The first step anyone will do before jumping into a new vehicle finance/lease will be "doing a test drive" Although there are many ways to do so, on the following article I'll be addressing the top 5 things you will need to check before doing an actual Test Drive for a new car.
0 - Schedule With Time
And this doesn't count as #1, but for sure is an additional suggestion that will help you to optimize time, go straight to what you want to see and be outside of the pressure that dealer installations deliver on visitors: You are in a huge place, overwhelmed with vehicles, people trying to sell you one of them and are expert negotiators.
Call the dealer to set up your test drive. Make it straight, go to check what you want and focus on it. The following checklist will help you take the most of it and make the test-drive experience, an actual test:
1 - Go On the Highway
Remember you'll be driving thousands of kilometers every year on that vehicle. You need to know how it behaves; you need to know how it responds and what to expect of it when you are cruising. Canada is an extense country and the chances are that if you need a car, you need to move regularly or commute for mid-long distances. Hit the road, and test it out there.
2 - Sit on the Back Too
While chances are you will be driving most of the time, you need to consider that even if the back seat intention is for either your kids or your friends, you need to fit there too. Explore the car from all points of view as possible and experience each space destinated for you and whom you expect to use it.
3 - Put Down the Back Seats and Check the Space
Avoid surprises because you thought "your ski equipment" was going to fit comfortably or because you assumed your stuff would fit by default. Open the trunk, check for space, lightning, combinations in the case of an SUV. Check if there is room for your bike, your bags or your kid's stuff. You need to be happy with your acquisition.
Open the trunk and put down all the seats. Check how much you can fit on it.
4 - Bring it Home!
If you live close to the dealer, bring it home! Some dealers will hate you because of this, but the fact you bring them home also makes them feel confident you are willing to decide soon, so don't be afraid to ask. Going home with the car, checking if it fits in your garage, in your driveway and if it is actually what you were expecting to be. Doing this is a high value for a final decision, and most dealers will let you drive away with the demo car so you can test so.
5 - Test Your Smartphone
If it is really important for you, test your smartphone integration. I know this is kind of arbitrary, but many times this is a highly important need, mostly for millennials and people who use their smartphones a lot. If you own an iPhone or an Android phone, I'm sure you'll be aware of the models that support those devices, and you will expect that as a granted fact when acquiring one of those.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: When you integrate your smartphone with a vehicle via either Bluetooth or a USB Cable, your contacts may get imported into the digital vehicle storage. Ensure either to disable this feature or to delete all your phone transferred data after testing it.
Don't be Afraid to Test
The test drive is the moment that helps you decide which is the vehicle you need. Make of it an enjoyable moment, follow this list of details and it will all help you take for granted that on the next few years, you'll drive a vehicle you love.
And if right after the test drive you decide to sit, then I suggest you check these 7 Tips for getting a Good Deal on your New Car.
