Mastering the Art of Effective Car Test Drives
Mastering the Art of Effective Car Test Drives? If you visit your local Subaru dealer website today, you will notice that they have a $65 Visa card for those who test drive. However, you might wonder, is it that simple? Should you feel guilty that you are wasting their time as you have no plans to buy a CrossTrek or an Outback at the moment?
Many of your buddies will advise you to take the gift card and screw the dealer. But let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture. You’re wasting their time if you go to a dealer, engage with the salesperson, and drive a car you don’t intend to buy.
But dealers expect this to happen at some point. After all, the program aims to get people who aren’t in the market into the showroom with hopes of converting them into purchasers. They also hope that if you aren’t a buyer today, you will have a good enough experience to return to the dealer when you are in the market again in the future.
If you genuinely want that $65 Visa gift card but want to lower the guilt, go to a dealer during a particularly sluggish period. For example, it may be quite early in the morning. As a result, the salesperson will be less likely to be distracted by you when assisting a more honest client.
Helpful Tips When Test Driving a Car
An essential step when buying a car is test driving. It’s the only way to know if the vehicle you’re willing to purchase is suitable for you. Just because a vehicle appears attractive on paper doesn’t mean it will drive comfortably for you. However, it would help if you always made sure a low-cost auto insurance policy covers you.
Do not pass judgment on a car’s design, ride, or comfort based on what others have said about it. Instead, it is beneficial to go through the process yourself and create your own opinions. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your test driving experience.
Tips on How to Avoid Sales Gimmicks
When you go to a showroom to look at new automobiles, go with the idea of taking one or two test drives while you’re there. You don’t want to be swayed by tried-and-true sales tactics into buying a car that isn’t necessarily suited for you. You can prepare yourself adequately so that the salesperson does not pull you in if you are aware of these strategies ahead of time:
Carry your driver’s license and proof of insurance: When you go for a test drive, the salesperson will typically want to have your driver’s license and insurance details on hand. While they must have the information before handing you the keys to their vehicle, you do not have to give them the actual license. That is because when you return, they frequently pretend to have misplaced it or take a long time to retrieve it. Hence you will have to remain in the showroom for an extended length of time, during which the salesperson will continue to push you into buying anything. On the other hand, you have the opportunity to depart right after the test drive if you give them the photocopy.
Do not agree to trade in before the test drive
When you indicate interest in a new car, the salesperson may inquire whether you are willing to trade in your current vehicle. State that you haven’t made up your mind, even if you intend to do so. The reason for this is that if they know you’ll be trading in your car, they’ll offer to evaluate it while you’re out for a test drive. That provides them with additional information in preparation for the hard sell. Take your time deciding which car you want to purchase, and then bring your old vehicle in for a later inspection.
Ask if you can take the test drive without the salesperson
Some dealerships will require that their salesperson be present when you take the test drive. However, others will allow you to make the drive alone. Some will even permit you to keep the car overnight to have a better feel for the vehicle. If the salesperson has to be present, insist on driving on several different routes and not the smooth predetermined ones.
Tips on What to Check For Before You Begin The Test.
- Check how easy it is to get in and out of the vehicle.
- Try adjusting the seats and make notes on the variety of the seat adjustments.
- Check how easy it is to adjust the side mirrors
- Check where the controls such as headlights, windshield wipers, and turn signals are located
Tips on What to Check For During Your Test Drive
There are several things you should pay attention to during your test drive. They include the following:
How does the ride on the car feel? Check on how easy it is to steer. For example, lighter steering would be suitable if you do a lot of city driving. Similarly, some people may find it easy to control the car if the steering is heavy. It is also essential to make notes on the smoothness of the ride.
The brakes
Brakes are an essential part of every vehicle. Make notes on how they feel on the car you are driving. Do they feel like they can help you make an instant stop? Do they grab too hard to make your smooth stop difficult? How comfortable do you feel with the car’s ability to stop?
The transmission
If the car is an automatic transmission, check how easily it up-shifts and downshifts, especially on the hills. On the other hand, if you are testing a manual transmission car, it is essential to check on how heavy the clutch is and how easy it is to shift gears. Also, remember to note how easy it is to discern between the second and fourth gear while shifting.
Maneuverability
Make notes on how easy the car maneuvers through the curves and the sharp turns and how well it accelerates to permit easy merges on the highway. Is it easy to park the vehicle? How well does it fit in your parking slot?
