QUIKAG

I bought my C5 without ever having driven any C5. You read the articles, you check out the car, you talk to people and you'll know if the car is right or not for you. Doesn't really require a test drive to sell itself.

The C6 will be the same way for a few years.

vroom

It's how I bought my last two cars... and pretty much how I intend to buy the next - and it's worked out fine.

Veneficus

I bought my STi without test driving it. They had been out for about a week and the demand was super high. I happened to be the first person to jump on one which someone was on a list for but didn't like the color. Because the dealership would not let me test drive it was one of the factors that lead me to get rid of it a couple weeks later and buy the S2000.

Recently I went to a VW dealer to check out some TDi offerings. I saw they had about 4 GTi R32s on the lot and asked about them. (I drove here in my '90 accord btw) and the salesman was saying that they require a credit check and all that kinda jazz before letting someone test drive. I said that's ok I wasn't interested in it anyhow. After taking a couple cars out for a drive I was telling the saleman about my S and how my wife and I just moved here and bought our house with cash. Lo and behold I was suddently offered an instant test of the R32.

Like most people said it's all about if the dealer thinks you can afford the car. Prejudice is common place in the automotive world.