Test Drive Release

[Lucken]

As of 2 weeks ago, no. They were to have one at the Manhasset location by now, but of course we still don’t even have a Manhasset location.

 

[steveairgt]

Anybody know if they have a demonstrator for the Manhattan studio yet? I’ve been meaning to call.

No, not as of last week. They have a showroom model; a pre-production model. No test drives yet.

 

[Steveinarizona]

At the Scottsdale design studio I was told that when I receive the email about confirming my reservation, I can then make a test drive appointment...either before confirming or after.

 

[chris]

At the Scottsdale design studio I was told that when I receive the email about confirming my reservation, I can then make a test drive appointment...either before confirming or after.

This IS good to know because last time I called them there, they said ONLY once invited to place your order will you be granted a test drive. I guess this has changed?

 

[Maverick]

"invited to place your order" and "email about confirming your reservation" are the same thing. Nothing has changed as far as I know.

 

[chris]

^ when I called in late December (around the 28th IIRC) I was told ONLY DE and Touring 'invited to finalize their order' was allowed to test drive. Meaning if you have an order for a Lucid Air Pure (the $77,000 one), you cannot test drive now.

HAS THIS CHANGED?

 

[chacha72]

^ when I called in late December (around the 28th IIRC) I was told ONLY DE and Touring 'invited to finalize their order' was allowed to test drive. Meaning if you have an order for a Lucid Air Pure (the $77,000 one), you cannot test drive now.

HAS THIS CHANGED?

Still the same.

 

[Lucken]

^ when I called in late December (around the 28th IIRC) I was told ONLY DE and Touring 'invited to finalize their order' was allowed to test drive. Meaning if you have an order for a Lucid Air Pure (the $77,000 one), you cannot test drive now.

HAS THIS CHANGED?

I'm sorry, that's just an absurd policy. If they have a car that's available for a test drive, and nobody is using it, then why not allow a Pure reservation holder a test drive. There are things about Lucid that are just out & out whacky.

 

[copper]

^ when I called in late December (around the 28th IIRC) I was told ONLY DE and Touring 'invited to finalize their order' was allowed to test drive. Meaning if you have an order for a Lucid Air Pure (the $77,000 one), you cannot test drive now.

HAS THIS CHANGED?

I have a GT on order and was able to test drive once I confirmed. I expect you can as well, it might just take being a bit of a pest if your DA is resistant (or escalating to someone more senior),

 

[CraZ8]

Just talked to Manhattan today. They told me that they will not have test drives at their facility due to lack of parking. They will be running test drives out of Manhasset and the location in Short hills NJ. Here is the kicker, they said later in the first quarter, so maybe March? That’s the end of my 4 month delivery window which the rep told me still holds. At this rate I’ll be test driving my own car. WTF? They can’t get a demonstrator ( even a Dream) out to the East coast to drive??

 

[HC_79]

Just talked to Manhattan today. They told me that they will not have test drives at their facility due to lack of parking. They will be running test drives out of Manhasset and the location in Short hills NJ. Here is the kicker, they said later in the first quarter, so maybe March? That’s the end of my 4 month delivery window which the rep told me still holds. At this rate I’ll be test driving my own car. WTF? They can’t get a demonstrator ( even a Dream) out to the East coast to drive??

It's a catch 22. Do they build 50, 100, 200 test drive vehicles or do they build the vehicles for paying customers? Build the test drives first and everyone will be screaming that their order is pushed back. Build the cars for customers first and everyone is complaining they can't test drive. Given they need to meet delivery targets and get revenue coming in, test drive vehicles bring them no value to prioritize them.

This isn't uncommon with the new online ordering model. When I got my e-Tron they had no test drive vehicles either. The only upside with Audi was I could walk away from the order even up to the day of purchase so if I test drove the vehicle I ordered and didn't like it then I could walk away. Not sure if Lucid is letting you drive your potential purchase or not before dropping the $$$ and if you don't like it you can walk away and lose $1000.

 

[CLTGT]

I would be happy just having a physical location closer to me than 100's of miles away, but it is what it is.

My wife wants to drive the PCH with my son this Spring Break, so we might have to fit one in then. That is mid-March, just about my 4-month point as well, but I don't think they are going to make that schedule anyway so it might work.

