Should i schedule a test drive

While you are on your test drive, pay attention to several things. If you have a friend or family member with you, you can ask them to jot down your observations while you drive. That way, if you are test driving several different cars, you can distinguish between them when doing a final assessment. Give consideration to the following:. Even if you loved everything about the car you just drove, do not let the dealership coerce you into buying right away. It is a good idea to test drive at least three vehicles and keep your options open.

If your salesperson offers you a great deal, write their offer on the back of their business card and let them know that you will be in touch if you decide to go with that particular vehicle. If the car is one that you believe you have an interest in owning, ask questions about things that may influence your future costs such as these:. Once you are armed with information about a variety of cars you have test driven, take the time to think about each vehicle before deciding which one you want to purchase.

All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story. Ideally, to accurately compare one car with another, you should test-drive all of your candidate vehicles on the same day, preferably on the same or similar roads. A multibrand "auto mall" is one place to do that, even if you don't end up buying from there.

You will be able to drive each car along an identical test route and compare all of them in the same afternoon. Before your test-drive , be sure to check these items off your to-do list:. Make a list of the things you like and dislike about it: performance, comfort, features, fuel economy , controls, and any idiosyncrasies. Does the seat give you a backache on long trips? Is there too little storage space? Are there cup holders that don't hold drinks securely?

Which tech features does your car lack? Put down all of your gripes—large and small—so that you don't overlook those things in the new car. If a salesperson goes along with you on your test drive, he or she will probably suggest a quick, well-used route that's "friendly" to the vehicle and doesn't stress the engine or suspension too much. But this won't give you a complete picture. Try to plot out a route of your own in advance, one that lets you experience various traffic situations and different types of roads.

Include a stretch of broken or washboard pavement and speed bumps in the loop. It would be best if you were able to spend at least a half-hour test-driving each vehicle.

If you can, go on a route that you are familiar with so that you'll be able to spend more time focusing on the car instead of an unfamiliar road. When you call the dealerships, confirm that the vehicle or vehicles you want to test-drive are in stock and equipped the way you want. If you're contemplating a car with the base engine, it doesn't make sense to test-drive a fully loaded demo with the uplevel powertrain.

A key part of this process is taking the car you are interested in out for a test drive. It is not uncommon for a customer to purchase a car before driving it and experience disappointment when it does not meet his or her expectations.

You looked at the reviews — everyone is raving about the car that you want. Even better, you looked at prices and found a good deal. You may think that you have your mind made up, but skipping a test drive will cost you an opportunity to get great insight into the car.

To avoid buyers remorse, schedule a test drive with the dealer and make sure this significant investment into your future will pay off like it should. For example, while the interior comfort of a vehicle may be lauded by many, it may not fit your body like the majority of other customers.

When you take a car for a test drive, you will want to avoid pushing too far. Firstly, the car is not broken in yet so it will wear on it considerably. Secondly, it does not conform to proper test driving etiquette.