Whether you’re buying a new or used car, the road test will, along with the price, be the determining factor in your decision. Whether or not you spend thousands of your hard-earned dollars will depend entirely on those 30 minutes you’ll spend behind the wheel. But how can you be sure you’ve covered all your bases? Here are 10 tips that will help you get the most out of your road test.
1- Bring the people who will drive the car often along with you
Will somebody other than yourself be driving the car regularly? If so, make sure he or she accompanies you on your reconnaissance mission and spends some time behind the wheel too. You might be smitten by a particular model, but your better half… not so much. You’ll also get the chance to evaluate the passenger experience as well.
Are you looking for a minivan, SUV or family-oriented ride? Bring the kids! They can provide some valuable feedback.
You might be better off leaving the toddlers with a babysitter, however, as they could distract you from your assessment and you could end up making the wrong decision.
2- Try the model you’re planning on purchasing
Some salespeople will try to get you to drive a fully loaded product with all the bells and whistles. Don’t fall into that trap, except if it’s a model you’re interested in.
Driving the cream of the crop when you’re looking for a base model can easily alter your perception and create a false sense of luxury. You could be mislead and end up buying an inappropriate product that will disappoint for years to come.
3- Take control
Ask the sales rep to let you try the car by yourself. That way you can talk freely with your passengers during the test and discuss both the positive and negative aspects of the vehicle.
If that’s not an option, ask the seller to keep comments to a minimum unless you ask him or her a question directly. If you feel uncomfortable voicing your opinion in the presence of the seller, take five minutes immediately after the road test to confer with your team.
4- Familiarize yourself with the car before you go
Take the time to find a good driving position, to properly adjust the steering wheel and mirrors and to locate the A/C and stereo controls. If something seems too complicated or you have trouble finding a comfortable position, it might not be the car for you!
5- Select an itinerary and drive the car like it was your own
Make sure you drive over different surfaces (potholes, sand, gravel, etc.), the way you normally would. That’ll give you a great idea of how the car handles and of the quality of the suspension when conditions are less than ideal.
Remember, a salesperson will put emphasis on a product’s strengths, not its weaknesses.
6- Mix it up
Drive both in town and on the highway. That way you can see if the car has enough gumption to properly merge onto the highway and if the brakes are calibrated to your liking, and even to gauge fuel consumption by way of the on-board computer.
7- Don’t forget to park!
If you pass by a supermarket, mall or busy public place, take a couple of minutes to practice parking the car. Note the turning radius and visibility. And if you get the chance, by all means, do a little parallel parking.
8- Turn off that radio
You may be tempted to pump up the volume, but it’s best to partake in that pleasure in the dealer lot only. That way, you can note any small noise that could be a sign of potential issues as well as evaluate the quality of the soundproofing.
9- Drive at night
Driving a potential candidate at night will give you a good idea of the quality of the headlamps and allow you to test the instrument backlighting. Red mood lighting might put some drivers on edge, for instance.
10- Never buy on the spur of the moment
A motivated and experienced seller may try to get you to start the purchase and negotiating process right away. Be sure to emphasize from the start that you have the intention of sticking strictly to a road test that day. That’ll give you the time to evaluate the vehicle with a cool head and test other models as well.
Don’t let that new car smell and a positive experience lead you to act more impulsively than you normally would. Considering that tens of thousands of dollars are at stake, it’s definitely in your best interest to make an informed decision and choose a car that suits your budget as well as your needs for years to come.
Happy shopping!
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1- Bring the people who will drive the car often along with you
Will somebody other than yourself be driving the car regularly? If so, make sure he or she accompanies you on your reconnaissance mission and spends some time behind the wheel too. You might be smitten by a particular model, but your better half… not so much. You’ll also get the chance to evaluate the passenger experience as well.
Are you looking for a minivan, SUV or family-oriented ride? Bring the kids! They can provide some valuable feedback.
You might be better off leaving the toddlers with a babysitter, however, as they could distract you from your assessment and you could end up making the wrong decision.
2- Try the model you’re planning on purchasing
Some salespeople will try to get you to drive a fully loaded product with all the bells and whistles. Don’t fall into that trap, except if it’s a model you’re interested in.
Driving the cream of the crop when you’re looking for a base model can easily alter your perception and create a false sense of luxury. You could be mislead and end up buying an inappropriate product that will disappoint for years to come.
3- Take control
Ask the sales rep to let you try the car by yourself. That way you can talk freely with your passengers during the test and discuss both the positive and negative aspects of the vehicle.
If that’s not an option, ask the seller to keep comments to a minimum unless you ask him or her a question directly. If you feel uncomfortable voicing your opinion in the presence of the seller, take five minutes immediately after the road test to confer with your team.
4- Familiarize yourself with the car before you go
Take the time to find a good driving position, to properly adjust the steering wheel and mirrors and to locate the A/C and stereo controls. If something seems too complicated or you have trouble finding a comfortable position, it might not be the car for you!
5- Select an itinerary and drive the car like it was your own
Make sure you drive over different surfaces (potholes, sand, gravel, etc.), the way you normally would. That’ll give you a great idea of how the car handles and of the quality of the suspension when conditions are less than ideal.
Remember, a salesperson will put emphasis on a product’s strengths, not its weaknesses.
6- Mix it up
Drive both in town and on the highway. That way you can see if the car has enough gumption to properly merge onto the highway and if the brakes are calibrated to your liking, and even to gauge fuel consumption by way of the on-board computer.
7- Don’t forget to park!
If you pass by a supermarket, mall or busy public place, take a couple of minutes to practice parking the car. Note the turning radius and visibility. And if you get the chance, by all means, do a little parallel parking.
8- Turn off that radio
You may be tempted to pump up the volume, but it’s best to partake in that pleasure in the dealer lot only. That way, you can note any small noise that could be a sign of potential issues as well as evaluate the quality of the soundproofing.
9- Drive at night
Driving a potential candidate at night will give you a good idea of the quality of the headlamps and allow you to test the instrument backlighting. Red mood lighting might put some drivers on edge, for instance.
10- Never buy on the spur of the moment
A motivated and experienced seller may try to get you to start the purchase and negotiating process right away. Be sure to emphasize from the start that you have the intention of sticking strictly to a road test that day. That’ll give you the time to evaluate the vehicle with a cool head and test other models as well.
Don’t let that new car smell and a positive experience lead you to act more impulsively than you normally would. Considering that tens of thousands of dollars are at stake, it’s definitely in your best interest to make an informed decision and choose a car that suits your budget as well as your needs for years to come.
Happy shopping!