Test drove Gen Coupe... got a speeding ticket =(

[1.8Transporter]

Long story short, I got to test drive the 3.8 Track 6AT on Saturday. The 22 year old salesman advised me to take it to the interstate (intercity traffic was awful) and as soon as we got off the ramp, he said “I don’t care how fast you go!”.

After those words were pronounced, suddenly, the inner gorilla that inhabits every car enthusiast took over my brain and my right foot. All of a sudden I was doing 90… 100… 110… 120. There was light traffic but still, what the heck was I thinking? Pure madness!! the sound of the engine and the exhaust at WOT was intoxicating. 15 mins later I see a brand new STI driving unusually slow on the far left lane. After slowing down and being right next to him for about 2 mins, I saw the open road again and started to accelerate just to be pulled over by a state trooper that was on the far right lane behind an 18-wheeler driving in the middle lane.

After I pulled over, the conversation went like this:

Officer: License, registration and proof of insurance.
Salesman: Officer my name is Joe Black and we are test…
Officer: I am speaking to the driver (with a loud voice).
Me: (open wallet and handed him my license) officer, this is not my car.
Officer: takes license without saying a word. Comes back 5 mins later.
Officer: I clocked you going 87 on a 55 zone. You have two options, pay the fine or go to court.
Me: How much is the fine?
Officer: $200.
Me: That’s a hefty fine officer.
Officer: I don’t get to chose how much they are.
Me: I guess I’ll go to court.
Officer: Ok, what kind of car is this?
Salesman: It’s a Hyundai genesis coupe.
Officer: Sign here. Be safe gentlemen.

I have never been to court in my life and I consider myself a law abiding citizen. I’m not a kid for Pete’s sake and I know darn well I was breaking the law! I feel I deserve to pay the ticket but man, $200 can buy a lot of baby food. I felt like the biggest idiot in the world for forgetting that I have a family that depends on me. For what? Experiencing the sense of Speed? What if I got in a serious accident and ended up injuring myself or somebody else? I consider myself a great driver but still. I should buy a stinking race car and take it to the track. Serves me well.

Have I become such an excitement-starved creature working from 9 to 5 five days a week that when a simple opportunity for “automotive freedom” is presented before my eyes, I took it without regard to myself and others?

I’m not trying to deflect my responsibility but would the dealership or the salesman be liable for this? I’m sure if I had an older salesman, he would’ve not encouraged me to drive at those speeds.
Thanks for reading.

Btw, the car's performance is nice. Interior's quality materials not so nice. Auto tranny is kind of slow at high RPM. Exhaust note? Fabulous!

Rule #1

Modified by 1.8Transporter at 2:40 PM 3-2-2009


Modified by 1.8Transporter at 2:41 PM 3-2-2009

[patrikman]

good job for letting a 22 yo salesman tell you how to drive!

[bhtooefr]

Do you have a record of traffic violations?

If not, you might be able to get a reduced fine in exchange for pleading guilty in court... IIRC, there's a speeding ticket FAQ that floats around here.

[VarianceVQ]

Quote, originally posted by 1.8Transporter »

I’m not trying to deflect my responsibility but would the dealership or the salesman be liable for this? I’m sure if I had an older salesman, he would’ve not encouraged me to drive at those speeds.

No. He didn't have a gun to your head and you are (I assume) a grown man.

[Brandontrek1]

[Cerebral Provocation]

funny that you feel $200 is a lot for a ticket.

that's peanuts.

[TigerinColorado]

You were on the Interstate for 15 min?!?

What color was the car? Silber?

[zerind]

Heh, my last ticket in Houston was $240 for 40 in a 30. I just need to take defensive driving though and it will be dismissed.

[SuperGroove]

Quote, originally posted by VarianceVQ »

No. He didn't have a gun to your head and you are (I assume) a grown man.

Agreed.

OP f'ed up and has only himself to blame. $200 for going that fast is not that big of a fine, IMHO.

And next time you think about speeding, consider how much a track day costs and how fast you can go on a track.

Paul
-loves feeling holier than thou, when he speeds all the time.

[Anon1210]

Going to court isn't so bad. Extend as much as you can.

The day you go to court, the officer might not even remember you if you extend long enough and not show up. In that case, the charges are dropped.

Even if he does show up, just plead your case. it can even be something like, "I'm sorry your honor, I understand it's breaking the law but I honestly didn't feel as if i were endangering anyone or myself. Is the fee negotiable?"

Worst case scenario you pay the fine but the judge will be able to lower the fee probably or let you off. You've also got a good chance the officer just doesn't show up.

If you miss your court date they'll just make you pay the fine. You can try to file a motion for a re-scheduling, though. If you don't pay after that they'll start adding on additional fees.

[1.8Transporter]

Quote, originally posted by TigerinColorado »

What color was the car? Silber?

Yes indeed.

[PhReE]

hehe, you WILL be paying that fine. Period. Good story tho

[Fritz27]

Traffic school isn't an option in your archaic state? That sucks.

[Gee Spoolin]

Just buy the car. Tell the sales guy to give you an additional discount so you can pay the fine

[1.8Transporter]

Quote, originally posted by SuperGroove »

OP f'ed up and has only himself to blame. $200 for going that fast is not that big of a fine, IMHO. And next time you think about speeding, consider how much a track day costs and how fast you can go on a track.

QFT

[1.8Transporter]

Quote, originally posted by Gee Spoolin »

Just buy the car. Tell the sales guy to give you an additional discount so you can pay the fine

Ha! The stupid dealership is asking $38,000!

