New Car Buying Advice: The Test Drive
Once you’ve decided on a car that you like, it’s time for the test drive. To make sure you’ve picked the right vehicle, you need to understand how to properly evaluate it.Here is our new car buying advice on how to test drive a car:
Call ahead: Call the dealership ahead of time to make sure they have the specific model you are looking for and set up an appointment to test drive it.
Before starting the car: The excitement of going for a drive in what may be your new car can often distract from the purpose of the test drive. Some of the most important evaluation happens right on the dealer’s lot. Before going anywhere, take some time to inspect the vehicle inside and out. Are you 100% happy with the way it looks? Does the paint job look like top quality? Does it look like a well designed vehicle overall?
Cargo room: Open the trunk or tailgate. Can you reach inside the cargo area easily? Is there enough room for your things? Think of the items you’d need to carry. Make sure the trunk will accommodate those items.
Try it on: Notice how wide the door openings are. Will you and your passengers be able to get in and out easily? Try getting in and out of the seats. Think about different scenarios you’ll encounter with the car such as loading groceries or picking up the kids. Don’t forget to try sitting in the back seat. Will your passengers be comfortable? Position the steering wheel as needed. Can you use the pedals comfortably? Are the control knobs within easy reach? Try out the heater/air conditioning, wipers, mirror adjustments, etc. Can you operate them easily while keeping your eyes on the road?
Drive the exact model you’re interested in: Different trims, packages and interior features can affect the personality and drivability of a car. If possible, drive the exact vehicle you’d like to purchase.
Ride quality: Drive the car on variety of road surfaces to evaluate its performance in different settings. Test it on the types of roads that you drive every day. Listen and feel how the car handles. Do you feel vibrations as you ride or is the ride smooth?
Power: Test the power on the highway as well as on city streets. Is the engine power acceptable? How quickly does the power come on when you want to accelerate? Does the car begin to slow when you lift off the gas pedal or does the car continue to coast? Are you comfortable with it’s behavior?
Transmission: If the car has manual transmission, look for smooth shifter and clutch action. If you’re testing an SUV , engage and disengage the 4WD to test how easily it operates. If testing an automatic, how are the upshifts and downshifts? Are they smooth? Operation should be nearly transparent with no abrupt jolts during shifts.
Handling: Practice both long and short turns, swerves and smooth transitions. How well does the car react to changes in direction? Does it feel stable and controllable? Are you comfortable with the steering response?
Braking: Try out the brakes. Make sure they slow the vehicle in a smooth and controlled manner. Test the car’s reaction to sudden braking. Remember to warn occupants of your intentions and be sure to check for other cars around you.
Noise: Listen for excessive engine, road and wind noise, with the windows both up and down. How much noise do you hear from vehicles around you? As you travel at higher speeds, do you hear a lot of noise? Excessive noise can quickly become irritating.
Parking: Try parking and parallel parking the car to check for blind spots or any difficulty identifying the corners of the car. Do you feel comfortable parking the vehicle?
