Test drive is one of the most important part in your car buying checklist. There are a lot of things that you need to take note of during that short period of time. You may be eager to sign on the dotted line, but there are still some areas that you need to take note of before you confirm that the car model that you test drive on is the one you really wants.
Here are a few tips that you may want to consider when going for a test drive:
- Visibility
Ensure that you are able to see all the traffic around you. That is, you vision should not be block by the internal design of the car when during reversing, change lane or while turning. The blindspots will varies on different types of car models.
- Noise
Never test drive a car with the sound system on. You can always test the sound system when at the showroom, while the vehicle is not moving. You need to switch off the radio such as you are able to access the level of external noise, such as those coming from the tyre, wind, or other vehicles on the road that you may hear within the vehicle. Such noise will be very minimal for a good vehicle
- Car Performance
Feel how does your car perform during the drive. That is, will the car engine be noisy when you turn on and off of the car? Will the vehicle be able to brake and accelerate smoothly? How is the pick up speed when moving off from the traffic light? Is the gear changing smooth for auto transmission vehicle?
- Maneuvering
When holding onto the steering wheel, you should not feel any vibration when driving.
You should not feel a pull or drift when performing a turn. Feel how well is the brake by doing an emergency brake if the traffic condition allows you to do so.
One and the last thing to take note of when going for a test drive is that it is always good to bring someone along by seeking the other party opinion. How comfortable will your passenger be should also be one of the items that you need to consider when purchasing a new car.