[SuperGroove]

Quote, originally posted by Anon1210 »

Going to court isn't so bad. Extend as much as you can. The day you go to court, the officer might not even remember you if you extend long enough and not show up. In that case, the charges are dropped. Even if he does show up, just plead your case. it can even be something like, "I'm sorry your honor, I understand it's breaking the law but I honestly didn't feel as if i were endangering anyone or myself. Is the fee negotiable?" Worst case scenario you pay the fine but the judge will be able to lower the fee probably or let you off. You've also got a good chance the officer just doesn't show up. If you miss your court date they'll just make you pay the fine. You can try to file a motion for a re-scheduling, though. If you don't pay after that they'll start adding on additional fees.

This is truly some of the worst advice I've ever read. It's the same thing as saying, "Hey...i know I was breaking the law...but...no one was around, so it's okay." Or, "I know I was shooting my Barrett .50cal in random directions from my inner city apartment, but I didn't realize that I could be hurting anyone. Even though this gun has some extreme long distance range and ability to punch through engine blocks."

Wrong, is WRONG.

[jeff1234]

Imagine what would happen if you got clocked at 120.

[1.8Transporter]

Quote, originally posted by Anon1210 »

Going to court isn't so bad. Extend as much as you can. The day you go to court, the officer might not even remember you if you extend long enough and not show up. In that case, the charges are dropped. Even if he does show up, just plead your case. it can even be something like, "I'm sorry your honor, I understand it's breaking the law but I honestly didn't feel as if i were endangering anyone or myself. Is the fee negotiable?" Worst case scenario you pay the fine but the judge will be able to lower the fee probably or let you off. You've also got a good chance the officer just doesn't show up. If you miss your court date they'll just make you pay the fine. You can try to file a motion for a re-scheduling, though. If you don't pay after that they'll start adding on additional fees.

Thanks for the advise. I'll give it a try.

[bleedblue]

Quote, originally posted by 1.8Transporter »

Ha! The stupid dealership is asking $38,000!

LOL, greed never ceases to amaze me. Not only is the economy in the dumpster, at that price a G37S seems like a deal.

[1.8Transporter]

Quote, originally posted by jeff1234 »

Imagine what would happen if you got clocked at 120.

Seriously. I had a hard time sleeping last night thinking of the 1,000 things that could've gone wrong going that fast on a public road.

[jnm2.0t]

that whole 'we have an agreement with the local police, dont worry about speeding' is not a green light to do 120mph. if a cop wants to give you a ticket they can and should. be happy its only $200 for 32mph over.

and be happy this isnt locked yet, or actually you should probably hope it does get locked.


Modified by jnm2.0t at 1:57 PM 3-2-2009

[Anon1210]

Really?

Do you honestly believe the "speeding limits are for your own good" bs?

All the speed cameras popping up everywhere are to protect us right? It's not like there's any revenue to be had for certain people.

Yeah it's "wrong" because it's the law. Pfft

[schwarzhaserotmarke]

you can actually take deferment for half the price of the ticket and not commit another infraction for a year, but if you do not abide by the contract this ticket resurfaces on your record along with the new one.

[patrikman]

Quote, originally posted by 1.8Transporter »

Ha! The stupid dealership is asking $38,000!

according to the reps at the Milwaukee Auto Show this weekend, the car with the track package in MT is under $30k loaded. the ZF should only add $1500

[patrikman]

Quote, originally posted by golfball83 »

you can actually take deferment for half the price of the ticket and not commit another infraction for a year, but if you do not abide by the contract this ticket resurfaces on your record along with the new one.

I thought we voted to ban you? ok, who was in charge of turning that petition in?

[Sump]

Negative nancies! When you test drive cars do you granny it through 1st and 2nd then cruise happily at 40 miles an hour? No, it's a tester and you beat on it! 120 is a little excessive, but 87 on an interstate isn't exactly hellraiser.

[Knock Sensor]

Quote, originally posted by jeff1234 »

Imagine what would happen if you got clocked at 120.

OP would be co-pilot to test driving a crown vic.

[EuroAtomic]

$200 for 87 in a 55??? That's a bargain.

[CarGuru916]

I think it's salesman-strokers Karma that finally caught up with the OP. Stroke the poor old salesman who's already making barely more if the same as the drive through attendee at the local the McDonald's and get what you pay for. Also $200 is a bargain to make the situation go away. In my state I would have got two points, and seen my insurance rise on top of that 30% or more. Also what does going 90+ mph on a test drive demonstrate? To be honest when I sold cars and I sold a lot of them I can't recall a single vehicle I ever sold to anyone that wanted to go 90+ mph on public roads.

[SuperGroove]

Quote, originally posted by Anon1210 »

Really? Do you honestly believe the "speeding limits are for your own good" bs? All the speed cameras popping up everywhere are to protect us right? It's not like there's any revenue to be had for certain people. Yeah it's "wrong" because it's the law. Pfft

What are speed limits for then?

[Real Gone Cat]

I want to test drive one of those, so bad.

[DoubleNaught]

When you go to traffic court plead insanity

[Ubel GLI]

Quote, originally posted by EuroAtomic »

$200 for 87 in a 55??? That's a bargain.

agreed xeleventy billion. I got that much for 81 in a 65.

[Harpoon]

Quote, originally posted by SuperGroove »

What are speed limits for then?

He's saying speed limits are in place strictly for us to break them, thus making the gov't money.