Why is Test Driving a Vehicle important?
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After spending much time researching the type of car that you want and the best places to buy that car, you’ve finally made it on to the lot to view the cars in person. You spend a bit of time walking the lot, peering into the cars that catch your eye, in an effort choose the perfect one. When you finally find a car that might be “the one”, it’s time for the moment of truth…
the test drive.
Why is Test Driving a Vehicle important?
Test driving a car is a great opportunity to really get a feel for both the individual car itself, as well as the make and model, and can aid you in deciding if it is the right car for you.
Check storage
So many people are inclined to pop the hood of a potential car, despite the fact that most of us have no idea what we’re really looking for underneath there. Oddly enough, people commonly forget to check the space in back! Be sure to check out the trunk space in the car and not to go solely off how it looks from the outside. You’ll want to make sure it has enough room to fit your specific needs.
Ride in silence
In can be tempting to hop in on your test drive and immediately start tinkering with the radio settings, simulating the conditions in which you’d be regularly driving the car in. When test driving, however, it’s best to leave the radio off once you begin driving. If weather permitting, crack the windows open as well. This allows you to hear how the vehicle is running.
Check for any notification lights
Be sure to check the dash for any notifications on the dashboard like “check engine” or “service engine soon”. If you see any, there’s no need to panic. These can sometimes be triggered by simple sensors in the car that need to be reset. It’s very important that you ask and gain a full understanding, however, of any notifications that appear.
Stray off the beaten path
While it’s great that the car you’re driving is smooth on roads and highways, you want to be sure to test it in other conditions as well. Find an empty area or parking lot and test how easily you are able to maneuver the car making U-turns, backing out of a spot, making a quick stop, and other scenarios that you likely come across during day to day driving.
For more car resources, check out our Auto Talk section.
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