Test Drive Tips Making the Best of Your Car Buying Experience

 

Test Drive Tips - Make the Best of Your Car Buying Experience!

More and more of the car shopping process is now taking place on the internet.  From researching vehicles you are interested in, to looking for specific inventory and even beginning the financing process.

However, there’s one aspect of the car buying experience that can’t be replicated online (yet!) and that’s the Test Drive.

10 Terrific Tips For Taking A Test Drive

 

Roll your sleeves up, put on those driving gloves and take a nice, long test drive.

So what exactly should you be looking for when you test drive your next vehicle? I’m glad you asked!

1. Prepare

Do your homework!  The average consumer today visits almost 20 websites, watches almost an hour of online video, and spends close to 12 hours in total shopping for a vehicle online before entering a dealership.

Before you set off to visit your local dealership, schedule an appointment to take a test drive.  Any dealership worth buying or leasing a vehicle from will prepare just as hard as you have for your arrival.  

At Teton Motors, we’ll make sure the vehicle you wish to drive is gassed, cleaned and pulled up front awaiting your arrival.  When you arrive, your Sales Professional will be ready to greet you and have you on the road in no time at all!

2. Know Which Vehicle You Want To Test Drive

Knowing exactly which vehicle and what trim level you wish to drive when you arrive is greatly beneficial.  If you were interested in the 2016 Subaru Forester Limited with Navigation, then make sure that’s the car you test drive.  Although they have the same body style, taking the base Forester out for a spin wouldn’t give you the same drive and feel as the GT.

If you are open to other options and trim levels, take those for a test drive as well. Don’t assume all the various trim levels of a model drive the exact same.

3. Get To Know Your Vehicle

Prior to getting behind the wheel, your Sales Professional at Teton Motors will give you what’s known as a “walk-around presentation” on the vehicle you’ll be driving.  Pay close attention to make sure the features on the vehicle are the ones you are specifically looking for.  If something’s missing from the vehicle (or there’s something extra) don’t be shy when asking about it.

Before you drive off make sure you know where the headlight and windshield wiper controls are located, make note of how easy it is to access radio and climate controls, and check out the size of the glove compartment and center console storage areas.

The goal is to have a general idea of where everything is and what everything does before you begin your test drive so you can concentrate on the vehicle itself.

4. Is It a Fit For The Whole Family?

You’ll want to keep in mind the rest of the family and how the vehicle will work for them. If you are shopping alone, ask yourself if your spouse will fit comfortably in the passenger, drivers and back seating area. If you have young children, will all the car seats and booster seats safely fit in the back row?

5. Turn off the Radio

Although a quality sound system is important to some shoppers, save testing this feature out until you have sufficient time behind the wheel.  You’ll want the cabin environment to be as quiet as possible so you can better hear the engine, the smoothness of gear changes and wind noise.

Once you’re happy with the sounds of the vehicle in its natural state, feel free to tune into your favorite radio station and enjoy the soundtrack to your test drive.

Don’t forget to test the horn! You’ll want to know what kind of power it has.

6. Duplicate Your Everyday Driving

When test driving a vehicle, be sure to drive on the same types of roads and freeways you use every day.

Do you have to travel up and down a mile long stretch of dirt road each day? Then ask your Sales Professional at Gladstone Mitsubishi to direct you to the nearest dirt road so you get a feel for your vehicle in real-life situations.

7. Check Your Blind Spots

Part of being a safe driver is knowing where the blind spots are on your vehicle. Because we’re all different heights and adjust our seats differently, blind spots may be different for each driver in your family. Ultimately you’ll want to make sure your full field of vision is comfortable in your next vehicle.

  

8. Check The Brakes

Find a deserted street or empty stretch of parking lot to test the brakes. Make sure no one is behind you, accelerate to a legal speed and depress the brakes. Make a mental note on how they react to your pressure. You don’t want the brakes to be grabby or over sensitive. The braking should be smooth and even with moderate pressure on the brake pedal.

9. Parking and Turning Radius

How easy is it to maneuver your vehicle into a tight parking spot? As you wrap up your test drive, find a place to parallel park the vehicle and test out its turning radius.

10. Test Comparable Models The Same Day

If you plan on driving multiple vehicles before making your final decision, do your best to test drive each of the vehicles in the same day.  This way you’ll be able to easily compare each vehicle you drive so you can make an educated decision on which you’ll ultimately purchase or lease.

Let’s Go For a Drive!

Whether you are shopping for a new or used vehicle, our dedicated team is here to make sure your entire car shopping experience is stress free from start to finish.  Call us today at (888) 817-0689 or click to schedule your VIP Appointment.