The test drive is an important part of your car purchase.
This is your chance to drive one or more used cars and decide which will be
yours for the next several years. A test drive may only be 10 or 15 minutes per
vehicles, but, there are several things you will want to remember to
check when comparing these used cars.
Before you drive
- Test the controls – Check things like the power windows and locks, power seats, power mirrors, Also make sure the air conditioner, heater, CD player, and window wipers are working correctly. Have someone sit behind the wheel and operate the headlights, brake lights, and turn signals as you verify that they work.
- Open everything- Open and close all the doors and the trunk, glove compartment, and center consul, make sure everything is operating smoothly. Also open the hood with the engine running and listen for knocks or ticks.
- Exterior check- walk around the whole vehicle and check for damage, rust, check under the vehicle for fluid leaks, check the tires, and look for a cracked windshield.
As you drive
- Driving comfort – take a moment to make sure the test drive vehicle is comfortable. Adjust the seat, steering wheel and mirrors to your comfort. While it usually takes a bit of driving to become completely comfortable with your next car, on the test drive you will know if you can get comfortable with that vehicle or not.
- Performance – be sure that during your test drive you have a chance to accelerate to at least 60mph, break, and drive on a highway and city streets. Check for any vibration in the steering wheel, or if the vehicle pulls to one side. Also listen for any odd noises while moving or at a standstill, and check if the transmission shift smoothly.
- Blind spots – while on your test drive be sure to check your blind spots carefully. Sometimes when changing from a car to a wagon, a car to a large SUV or the like, there are more blind spots. Most people can get used to them, but occasionally a customer will decide against a certain vehicle because of poor visibility.
