Test Drive

[totaljoint]

I remember when I was a kid, (around 1970 or so), my Dad took me to the local Ford dealer to look at a Ford Bronco. The salesman let us take a test drive... on a dirt road just outside of Carson City, NV. It was nothing more than a goat trail, steep with rocks through the sage brush. My first time four wheeling!
How many car dealers (even used car dealers) let you test drive like this any more?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nAYnSGJBqE

[TechMOGogy]

Land Rover used to have short test tracks setup at their dealerships.
When I purchased my Disco back in 98 in Dallas - we went to the back of the lot (I wondered where we were going) and there was a small opening in the trees, we ended up going down a nice steep hill, into some flats with ruts and mud and then backup the hill about 50ft away from where we entered. I would say that coarse was about 500-750 ft long - so nothing crazy but it made me buy the truck!
Dan

EDIT: looks like they have moved to man made 'test tracks' - still a great way to sell a 4x4.
I don't think Jeep dealers show off the vehicles like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFrdAuLPql8

[edzz]

I have fond memories of being given a very comprehensive demonstration on a test ride in “sunny” Hemet California some years ago. Was very impressed much more so than my wife something about the ride in the back not being as impressive as is evident from the sign language she resorted to when I asked what she thought of the demonstration. I did appreciate the demonstration.

[berger]

Land Rover used to have short test tracks setup at their dealerships.
When I purchased my Disco back in 98 in Dallas - we went to the back of the lot (I wondered where we were going) and there was a small opening in the trees, we ended up going down a nice steep hill, into some flats with ruts and mud and then backup the hill about 50ft away from where we entered. I would say that coarse was about 500-750 ft long - so nothing crazy but it made me buy the truck!
Dan

EDIT: looks like they have moved to man made 'test tracks' - still a great way to sell a 4x4.
I don't think Jeep dealers show off the vehicles like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFrdAuLPql8

Landrover still offers driving courses at the "Famous" Montebello Resort in Quebec, about 2 hours from Ottawa.

http://www.landrover.com/ca/en/lr/exper ... ontebello/

[David Dunn]

I remember when LR came out with these test tracks, and then a few years later had to redesign them for the new models, as the vehicles had some problems with the old track