TIPS FOR TESTING A CAR BEFORE PURCHASING

Whenever you visit showrooms to look at new cars, do so with the expectation that you may be taking one or two test drives while you are there. You do not want to let proven sales techniques influence you into purchasing a car that is not necessarily right for you. If you are aware of these techniques ahead of time, you can prepare yourself properly so that the salesperson doesn’t suck you in: 

In this article, we’ll try to dive into what to consider when testing a car:

• How the ride feels: Make note of the ease of steering. If the steering feels too heavy, it may become bothersome if you do a lot of city driving. Similarly, some people find that steering that is too light makes it difficult to properly control the car. Also, check for the smoothness of the ride. Try driving over railroad tracks or bumpier road to get the best idea of how the car handles. Give consideration to the following:
• The brakes: Naturally, brakes are a very important part of the car. How do the brakes feel in the car you are driving? Do you feel that you can stop quickly or is there a long braking distance? Do the brakes grab too hard and make smooth stops difficult? Do you personally feel comfortable with the vehicle’s ability to stop?
• The transmission: If the car has a manual transmission, ask yourself questions such as how heavy is the clutch? Are the gears easy to shift into? Is it difficult to discern between first and third gear while shifting? Is it easy to shift? If you are testing driving a vehicle with an automatic transmission, make note of how smoothly it upshifts and downshifts, particularly on hills.
• Visibility: Be sure that you can see properly in all directions, particularly out of your rear window. Make note of blind spots. Many new cars have wide trim around the windows, which can make it difficult to see a large portion to your left and your right. If you were at a stop light and someone started crossing the street in front of your vehicle, would you be able to see the person approaching?
• Maneuverability: Is the car easy to maneuver through curves and tight turns? Does it accelerate well to allow for easy merges onto the highway? How easy is the car to park? Does it fit well in parking places? Is parallel parking easy? Does the front end sit low enough to scrape on parking curbs? Is a three-point turn possible in limited space situations?
• Cabin noise: With the vehicle’s sound system off, make note of cabin noise. Can you hear the tires on the roadway? Is the car noisy? When on the freeway, do you have to raise your voice significantly to carry on a conversation?
• Climate control systems: Check out the climate control system. Is the fan powerful enough? Are the vents sufficient in number and placement? Are the controls easy to use?
• Electronic amenities: If the car is equipped with special amenities such as a navigation system or rear-view camera, try them out. Do you find them satisfactory or lacking in funct