If you’re a first-time buyer and you think you can skip the test-drive, think again. You learn so much about a car when you get behind the wheel that you’d be doing yourself a disservice not to take it for a test-spin. Before you buy a car, you need to get to know it. Let’s look at all of the things you should do before and after a test-drive and the reasons why you need to do them!
Key Takeaways
- Do a little research on what you want in a car before you head to the dealership. At the dealership, inspect the cars you like and make sure they meet your standards. Request a test route that answers your specific questions about each car.
- Take a test route that represents your daily drive and consider different aspects of performance, such as speed, handling, suspension, and braking.
- Consider the car’s features — such as seating comfort and driver safety aids — and whether or not they suit your preferences.
- You don’t need to buy the first car you test-drive. Even if a particular car seems perfect, it’s a good idea to have a couple of options available to you.
How to Test-Drive a Car
Before you head out to test-drive a car, do a little research. Know what you want from a car before you even get to the dealership. Once there, give each car the once-over before you test-drive it. Make sure the tires are in good shape, all the wheels match, and all the dash controls are operational.
Often, a sales rep will have a set route for test-drives. However, you can request to go off the beaten track to feel how the car feels as it merges into highway traffic or coasts up an incline. After the test drive, you don’t need to rush into any decisions. In fact, it’s a good idea to test-drive more than one model to get a feel for what you prefer.
What to Consider During the Drive
You’ll want a test-drive that represents your daily drive. For example, if you want to see how a car climbs a hill or accelerates onto the highway, ask your sales rep if you can include a few detours in your drive.
Here are some aspects you should consider on your test-drive, along with some questions you should ask yourself:
- Speed and acceleration: Does the car get up to speed in a timely enough manner? When you hit the gas pedal, how quickly does the transmission respond?
- Steering and handling: Does the steering give you a good sense of the road? Does it respond well to your input?
- Suspension: Depending on whether you choose a sportier or more refined model, the suspension can feel stiff or soft (or anywhere in between). The question you need to ask is, can you live with the level of ride comfort the car offers?
- Braking: Does the car come to a smooth stop? Do the brakes feel grabby?
- Wind, road, and engine noise: Notice how the car sounds when you accelerate. Can you live with the noise? How do the tires sound on the road? Does the cabin filter out enough wind and road noise?
Don’t Forget to Consider the Features
More than how the car feels on the road, you also want to consider how you feel in the car. Does the driver’s seat offer long-term comfort? Is there enough space in the cabin for your friends and family members?
You’ll also want to try out the tech features, preferably before or after your test drive. For example, you can pair your phone to the system to test out the infotainment gear. Plug a location into the navigation system to see how easy it is to use. Put the car in reverse and check out the backup camera display. If none of these features is up to your standards, you can always check out a different model or more recent model year.
Making the Right Choice
After a thoughtful test-drive, you’ll have a good idea of whether a car is right for you . However, you can always take a day to sleep on it before you make any big decisions. And it’s also a good idea to test-drive multiple vehicles and compare notes! Whatever you decide, your test-drive observations should always factor into your choice.