bwayout

wakeech, glad you finally got to drive one! They are fun!

I still can't get one, yet (hopefully by the fall of 05 ... or by spring of 06), but I've been lucky and had 3 test drives - of course, I'm 48 years old but can pass for early/middle 30's ... but act like I'm still in my teens and if I lose 5 more pounds, I'd be wearing my cape & mask!

:D

Hey, if you ever make it down to the Dallas area, I can hook you up with my sales guy and he'd let you drive one! Maybe someone in your area could introduce you too their sales person - I'm sure they would love to get some good "word of mouth" feedback from you - here on the web or even just to the people that you know - saying how great a dealership they have and how great the car is!

I hope you get one of your own -I know that the waiting is killing me! My only hope is that by 2006, Mazda will have something out that's a true 2+2 fastback that is also a hatchback ... (maybe like a RX-3, RX-6 or RX-8?)

Speed-ER doc

Hehehe, Wakeech made a noob "drove an 8" post! :D

I think we all are implored to do that after driving this great car.

Glad you found a cool friend, and hope you get your own 8 soon!

Stickinator, you rock!

Literatii

...it's not your age or appearance... it's the dealership that makes the difference. Try another one. Although... I think it's cool someone let you drive their 8

I drove into a dealership here TWICE in an A4 and neither time did the salesman offer a test-drive -- unless I put down $3K. Yeah, right.

Went to another dealership, and it was the first thing the guy offered.

Inconsequential

when i got my test drive, I was trying to get an evo 8, but they said for canada it wouldnt be until next year, so I asked to test another car, they offered to let me try a lancer ralliart, the new ones, so i thought i would humor them, when I got back I said I want to try an RX-8 (they deal in mitsu, subys, and mazdas) and they hooked me up with one, right there, no money down.
So, Wakeech, we will have to go to a dealership in richmond, the automall usually has a few in stock, then we can go for a quick drive with 2 8's hehe

Senseny

You can work yourself into test drives of just about any car if you say the right things. I was offered a drive in a Viper GTS that I didn't take because 1) I was afraid I would mortgage my future to buy it and 2) I didn't want to mess with the salesman on what would have been a 65,000 sale for him. And I came in with my work van and one of those blue work shirts. Talk, tell a story "I am getting a graduation gift, someone left me money, etc." Instead of them selling you, sell them.
Anyway, congrats on the drive. Smooth huh? And remember the people who complain have a right to do that. If something is talked about ad nauseum here it educates the consumer as to what to expect and also it gives all us fellow owners heads up.
When you get done school, grab one of these bad boys.