Don’t worry, because a five-point turn is not on the checklist of things to do when driving a test vehicle. Buying a new or used vehicle can be stressful for people because everyone wants the best possible car of their choice, in the best possible condition, and all within their seemingly unrealistic budget. Unfortunately, this narrows the list a bit; However, there are smart ways to test a vehicle to make sure you are at least buying a quality asset that is safe and meets your driving needs.
Read on to learn five things to keep in mind when you test drive a car or truck, so you can better negotiate a deal and make better purchasing decisions.
1. Exterior appearance
The first place you want to inspect is the exterior of the car or truck. How is the state of the painting? Is it shipped, scraped or discolored? What about the condition of the body? Are there dents and scratches on the bumper, fender, or doors? Are there cracks in the windshield? All of these aspects can be used against a seller in negotiations to obtain a fairer price.
2. Interior appearance and amenities
Then open the doors and take a look inside. Do the doors squeak or are they difficult to open? Do they feel heavy or loose? What about the inner fabric? Is it in good condition? Are there stains, burns, ripped carpet, or other similar damage? Is the ceiling fabric loose and sagging? Are the boards in good condition? Is there a spare tire and a jack?
3. Under the hood
Always look under the hood of the vehicle. Check that the engine compartment is clean and undamaged. Next, look at the condition of the battery, verify that all the proper plugs are in place, and ask if premium or unleaded fuel is needed. In general, use your common sense to inspect everything under the hood at a glance and decide if it looks legitimate. If you are concerned about what you see, you may want to have a licensed mechanic inspect the vehicle before negotiating with the seller.
4. Conductivity
Now is the time to really see how the car drives. See how the steering wheel turns. Do you pull to the left or to the right? Make a note of how the car feels in driving mode. Is it a smooth ride? Do you feel irregular? Do the brakes squeak? Does it take a long time to come to a complete stop? Does the car feel heavy or out of line? All of this can be identifiers of common vehicle maintenance and repair problems. Again, these flaws can be used as a bargaining tactic when deciding on the final price.
5. Interior features
Before you get out of the vehicle and finish the test drive, be sure to review all the interior amenities and features and see that they are all working properly. Check power windows, radio, navigation, air vents, sunroof, mirrors, lights, and more. Also take note of the number of cup holders, storage, seats, and more to match these features with those on your wish list.