There are heaps of things to consider before buying a car, most of which you can only check while doing...
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here are heaps of things to consider before buying a car, most of which you can only check while doing a test drive. But many new buyers, because of their naivety, miss out on important flaws. Hence, we have prepared some tips on what to check in a test drive of a vehicle that may just help you out!
What Is A Test Drive
Whenever someone goes in to buy a new vehicle, they are offered a free drive in it so that they can get to know if there are any hidden flaws or problems they may face while driving it at a certain speed. These problems could be anything from gas leakage to loose breaks, which may prove fatal later.
A test drive is not only important for the person buying the vehicle but for the company selling it as well as their reputation depends more on it than they probably realize. The person doing the test run is going to go out and tell all their friends how the drive went, which will create a vicious circle of information that should otherwise be confidential as it can cause chaos if it is said wrongly.
What To Check In A Test Drive
Following are a few things you should probably take a good look at in your test drive before getting the vehicle;
Proper Examination
Not many people realize it but the test drive starts as soon as you’re on the lot in front of the vehicle. Hence, the first thing to take in is the appearance of said vehicle.
Make sure you wear your glasses on a particular day and examine every inch of its body for any kind of lines, dents, or scratches.
This is done better in sunlight so make sure you change angles and observe to your satisfaction.
The windshield, tires, signals, and brake lights should not be ignored during this critical observation as damage to any of them can cause innumerable problems ahead.
Starting The Car
The next step is to:
Start the car but don’t start driving right away.
Let the engine run for a while and strain your ears for any kind of weird noises such as rumbling or cracking from it.
Start the air conditioner to make sure it works
Turn on the radio, air conditioner, and heater to make sure they are working properly.
Look at the dashboard for warning lights and make sure that the gauges also work. Once the car has warmed up, the temperature should be at the midpoint. Closer to “hot” may be a sign that it’s overheating.
The seats need to be comfortable and the ceilings should be high enough.
Start Driving The Car
Notice if the brakes feel jumpy, loose, or sticky.
Listen if there is any grinding or squeaking sound, which can tell you about damaged brake pads as well as rotors.
How did the car handle potholes and roads? Drive slowly and listen for any kind of rattles or knocks for steering issues.
How are 90-degree turns? The car should be able to navigate them smoothly and without any effort. Resistance can be a sign of power steering and suspension problems.
Highway Driving
Check the acceleration of the car and whether the power is normal.
Observe the blind spots of the car to make sure it is brand new.
Switch lanes many times to see how the car responds and if there is any problem with it.
Parking And Problems
Make sure that the steering wheel doesn’t feel overly stiff and you can maneuver it while you are parallel parking.
Ensure that it shifts easily from drive to reverse but if the car suddenly jolts or grinds while shifting gears, it is a sign of bad transmission.
If the drive goes well, which we hope it does, do not forget to get it rechecked by your mechanic. And check out this link if you ever need to protect yourself in a test drive. We hope our tips on what to check in a test drive help you pick out the best vehicle for you and whoever is going to be riding it with you!
