Make the Most of Your Test Drive

Taking a test drive is standard procedure before purchasing a new vehicle. Even if you love everything about the vehicle on paper, and you are impressed when looking at it on the lot, you still need to get behind the wheel and make sure it is exactly what you expect it to be. Going for a drive that lasts just a few minutes can tell you a lot about what the vehicle is like and whether it will be a good fit for you and your family.

But how do you get the most out of that test drive time? It can go by quickly, and if you aren’t paying attention to the right things, you might not remember much when you are done. In this article, we’d like to present some basic tips for how you can make the most out of your test drive, so you can make an informed, confident buying decision in the end. When you are ready for a test drive, be sure to stop by Taylor & Sons Chevrolet to check out what we have available and head out for a drive in the vehicles that interest you the most. We’d love to serve you!

Don’t Think Too Much
Perhaps the best piece of advice we can give you about test driving a vehicle is to keep things simple and don’t overthink the process. Too many people obsess over making the “perfect” purchase – and as a result, they stress about the little details, get caught up in the process, and fail to see the big picture. What you really want out of a test drive is actually quite simple – you just want to know if you enjoy driving a given vehicle. You can check out the other factors while still on the lot, such as cargo space, the look of the car or truck, the comfort of the seat, etc. Most of that stuff can be evaluated without even pulling out of the parking lot. When you are actually behind the wheel and driving down the road, just think about whether or not this is a vehicle you would like to drive day after day.

Listen Carefully
One aspect of a vehicle that can get annoying during the daily commute is a lot of road noise coming into the cabin. So, on your test drive, make sure to have some time when you turn the radio down, stop talking, and just listen to how it sounds while you drive. A quality vehicle from a top manufacturer like Chevy will likely feel nice and quiet, with only modest road noise making its way in. It’s easy to get caught up in conversation while on a test drive, but taking a moment of quiet to really pay attention to road noise is a worthwhile consideration.

Find Various Types of Roads
If at all possible, make it a point to drive on different types of roads during the test drive. The experience of driving in stop-and-go traffic on city streets is quite different from the experience of getting up to full speed on the freeway. You might find that a particular vehicle is perfectly comfortable on the freeway but you don’t really like driving it in traffic, for instance. Try to plan a route that mixes up the settings nicely so you can experience a blend of conditions that is representative of what you will encounter when driving this vehicle in your regular life.

Try Out the Parking Experience
Along the same lines as our previous point, you also want to try out parking this vehicle to see how it feels to find your way into a crowded lot. Does it feel like it’s easy to move in and out of spaces, or are you struggling to find your way? Of course, you can expect to get more comfortable parking any vehicle as you gain experience, but struggling to park on the test drive might be a sign that this particular car or truck is not a good fit for the way you drive.

Visibility is a Big Key
Part of being comfortable behind the wheel of any vehicle is being able to see easily out of the vehicle in all directions. Even with the aid of the cameras that are present in many modern vehicles, you still want to be able to see what is around you when looking out the windshield and windows. While some vehicles inherently have better visibility than others, this can also be a point that varies from person to person. Depending on your height, driving position, posture, and more, you might find that you struggle to see out of a vehicle that some people can see out of just fine. So, keep this variable in mind during your test drive and think twice about cars or trucks that make it hard for you to see what you need to see.

Get Some Help
Lastly, you might want to consider bringing someone else along for your test drive process. This could be a friend, family member, or even a co-worker – just someone else who can give you an opinion and point out things that you might not have noticed otherwise. There is a lot to take in during a test drive that might not last very long, so having another set of eyes and ears to pay attention to everything and offer input can be a big help.

Buying a vehicle – whether new or used – is a big decision. You want to gather all of the information you need before signing on the dotted line, and that includes taking test drives in any of the cars or trucks you are considering. This article should give you some good ideas for how you can make the most of an upcoming test drive and make a confident buying decision as a result. Come see the team at Taylor & Sons Chevrolet today to get started!

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