Liviu Marcus
When you go to make a car purchase, it is quintessential that you are very prepared for what is to come.
So, even if you are an aspiring car buyer, it won’t hurt to jot some notes down on how to prepare for conducting a proper test drive.
Here are some useful pointers that you need to take into consideration when, and before, you head to the market.
Conduct Proper Research At Home
Before making any calls or hitting the dealership, the first step you need to take when you want to make a car purchase is to identify what you’re looking for.
Hop on google.com and search for the brand and features you want.
Check customer reviews to see whether these vehicles that interested you are actually up to your expectations, or if your favorite brand has slipped in quality.
Create a List
After you’ve done your research and gathered an idea about dealerships, prices, and features, narrow down your options to specific car models and price ranges that you can afford.
Include your questions as well to have them answered when you visit the dealership.
Call Your Car Dealer Ahead of Time
After you gathered an idea about the car model you want, call your car dealer to schedule an appointment.
Rather, call up several dealerships to schedule an appointment. This will force you to consider a variety of options and will also give you a legit excuse to leave the dealership if you don’t find what you’re looking for.
When you’re on the phone with them, ask them to ensure that the vehicle has been parked for a couple of hours before you arrive at the vehicle. This is because only a stone-cold engine can give you a transparent insight.
Otherwise, if the engine has been pre-warmed before your arrival, it might conceal red flags like an off sound, a weird rattle, or visible smoke from the tailpipes.
Also, ensure that the seller has the owner’s manual and all essential documents ready in the vehicle for when it’s time for inspection.
Under The Hood
Once you arrive at the dealership and before you test drive, use the owner’s manual to check all accessible car fluids.
First, double-check that the car hasn’t been pre-warmed so you don’t burn yourself by opening the hood.
Check around with your flashlight and follow the guidelines on your manual, or if this is simply not your thing to look for signs of trouble like a fluid leakage, you can call a qualified technician to perform a proper inspection for you.
This way, you have a valid opinion that you can trust, and you can use it when you are making up your mind at the end.
Bring a Friend Along with You
The dealers in cars are people, who are trying to make a deal on you buying a car. This means that they will do everything possible in order to sell you a car.
Unfortunately, the consumer here is you, and you are interested in buying a car. However, just as the case might be, you might not be the one with experience in car sales, and so any advice from the dealer would be appreciated, and the truth of the matter is that not all of the dealers are honest.
That’s why I should coordinate with a friend of mine to accompany me in my plans for the car test drive. They will pay attention to each thing that the dealer says until the end of test drive, they will give you idea that keep you from making a decision, and will have their opinion on the vehicle’s features during the test drive.
Bring Photocopies of Your Licence
You should bring photocopies of your driving license with you to the test drive, as most car dealerships ask for this document. However, be careful who you give it to and what they tell you that they’re using it for because identity theft around vehicles is super high, and you don’t want to have your car stolen later due to a miscalculation.
Look Around the Car
In this part, you walk around the car checking for any scratches or damages, you check the tech, and find out the fuel economy. All of this is necessary to make sure that the price matches the value of the car.
After you’ve gone through all these steps, I say it would be safe for you to take a car for a test drive.
The procedure to sell any car should be fast, easy, and straightforward, but you can still come across sellers who are trying to pass off a repair bill to you. All you have to do is always do your homework, ask questions, and don’t buy everything a car dealer tells you.
