Steps for a successful test drive

The test drive is without a doubt the most important part of the buying process. Test driving a vehicle allows you to learn more about the car, how it behaves on the road, how comfortable it is, how powerful it is, and most importantly, how you feel behind the wheel.

On the other hand, test drives at the dealership can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. It doesn’t help that you are driving the vehicle for the first time, on roads you are probably not familiar with, and you have a sales representative talking to you at the same time. That last part isn’t so bad actually as you can ask questions that may not have come up unless you were in the car.

You can however ask for a bit of silence if you want to have a chance to feel how the car drives. Next, make sure you adjust your mirrors and your seat to the perfect position before you head out. This will ensure that you are comfortable as you learn about the car.

Next, ask to have a demonstration of the center console, infotainment system and various other information before you head out. This way, you know where all the controls are, but you can also focus on the road and how the car drives.

The important aspects of the drive to focus on are comfort (suspension and how quiet the cabin is), performance (get on the highway and see how the car accelerates, or drive around the city and make sure you are comfortable with brakes and throttle response), visibility (can you see well towards the back and to the side), and overall how good you feel driving the car.

The test drive is the most important part of the buying process, do not waste it!

Thank you to Glenmore Audi for their help with this article.