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How to Test-Drive a Car

December 15, 2017 by Debi Leave a Comment

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Ready to buy a new car? You will want to make sure you have done your research. Check out what the car is worth. Make sure you have gotten your pre-financing. Once you have found the car that you are looking for at the dealership, you will want to take it for a test drive.

Make an appointment. If you make an appointment to test drive the car you are hoping to buy, you will have less of a wait time. Sometimes, dealership can be busy and you might have to wait for a salesperson.

Think about what you want in your car. Think about the color. Make sure that the car you choose has the color you like. Remember that the color will look different in the daylight than at night. Does the car fit the child car seats for your children. What happens if someone has to ride next to the child seat? Is there room? Look at the cargo space. Is there enough room in the trunk? What about the leg room. How big is the car? Will it fit in your garage or parking space?

Before you get ready to take the car out on the road, think about how is the entry and exit of the car. Can you get in and out easily? What is slightly annoying about getting in and out right now, will become aggravating later on. Do you like the way the driver seat feels? Is there enough head room, leg room, hip room? Sit back in the seat. Is the seat comfortable for driving? Is the the seat high enough, too high? Can you easily read all of the gauges?  Can you see well through all of the mirrors and windows or are there blind spots?

When you are ready to start the test drive, talk with the salesperson. Oftentimes, the salesperson will tell you a predetermined route. This is not always a good way to test drive a car. You will want to try different driving situations to get the best feel. Let the salesperson know what kind of driving experience you are hoping for and you will most likely get it.

You want to drive the car the way you will once you own it. If you drive in the mountains, you will want to see how well the car can climb hills. If you spend most of your time on the highways, you will want to see how the car does in traffic.
Once you are driving think about how the car accelerates. Does it downshift easily? Can you climb hills easily or pass traffic. How does the engine sound? Is it quiet? Is there a rattle?Are the tires noisy? How does the braking feel? Do the brakes grab suddenly? Does the vehicle handle well? Does the car ride comfortably on a rough road?

Check the technology of the car too. Try pairing your phone with the bluetooth system to hear the audio and make a test call. Check out the backup camera. Does the GPS seem easy to use?What about the steering controls? Does the layout make sense?

 

At the end of the drive, think over everything that you learned during the drive.  Take some time to decide if you like the car before jumping in to buy.

Filed Under: cars

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Hey everyone. We are Debi and Don. Recently engaged, we are raising our kids while seeking adventure everywhere we go. Located outside of Philadelphia, we love to travel and eat. If you are interested in working with us, please email Debi@EatSleepTravelRepeat.com. Save on your hotel - www.hotelscombined.com
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