 

[Lucken]

Just talked to Manhattan today. They told me that they will not have test drives at their facility due to lack of parking. They will be running test drives out of Manhasset and the location in Short hills NJ. Here is the kicker, they said later in the first quarter, so maybe March? That’s the end of my 4 month delivery window which the rep told me still holds. At this rate I’ll be test driving my own car. WTF? They can’t get a demonstrator ( even a Dream) out to the East coast to drive??

It is amazing isn't it? Manhasset has been delayed close to 1 year and as of now there's no other alternative for a test drive location in our heavily populated, tri-state area. As a Pure reservation holder, I'm not even 'allowed' to get a test drive prior to the next stage of the reservation process. I think it's a miserable way to conduct business.

 

[CraZ8]

I don’t think they need to build “50 ,100,200” for test drives. They obviously have some designated demos out west. How about 1 days production (maybe 8 cars )and ship them out to each region that might have 2 or three showrooms. Seems like a decent compromise

 

[hydbob]

It is amazing isn't it? Manhasset has been delayed close to 1 year and as of now there's no other alternative for a test drive location in our heavily populated, tri-state area. As a Pure reservation holder, I'm not even 'allowed' to get a test drive prior to the next stage of the reservation process. I think it's a miserable way to conduct business.

Yes and no. The GT reservation holders who are within an area that has a test drive vehicle are being scheduled test drives. If you aren't, then that's just way the logistics worked out. It makes sense to do test drives for GT, T, then Pure. It's not that you aren't allowed, but realistically, you are way down the line of reservation holders. They haven't asked for you to commit anything past your initial deposit, so realistically, why aren't you walking away if you think it's a miserable business strategy? I'll quote someone I spoke to recently about the car, "Gotta pay to play the game."

 

[Lucken]

Yes and no. The GT reservation holders who are within an area that has a test drive vehicle are being scheduled test drives. If you aren't, then that's just way the logistics worked out. It makes sense to do test drives for GT, T, then Pure. It's not that you aren't allowed, but realistically, you are way down the line of reservation holders. They haven't asked for you to commit anything past your initial deposit, so realistically, why aren't you walking away if you think it's a miserable business strategy? I'll quote someone I spoke to recently about the car, "Gotta pay to play the game."

I totally disagree. 'Gotta pay to play the game'? Really? Really? A freaking test drive? I have never seen a car manufacturer that doesn't 'allow' you to take a test drive if a tester is available. I absolutely understand if the car is constantly being booked by those further ahead in the reservation process, making the car unavailable. However that's no reason to not 'allow' a reservation holder, further down the line, to take a test drive if the car is available.

If you think requiring the placing of an additional chunk of money down for the 'privilege' of a test drive is a great business practice, you are far more understanding than I. Again, I couldn't disagree with you more. But then again you are far more forgiving of some of the software issues than I would be, so I guess I'm not surprised by your feelings.

 

[SaratogaLefty]

I would be happy just having a physical location closer to me than 100's of miles away, but it is what it is.

My wife wants to drive the PCH with my son this Spring Break, so we might have to fit one in then. That is mid-March, just about my 4-month point as well, but I don't think they are going to make that schedule anyway so it might work.

I used to love driving the PCH when I was younger. Now its more of a pain in the ass. Too many RV's piddling along and not enough areas to pass. So long lines of slow moving traffic. However, the views are spectacular!!

 

[SDHacker]

Motor Trend Car of the Year is the Lucid Air Dream Edition and not any other version

I missed this comment earlier. This is incorrect. The judges drove a prototype GT, not a DE. Quoting the MT COTY article:
"We only evaluated a Grand Touring model, but we also sat in a Touring variant with the smaller battery pack and roomier rear footwells, and judges considered the entire lineup, which will add an entry-level Air Pure model"

 

[SDHacker]

So long lines of slow moving traffic.

Agree - it's not like in the movies or TV shows where they control the traffic for the shot. If a leisurely jaunt looking at the coast line is what your wife is looking forward to, then it will be fine. Sometimes, PCH reminds of the road to Hana on Maui in terms of the speed you go and tourists doing crazy things.

I have a Touring reservation. The San Diego studio isn't offering test drives yet but the sales associate was open to me taking a slot as long as there was an opening. GT reservation holders do have priority.

 

[Sandvinsd]

The San Diego studio isn't offering test drives yet but the sales associate was open to me taking a slot as long as there was an opening.

yup. I have been waiting for San Diego to offer test drives. I have a GT order confirmed and I’ve been joking with them that my first test drive will be when my car is delivered.