Originally Posted by
bikerjp
I test drove my Outback about 10 miles. Took it on the freeway for 2-3 miles and got it up to speed then the roads around the dealer. Was enough for me but it was also my 5th Subaru. I more or less know how they drive and was mainly making sure nothing obvious was wrong. Also test drove a CVT version and realized I didn't like it. Would have been bad to say it's a Subaru so I'll like it and buy without a test drive. I don't think it's a question of distance. It's more about some piece of mind. If you didn't test ride/drive and ended up not liking it or finding out it had issues you would only be mad at yourself. If you at least did the test ride/drive then you can say well, I did test it. Small consolation but for large investments it's prudent to at least check things out. I also watch several TVs to check out the picture and see what I like and demo various speakers. No guarantee they'll look or sound the same in the home but most people would still demo them in the store. I also sat on dozens of sofas before buying one, and I checked out numerous homes before choosing one. Why is it so hard to understand that some people would want a bit of saddle time when buying a bike.
I never said you could not ride it. You are just staying on the lot. I need to see you on the bike because, despite the equiment I have to determine the correct frame sizing and stem length, I still like to see the rider on the bike. If they have not gone through this before, I'll even bring a bike one size smaller so they can feel the correct size. You would be stunned at how many people ride the wrong size with a ridiculous setup. That could be a whole different thread. And I am talking many thousands of dollar bikes, just wrong. The nice thing for us is I can show the rider why a particular bike is the right size. Some argue...which is why I will have them ride the wrong size (usually the one they had before) to compare.
You didn't take the sofa home and watch a weekend of football laying on it before you decided it fit and felt fine, correct? Didn't take the tv home for the same weekend with the sound system, check it out for a weekend before you decided to buy it, right? Didn't live in the house (talk about how you can manipulate a sale...) before deciding to spend probably six figures and sign your life away, correct? "Let me move all my furniture in here and see how it fits and looks for a couple of days before I decide to buy. Sound OK?"