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Test Drive before Buying a Car

December 28th, 2009

Test Drive Checklist before Buying a Car

Have you decide to buy a dream car? Which model do you want? Sedan, Hatchback, SUV or MPV? Any model you choose, you should do a test drive before you buy a good car. What sort of things should we look at when doing a test drive?

Test Drive before Buying Good Car

Herewith the Test Drive Checklist before you buy good car:

Exterior of Car Appearance:

What should you look for the exterior car? Check and see more details the paint of car. Is the car’s finish glossy and even? Check for evenly aligned body panels, doors gap, front and rear bumper, and secure trim.

Roominess and Interior of Car:

The first thing should be check is accessibility to entry or exit. Is it easy for anyone to get in and out of the car from each position? If you buy a car for family needs, it is important to consider ease of access in and out of the car. Imagine if your wife, your children or your parents are get in or out from the car.

After you seating in driver seats, check the visibility. Can you see the end of the engine hood and the trunk? Does any part of the car, headrest, dashboard, or others block your vision? Can you easily see all the side mirrors? It’s important to drive safely.

Ok, now you should check the roominess of car in all position of front seat, rear seat, driver or passenger. Does each passenger have plenty of headroom and legroom? And then, imagine while driving the car, could you quickly and easily check instrumental panel and controls such as speedometer, fuel gauge, wiper switch, lights switch, Radio and Car CD player and others. The all switch and controls must be easy to operate. Also check and feels steering wheel function.

Are you feeling comfort behind the steering wheel? Is it easy to adjust the side mirrors, driver seat, and steering wheel? Feel the function of brake pedal and accelerator pedal, also clutch pedal.

Don’t forget to check and compare the space of trunk room. Is there enough space in the trunk to load your baggage?

Safety Features and Part Function:

Check for seat belts, child safety locks, and air bag (if available). Also check the function of central door lock, power window, brakes, and others. Also check the spare tire availability, easy or not to get and use.

Driving a car:

While driving a car, check the engine performance, responsiveness of the engine, acceleration and deceleration. Slow down and speed up a car for a few times and check the idle speed of cars, smooth or appear to race. Check the function of brakes; accelerate the car to about 40km/h and then braking a car with emergency stop. See and feels, does the brake parts function well.

Also check and feel the “Ride and Handling” of car. Is the ride smooth, responsive, stable and comfort? Test the car to know how easy to maneuver, and easy to park the car. Check the feel of shifting gears and clutch function.

Don’t forget to ask sales person and anyone about advantage and disadvantage of car. Compare and ask more detail before buying to get your dream car.