Car Test Drives

You control the deal. If at any point you feel pressured or that your concerns aren't being met, walk away. There is no reason you should have to suffer through the ordeal with a rude and inconsiderate salesperson. However, if you do get a stand-up dealer, you do your research and you remain calm, cool and collected, chances are you'll get the sweet deal you were looking for and you work will have paid off.

The car test drive should help you assess whether the car is for you or not. It might be wise to compare the car with another manufacturer's model in the same class. The car test drive is for you, so make sure that you drive. I've seen customers leave the dealership on a test drive with the car dealer behind the wheel. Don't allow this to happen. If the car dealer insists on driving (I can't see why this would be the case, but it does happen), tell him or her that you'll take your business to another dealership. Also, allow plenty of time for the car test drive. You'll want to spend a good 15 minutes behind the wheel. You may even want to take it out more than once before making a decision. Here are a few other things to keep in mind: Drive car on the highway. Does it handle well on the on-ramp? Does it merge well into traffic? How's your vision over your shoulder when merging and changing lanes? Check the steering and braking. Take the vehicle to an empty parking lot and brake hard. Also, test the brakes while steering aggressively. Does the car handle well? Do you feel the car will respond in an emergency situation? Do the anti-lock brakes seem to engage properly? Take the car to familiar routes. This is where your driving is most familiar and comfortable, so this is a great place or you to really get a feel of the car. Will it fit into your driveway or garage? Make sure you listen to the car. The dealer may be talking excessively about how cool the flashing arrows on your side mirrors are, but make sure to shut them up for a minute. This can be a tactic to mask some noise in the car. Be sure to listen to the engine at different speeds. Listen to the airflow around the car, especially at higher speeds. Check the air conditioning and heater to see if there is excessive noise. Also, see if there's a loss of power with the A/C and heater turned on. Listen to the stereo system, making sure there are no crackling speakers and that you get quality radio reception. Test the car's steering and handling in tighter situations. Make a U-turn. Does the car have an adequate turning radius? Parallel park the car as well. Does it maneuver well into the spot? In an automatic, feel the gears shift as you increase speed. Do they take to long to shift? Is there a whine before the transmission hits the next gear? Check the acceleration of the car. This can be a critical factor when merging onto the highway or when avoiding a potential accident. Does it respond, or is there a lag between stepping on the gas and accelerating? Drive the car in some regular freeway traffic. Are you able to change lanes without anything blocking your vision? Also test the cruise control if the car is equipped. Now that you've properly assessed the vehicle, take some time to write up a pro/con list. This way you can gauge on paper your overall preferences.