5 Things To Keep In Mind When Test-Driving A Car

Buying a car is usually a huge investment – not only in terms of money but also in terms of energy and time it takes to come to a conclusion on which car to buy. That’s why test driving a car is important before finalizing on a decision.

Research

Before going to a dealership and deciding on the spot which car you would like to test drive, it is a better idea to look up some of the cars that fit your requirement. Look for things like estimate costs of the cars, the number of passengers they can carry, economical fuel mileage, whether they have run on petrol or diesel, etc. This will save you time and help you shortlist potential cars that you like and make sure they suit your basic needs. It will also help you make a more informed decision, as opposed to depending the salesman to give you the information, in which case they might lead you to make a decision where they have a higher margin.

Make Appointment

This part may seem mundane but is very important. This is because it is likely the car you want to test drive will not be available, or it might be backed up by other cars and it could take the salesman a while to clear a path to move the car you are interested in. This is why, it is better to call ahead of time and make the appointment, giving the dealership enough time to make sure your choices of cars are available. This will also show if the car dealership allows for the test drive. For example, Honda City test drive is usually available in most car dealerships.

Exteriors of the Car

Before you sit in the car and inspect the engine and the interiors, make sure to look at the exteriors of the car. Look for any dents on the body of the car, or any cracks on the windows, etc. Look at the tyres and make sure the treads are prominent and not worn out. If the treads are worn down, the tyres might need to be replaced soon, so keep the cost of that in mind along with the car price and the car insurance. If the treads are worn out unevenly then the car alignment is likely not right, and the car needs to be checked.

Interiors of the car

While sitting inside the car, your comfort level is key. While having enough legroom and adjusting the seat to your liking is essential, don’t forget to inspect the basics things such as low fuel warning lights, air conditioning and heating. Some cars, such as Honda City, has a keyless entry and a glove box cooling, along with fully automated climate control and utility space for your phones and other gadgets. These are some of the features you can look for in the interiors of the car. Other things like an updated navigation system, voice control and a good Bluetooth connection should also be checked.

Driving of the Car

Once you drive the car, look for the smoothness of the drive. How well was it responding to your commands? Were the turns smooth, or did you feel like you had to force the steering wheel? For instance, Honda City has power steering and adjustable steering that makes steering comfortable and smooth even during sharp turns. Did the brakes work properly, or was the car taking too long to stop or stopping very abruptly? Are there any noises coming from the pedal or the steering wheel? Make sure to test drive on a road that you would typically drive. Do you usually drive on highways where your car needs to drive fast? Or inside the city with lots of signals where the car needs to stop and go in quick successions?

These are some things to keep in mind when test driving a car. Make sure to test different cars so you can compare different elements and have better power of negotiation with the salesman.