When it comes to selecting your new vehicle, you probably have more than a few things in mind. One is how smoothly and efficiently it drives, and another could be how spacious it is inside. But there are quite a few other aspects to think about as well, and it is always best to test drive your prospective new vehicle before deciding to purchase it. So what are the top aspects you should check when looking at and test-driving a new car? Let’s find out.
What you should look for when test-driving your prospective vehicle
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Why is it important to test-drive a vehicle before buying it? For one, it’s your perfect chance to ensure that the car is comfortable and that you will enjoy the feel of driving the vehicle. But in order to make the most out of the test drive, you should also do the following:
- Bring a friend along, so you know how it feels for them as a passenger.
- Once you are inside the vehicle, spend a few minutes adjusting the seat and making yourself comfortable, fixing the mirrors, and angling the ventilation system to what you prefer. You should also get more familiar with the car’s primary controls.
- If possible, drive the vehicle for an hour – not just in the city or town, but on the open road or even the motorway.
- If you are on a dual carriageway or motorway, see if you can overtake as this gives you the chance to check if the car accelerates well and how well you can see blind spots.
- If you can, drive up a hill; this aspect of driving can reveal a lot about the vehicle.
- See if you can drive on a challenging road or route and check how the vehicle hugs the route, especially when turning corners.
- When driving the vehicle, brake hard so you can test the stability of the vehicle in emergencies.
- If the vehicle comes with built-in satellite navigation, ask the representative for a tutorial so you can determine how easy it is to use.
- Even if you like the vehicle and think that your mind is made up, try another vehicle or a vehicle that is similar so you can compare.
The car’s size and why it’s important
While you may already have a good idea of the size of the car or vehicle you want, it’s important to take this seriously and not be completely distracted by other aspects. You are, after all, making a big investment, and your car will be with you for more than a few years so you want to make sure that it’s really the right fit – literally and figuratively – for your needs.
If you are buying a car for the entire family, you may want to consider bringing everyone in the family along because there may be some practical and functional aspects that you may not think about if you were on your own or just with a friend. Are the car’s boot and exterior really large enough for your requirements? Can the car easily fit two adults in the front, along with child seats in the back?
Check for defects
Even if you are purchasing a new vehicle from a good dealer, whatever car they are selling should have gone through a thorough and comprehensive check-up and inspection prior to sale, because even new vehicles may get some minor damage while being shipped. Of course, this could very well have been already rectified, but it’s still best to be vigilant and check for yourself.
And while a car’s defects are still under the warranty, having them fixed before you buy the car will save you plenty of headaches later on. So what do you need to check? One thing is to look for any small scuffs or chips on the car’s wheels and exterior, along with signs of wear in the cabin of the car. But even more important than this is the vehicle’s mechanical aspects. Check the temperature of the engine, either with the gauge on the dashboard or by simply placing your hand on the car’s bonnet.
Other considerations
There are other considerations. For instance, is it easy to get into the car and out of it? If the vehicle’s rear seats can be folded, are they easy to fold? Think about the vehicle’s comfort, and test it by adjusting the seats and the vehicle’s steering wheel. Try to reverse the vehicle and when you do so, test it for blind spots. Is the boot low enough to load stuff in, and is there enough room? If you have children, you may want to be sure that there is enough space for passengers in the back.
Here’s another thing: think about the kind of driving you will be doing when you are using the vehicle. If you drive just around town most times, do you really want the vehicle to have an aggressive shift gearbox? If you consider yourself an enthusiastic and confident driver, does the vehicle have enough power to overtake just as you would when you are driving?
The car’s electrics are another matter, so if you can, spend time assessing and checking the car’s advanced features and gadgets. If the vehicle has heated seats, Bluetooth, and Sat-Nav, do they work well? You can try pairing your mobile phone with the vehicle or turn on the Sat-Nav for a portion of your drive so you can check.
The delivery of your vehicle
Once you have test-driven the vehicle and have decided that it is the right one, see if you can get discounts or a good deal, especially if you pay for it in cash. Car dealerships like www.gbcardeals.com can give you great deals if you make an outright purchase.
If your vehicle is being adjusted to your precise specifications, you will have to wait for it to be delivered, but once you agree on a specific date of delivery with your dealer, make sure to stay in touch with them so they deliver the car on time, and ensure that you already have insurance before the car is delivered to you.
