. It wasn't even on my list (I was a Honda-phile in my previous life). I also went back to the event in '06 and had a blast, especially for a re-run.
I've been to similar events for BMW, Lexus and (sadly) Chevrolet. The Mazda event was by far the most fun.
I'm sure they spend a lot on these kinds of events, but it seems they'd sell enough vehicles to offset the cost. Or maybe they think the brand is now highly regarded and the cars will stand on their own merits.
Then again, all the cars in the Mazda stable are at least in their fifth year of production. The newbies are all SUVs that might not lend themselves to the same thrashing that the Mazda3 and Miata were subjected to at the Zoom-Zoom events.
I feel sorry for the poor bastard who ends up buying one of the test cars from any of these events. In '06, I drove a MAZDASPEED6 that only showed 2800 miles on the odometer, but made creaking, popping and whining noises that no car should make. I can only imagine what it had been subjected to....and doubt it made it to 5k without major repairs!
Shakatar 7:54PM (2/21/2008)
I went to GM's Auto Show In Motion in 2005. Great fun driving all those cars in one day, and pretty ballsy of GM to include competitor's models. I wish they'd bring it back.
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RLQ 5:41PM (2/22/2008)
Yeah I miss Auto Show In Motion too.
almost Dr. G.. 8:36PM (2/21/2008)
listing not found :(
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Adam 8:49PM (2/21/2008)
yep...
404'd!
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Adam 8:50PM (2/21/2008)
http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightline/4350
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Damon Lavrinc 8:55PM (2/21/2008)
Linked fixed.
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RxMadness 9:49PM (2/21/2008)
Taste of Lexus seems to be the only free one on the List. Shame that aside from the IS350 most of their cars are pretty boring to drive.
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Shado 8:55PM (2/25/2008)
The half-day by Audi is also free.
joe 10:04PM (2/21/2008)
most of those require you to be an owner. seems rather worthless to make this list if many of them require ownership. at the least they should list which ones don't require ownership, otherwise i'd be better off going to a dealer.
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Zane 11:21PM (2/21/2008)
A friend and I went to the Taste of Lexus event this past fall and IMO, it's completely over rated. People were standing in line to drive the same car (IS350) over and over again. Basically, it was a 45 second joyride and that's it.
But as someone posted, the GM events were/are usually the best. I've registered myself for the Audi Introductory program .. gotta ride in that R8!
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Strekopytov Iwan 5:27AM (2/22/2008)
Video by New M3 on Track
http://www.road2road.com/index.php?type=5&showid=60
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Nick 7:00AM (2/22/2008)
Living in Iowa means no events here...ever ):
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Massa 8:45AM (2/22/2008)
Link does NOT work...any idea where this articule can be found?
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slider912 9:57AM (2/22/2008)
Try the Second Link. And, I appreciate the list on InsideLines part, but it sucks that Taste of Lexus is the 2007 event (so, uhm, they seem done, unless I'm missing something), and I don't exactly see the Saturn Astra's site as offering a real test drive experience, again unless I looked too quick.
Playdrv4me 3:34PM (2/22/2008)
Keep your eye on BMW. Last year they were criss-crossing the country with Susan G. Komen Breat Cancer for the Cure at local dealerships.
It was a GREAT event for a wonderful cause, and they even served sandwiches and sodas. The dealership staff didn't get involved and the only requirements were to be 21 years of age or older (25 for SUV's and performance cars), and register some info (as always) on their computer.
Then you got to take any BMW model of your choice out for a no questions asked test drive. And the MORE you drove the better because for each drive money was donated to S.G.K. There were friendly staff outside taking down names for people that wanted to drive certain models etc.
As far as the age restriction, if you bring an over 21/25 adult with you you can both go out together and swap places during the test drive. Do so at your own risk of course.
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nanotube 4:23PM (2/22/2008)
Most of these either cost money or require you own the car. The Audi event sounds good though. Zoom-Zoom Live was great, pity they're not repeating it. Also Car & Driver's Editor For a Day event was good (4 cars, 2 short autocross laps in each).
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