Taking your new car for a test drive is an exciting step in the car-buying process, but it’s important to be well-prepared. Knowing what to look for and what to expect can help you make an informed decision. Here’s what you should know before you hit the road for that all-important test drive.
What do you want?
Before you start exploring a car dealership in tampa florida, or anywhere else, take a moment to think about what you want from your new car. Consider your priorities: do you value high performance more, or are low insurance costs and good fuel economy more important to you?
Also, think about whether you need a car with plenty of room for the whole family and lots of storage space, or if a compact city car would be better. Are you looking for a brand-new vehicle or a low-mileage used model? These are the kinds of questions you should ask yourself before taking a car out for a test drive.
Review the reviews
Of course, what you think is the crux of the issue, but it’s worth having a look at online reviews too, so you obtain an overview of the pros and cons of the various cars you’re considering purchasing. A short test drive won’t give you the full picture, so peruse reviews in car journals beforehand to see if any common issues arise, like poor journey quality or difficulty in handling for example. They may well have had the opportunity to test drive their car over a longer period, on different terrain or in different weather conditions for example.
A second opinion is valuable
Bring a friend or member of your family along with you for the test drive, they may observe things you haven’t, and it’s worth getting a second opinion. Unfortunately, there have been instances where car dealerships take advantage of consumers and sell them a faulty vehicle, so that second opinion may just prevent a whole range of problems. Thankfully, there are auto dealership fraud lawyers who can help if fraudulent activity is still apparent. A lawyer can seek compensation for any maintenance work that needs to be completed or perhaps if the car has been involved in an accident because of the missold vehicle.
Planning to test drive a single car?
Having given your preferred car some thought, plan to test drive more than one car if you can. If you have a clear favourite, then arrange to test drive the model’s main competitor too.
Insurance is a must
Remember you must have insurance before driving a car. So it’s best to take out temporary car insurance before you embark on your test drive. Short term car insurance is typically available from 1 to 28 days and can prove an extremely cost-effective way to ensure you have the insurance you require.
Don’t assume the car dealership will provide you with insurance that is either good value or as comprehensive as you’d prefer, which is why taking the time to speak with an experienced local insurance broker beforehand will allow you to find the right temporary car insurance for your needs, allowing you to take your chosen car out on a test drive with peace of mind.
Taking the car home?
When arranging the test drive, ask if you can drive the car home and ideally keep it over night. That way you’ll have the chance to drive the car at different times of the day and night. You’ll also get an idea of how easy it is to manoeuvre into your driveway or park in your street. If taking the car home isn’t an option, then arrange a second test drive at a different time of day, so you have an idea of what the car is like to drive in different light levels.
Explore and play
Take the time to explore the features and layout of your prospective car. Even if you’re sitting stationary in the dealership car lot, give yourself the opportunity to familiarise yourself with a few key factors: can you get in and out of the car with ease? Are you comfortable in the driving seat and are things laid out as you wish? Is the storage adequate and positioned where you’d wish it to be? Are the safety features you want included? Also, are the sight lines good, can you see around the car and if not, are there systems to help you detect people or objects closeby.
Features and benefits
If you haven’t bought a car for some time, you’ll notice that technology has moved on swiftly and there are likely to be features you haven’t benefitted from before. So ensure you understand all of the features that are included in your preferred car.
Out on the road
Once your test drive is underway and you’re out on the road, consider such things as visibility, steering, handling and the ease of manoeuvring, plus the car’s stability, the smoothness of your journey, and the noise levels inside the car.
Make your intentions clear
Back at the car dealership, make your intentions clear and let the salesperson know that you are test driving cars with a number of their competitors too – that way they may just offer you a better deal. Don’t feel pressured to make a decision quickly – take your time.
Your test drive
So there you have a few things to consider in the run up to your test drive and some things to bear in mind once it’s underway. Preparation is key if you want to find the make and model of car best suited to your requirements.
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