Test driving a car for the first time can be pretty intimidating. With the salesman right there, talking your ear off about the vehicle and the pressure to buy can make for a stressful experience. Here are three of my best tips for test driving a car:
Do your homework. There’s no easier way to get taken advantage of than to walk into a dealership with no idea what you want or how much you want to spend. Make a list of things you want in your vehicle, from the size to the gas mileage to the color of thread on the interior seating. Make sure your salesman knows exactly what you are looking for and how much you are willing to pay before you agree to test drive any car.
Don’t let the salesman bully you into cutting the test drive short. It takes far more than a five-minute drive around the block to know how a car drives and if it fits your driving style. A good thirty-minute drive is a perfectly reasonable test drive. The worst feeling is getting home and not being positive about a car because you felt your time was cut short.
Touch everything and ask lots of questions. We spend an enormous amount of time in our cars, and if you don’t love the interior or your vehicle, you could be looking at some pretty heavy buyer’s remorse. Touch everything in the car; turn on and off the lights and controls. If there are controls or buttons you don’t understand, ask the salesman. That’s what they are there for. Make sure you take in all the detail you can so you are sure about your final purchase.
Most importantly, have fun. Buying a new car is a fun and exciting experience as long as you don’t let the stress get to you! Keep your cool, know your stuff, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. It might be your next car, after all!
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