Why Should You Take a Test Drive?

Whether or not you are considering the purchase of a new car or just in the mood to take one out for a spin, the test drive experience can be one full of adventure or it can be one full of trickery and deception. We've chosen the latter option. While most may go out and take a nice little cruise as instructed by the nervous and slightly pushy salesman sitting beside, this rarely provides the information required to make an informed decision. To actually make the test drive worthwhile, one needs to have a plan, an intention and a focus befitting a shrewd and calculating master. Joy rides will only result in your signing a check for an unknown quantity.


Have you done a little research on the car you want to test or have you just glanced at the car brochures with its fancy pictures? Do you know the different models and options available? What about the engine sizes and auto and manual transmission options? Is there a sport package? What about a family version? Don't bother test driving a car unless you have done your homework and know exactly which car to test. If that specific model is not on hand, try another dealer. It's best even to choose the right colour as well. You wouldn't have the choice of colour if it didn't have a little impact on how you feel in the car. Now we're ready to examine why we need to test drive the car at all.


If you do a lot of driving, you'll be in this car for much of your day. It becomes more important than your bed or sofa. Unless you lie awake at night or try to drive your sofa, you can see how the proper choice in a car has a big impact on your quality of life. You want to know if it is comfortable. You need to know it is safe. You must know if it responds well to your touch and handles the way you like or feels like a tired stable horse that may or may not obey your commands.


How do you take a proper test drive? There are 5 things to do that are an absolute minimum. The first is to simply cruise in traffic at normal or low speeds in neighbourhoods or near a school. See how the visibility is and how easy it is to just relax and drive safely. This is local driving and what most people do most of the time. It is vital that it feels good. Next, get out on the open highway where you can experience some speed. Does the car seem to drift or hold the lane? Is it certain and easy to make a lane change? Can you accelerate or decelerate quickly if need be?


Thirdly, try to park the car in as any situations as possible. Do you know where the curb is and can you get used to the length and width? This helps when pulling into tight spots that may cause damage to your car or another's if you don't know exactly where your car begins and ends. Next, find an abandoned road or parking lot and make some unexpected small maneuvers at low speed. How does the car respond? Finally, check out the radio, air conditioning and other controls. Can you understand them? Are they easy to use? Can you move the seat without too much trouble and feel comfortable with the fabrics and materials used?


Ignore the sleek pictures in the car brochure. Test driving a car should be done with the trickiness and deception of a triple agent. Don't let the salesperson dictate how it goes. Test what you need to test in the way you want to test it. It's your money and your car. We would, however, warn against hitting a wall to test the airbags. This can make even the most successful test drive a quite unpleasant experience.