When you’re browsing different cars and trying to find one you can both afford and want to buy, test driving it is one of the most important steps in the buying or browsing process. By looking at certified used cars available in South Africa, you shouldn’t be worried about roadworthy issues or major car troubles. Used cars for sale are supposed to pass all the automotive checks and be in the best possible condition for a secondhand vehicle before they can be sold at a certified used car dealership.
However, that doesn’t mean that the following test driving tips don’t still apply. Listening out for strange noises is only one of the six tips, there are other aspects to consider when test driving a potential buy.
Don’t rush
Buying a car involves a lot of money. Not only in the initial buy, but in the maintenance thereafter as well. For that reason, you should never feel rushed in the buying and test driving process. And if the car dealer is choosing to hurry you along, then there may be something wrong with the car that they’re trying to hide.
Because there are so many things you need to look, listen and feel out for during a test drive, you can’t afford to rush the experience. You need to drive until you can tell whether you can see yourself driving this car every day or not.
Test for comfortability
Most people who are searching for “certified used car sales near me”, are people who spend most of their time in the car, travelling from point A to points B, C and E in a day. And the more time you spend in your car, the more important it is that you are comfortable inside your vehicle.
Comfortability in a car can be tested when you drive at higher speeds or over rougher terrain but, unfortunately, that’s not always possible to achieve from a supervised test drive. You can, however, test the comfortability in terms of everyday use. The Bluetooth, cruise and climate control, for example, are all features you will use on a daily basis to make your drive more comfortable and bearable. So it’s important that you test and use these features as you would if you owned the vehicle.
Don’t be shy
The mistake most people make when test driving, is driving as if they’re undergoing a driving test. And while the careful eyes of the car dealer might be intimidating, you can drive and you need to drive like you would if the car was yours already.
It’s not about being reckless and seeing how far you can push the engine, it’s about getting a feel for the vehicle’s power, handling and braking system. You need to know that you are comfortable with controlling the power of the car. It’s also beneficial to have an idea of what the car can do in terms of performance from the test drive, but don’t push your luck or find yourself in an accident where you end up paying for the car before you’ve even made up your mind.
Listen out for anything odd
When you test drive a car, you will be able to listen for any odd sounds or feel if anything is sticky to use (like turning the steering wheel, changing gears or rolling down the window). These are the obvious reasons for test driving a vehicle and shouldn’t be overlooked, even if it is a certified used car.
If you hear any rattling, whistles or squeaks, you need to find a new vehicle and query about the sounds to the car dealer.
Don’t go alone
If this is your first car or you’ve never test driven a car before, it would be a good idea to bring someone more experienced with cars along with you. In fact, even if you know what to look for, it’s always better to have someone else with you.
Double the eyes and ears plus, you’ll have someone who can speak for the comfortability of a backseat passenger.
Consider the rest of the car
Before or after you’ve done your test drive, you need to test the rest of the car and decide if it will suffice for all your transportation and lifestyle needs. For example, if you’re a parent looking for a car with more space for the kids and all their after school sports equipment, the interior space and storage capacity of the vehicle is rather important.
You’d also want to consider features such as folding your car seats, adjusting your seats and making sure the radio, auxiliary port and speakers are of the quality you’d like them to be. Test drives are the deal breakers or signers in a car sale. Don’t rush into anything and be sure to test every aspect of the vehicle.
Also view:
Vehicle Finance, Car Insurance and Road Safety
Buying and Selling a Vehicle – Informed decisions and the Vehicle Retailer
The Online Vehicle Retail Market and Safely Selling Vehicles Online