GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TEST DRIVE

There's so much more to a test drive than actually driving the car.  You need to know exactly what you are looking for so you don't end up disappointed a couple of months down the road.  Here are a couple of tips for getting the most out of your test drive.

Before Starting the Car

	Walk around the car. Do you like what you see?  Notice the paint job, body panel alignment, the angles.  Remember this is a new car... any flaws or imperfections are not acceptable.
	Get in and out. You're going to be doing this a lot.  Make sure you are comfortable.   Adjust the seats.  Get in the back seat.
	Open and close the trunk. Imagine loading scenarios.  How are the groceries going to fit?  Will your golf clubs fit?  What about odd-shaped objects?
	Play with the knobs. Fiddle with the radio, heat, glove compartment, wipers, headlights and hazards.

On the Road

	Drive the exact model you plan on purchasing. A Different engine/transmission or other features will make the vehicle perform differently.  You don't want any surprises when you get your new vehicle.
	Ask the salesperson to stay quiet. You need to concentrate on the test drive... not listening to him/her give their sales pitch.  Let them make their pitch before you leave the parking lot.
	Choose your own road. If you know the area, request to choose your own route.  You know best what types of traffic scenarios you encounter on a daily basis.

What to Look For

	Ride Quality Drive the car on a number of different surfaces to make sure it handles and rides the way you expect it to.
	Power Test the car in real situations... highway merging, passing and sudden acceleration.  How is power affected by the air conditioning?
	Transmission If the car has a manual transmission, look for a smooth shifter and clutch action.   If you're testing an SUV, engage and disengage the 4WD.  If you're testing an automatic, how are the upshifts and downshifts?  Are they smooth?  Does it downshift at the appropriate time?
	Handling Long turns, short turns, sudden swerves.  Try them all to make sure the vehicle handles well.  Make sure the vehicle feels stable during operation.
	Braking Make sure the brakes slow you in a straight, controlled manner.  Brake softly, then aggressively to test the car's reaction to sudden braking.
	Noise Listen for excessive engine, interior, road or wind noise.  Repeat this test with the windows up and down.  Try it at normal speeds and at highway speeds.
	Parking Parallel park the car to check for blind spots and turning radius.  Can you easily park the vehicle?