Test driving a new or used car? 7 essential things to know from an expert
Both new and used car prices have fallen slightly in recent months, so if these remaining weeks of summer are car shopping time for you, the Free Press offers these tips to make the most of your test drive.
First, said Matt Smith, head of Consumer Insights for car shopping site CarGurus, always set up an appointment with the dealership before showing up.
"Otherwise, the car you wanted might be sold already," Smith said. "And negotiate a price ahead of time. These people are professional negotiators, so get as much in writing ahead of time. Showing up and saying, 'What have you got for under $20,000' is not a successful negotiating strategy anymore.”
Do not be afraid to ask detailed questions about the vehicle, added Ivan Drury, director of insights at Edmunds.com, because even the same model can undergo drastic changes from one model year to the next, some obvious and others not.
"You don’t want to buy a new vehicle in July only to find out that the next model year is being sold in September and has that one feature you really want," Drury said. "This applies to used vehicles as well, saving money by purchasing an older version of the same model might not be worth it if you find out after the fact that you missed out on that one little option that could make your life so much easier."
The test drive is as important as the negotiations, so here is how to approach it:
"Test the stereo, but only briefly," Drury said. "During most of the test drive, silence is golden. You want to hear any noises or just in general how much road noise enters the cabin. Pair your phone, see if the infotainment system is up to your expectations, if it or any other features annoy you today, they’ll annoy you tomorrow and for the rest of your ownership experience."
Smith has this list of tips to consider when test driving a new or used vehicle:
How does the car accelerate?
Are you feeling any odd vibrations?
Is it shifting erratically?
Roll down the windows and listen to the brakes. If brakes must be replaced, you’ll hear the metal-on-metal sound, a squealing.
Touch all the buttons and make sure you’re comfortable with them.
Watch YouTube car reviews ahead of time because they go into the technology of the car.
Sit in all the seats. If you have a small child, bring the car seat to make sure it is easy to get in and a stroller fits in the trunk. Or ask if you can bring your dog to see if he or she fits in the vehicle.
Drury noted that a bad weather day can be good for a car shopper.
"There will be fewer people at the dealership and you can test drive a vehicle during a time in which you really need to know what you’re getting into," Drury said. "Bright, sunshiny days are great and all, but newer vehicles tend to have less glass for safety reasons and that could translate into more blind spots than you’re accustomed to."
For used vehicles, the opposite is true. You want a bright-enough day so you can see the vehicle to spot imperfections. Still, Drury said, make sure to drive it in the rain, too, before buying it to see whether there are any leaky seals or foggy headlights or taillights. And, even if it is hot outside, test the heater, heated seats and heated steering wheel. If it is cold, try the AC or ventilated/cooled seats.
If you are buying a new car, preview the options that help every time you drive the vehicle. For example, heated or ventilated seats are nice if the weather in your area varies greatly. If you are bad at parking, then cameras can help, Drury said, "but opting for a moonroof that you keep closed 95% of the year, probably not as worthwhile."
Contact Jamie L. LaReau: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How to test drive a car: 7 things to do, consider according to expert
