Whilst reading up on car reviews can give you an idea of what other people think of a particular vehicle, and going to see it in the showroom can give you a feel for how you like its appearance, neither of them are a substitute for getting behind the wheel and giving it a try. Here are some tried and tested tips for going out on a test drive:
Arranging the Test
Try to book a test drive in the middle of the week when the dealership and the roads are quiet. Weekends are notoriously bad times to arrange a test drive, particularly if you want to try out a popular model.
If you're looking at a number of different cars, try to test them all out within a relatively short time. If you leave too long a gap in between driving each vehicle, you may forget how one car compares with another.
Once you've narrowed your choice down to one or two cars, ask the dealer if you can go out on an extended test drive; this should be for at least half an hour. Some manufacturers will let you test drive a car over 48 hours, or sometimes even longer; however others dealers may not be quite so keen on the idea. Be firm though - this is an important and expensive purchase, and you must make sure that you are happy with it before buying.
Before You Start Driving
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