12 important tips for car commissioning
Learn how to make the most of your car’s test drive with key tips for making an informed decision.
If you’re buying a new or used car, USA Today Cars offers these tips to make the most of your test drive.
First, Matt Smith, director of consumer insights at car shopping site Cargurus, always set up bookings with dealers before they even appeared.
“If not, the car you wanted might already be on sale,” Smith said. “And negotiate the prices in advance, and these people are professional negotiators, so write them in advance in writing.
Don’t be afraid to ask any detailed questions about the vehicle, added Ivan Drury, director of insights at edmunds.com. Even the same model can cause dramatic changes from model year to the next year.
“I don’t want to buy a new vehicle in July. I just need to know that the next model year is on sale in September and that there is one feature. Really “This applies to second-hand cars too. If you find the fact that saving money by buying an older version of the same model has missed that little option that can make your life so easy,” Drury said.
Test drives are just as important as negotiations. So here’s how to approach it.
“We’re going to test the stereo, but only for a short time,” Drury said. “On most test drives, silence is golden. You want to hear the amount of noise and road noise that generally enters the cabin. Combine your phone to see if the infotainment system meets your expectations.
Smith has a list of tips to consider when driving a new or used car.
- How does the car accelerate?
- Are you feeling strange vibrations?
- Is that shifting irregularly?
- Roll the window and listen for the brakes. If you need to replace the brakes, you will hear a metal-on-metal sound, or a creak.
- Touch all the buttons and make sure you are satisfied with them.
- Please read YouTube car reviews in advance as they will be included in the technology of the car.
- Sit in every seat. If you have small children, bring a car seat so that it’s easy to get in and the stroller fits in the trunk. Or ask if you can take your dog with you to see if it fits in the vehicle.
Drury pointed out that bad weather days are good for car shoppers.
“There are fewer people at dealers, and you can drive your car at a time when you need to know what you’re actually into,” Drury said. “Bright sunshine days are great and everything, but new vehicles tend to have less glass for safety reasons, which can lead to more blind spots than you’re used to.”
The opposite is true for a used car. You can see the vehicle spot imperfections as it requires bright days. Still, Drury should drive it in the rain before driving it in the rain. And even if it’s hot outside, we’ll test the heaters, heated seats and heated steering wheel. If it’s cold, try an AC or ventilation/cooling seat.
If you’re buying a new car, preview the options that will help you every time you drive. For example, if the weather in your area is very different, seating with heat or ventilation is great. If you’re not good at parking, cameras can help, Drury said.
Jamie L. Lareau: Please contact jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jarouan. Read more about General Motors and sign up for our automotive newsletter. Become a subscriber.
