New Cars – How to handle a long test drive

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Car makers have found that a day-long test drive is pretty effective at clouding customer’s good judgment. If you decide to take the dealer up on a 24-hour test drive, treat it like serious business. Don’t let the pleasure of driving a new car make you forget to seriously critique the car and negotiate for a bargain.

Here are some suggestions for how to spend the day.

* Dedicate some time to drive with no distractions. Concentrate on the car – not the kids, radio, or cell phone.

* Critique the car in light of how you’ll use it – carrying babies in car seats, hauling soccer teams and groceries, or simply commuting.

* Check the view. How is the rear and side vision? How is the view at night? Any blind spots?

* How does it handle – turning radius, driveway maneuverability, garage fit, highway-speed stability, acceleration for entering the highway?

* Are controls visible and within reach? Check instruments and accessories – day and night dash visibility, radio, A/C, mirror adjustment, seat and steering wheel adjustment.

* Do doors open and close effortlessly? How easy is it to access passenger and engine compartments, trunk, roof rack? Hear any rattles or squeaks?

When it’s over, and you return the car, simply say “thank you.” Then leave, go home, and think about it. The marketing ploy behind the 24-hour test drive is to get you to fall in love with the car and buy it without negotiating price. That would be an expensive mistake.



All the best,



Timben