Test Driving Tips

A potential customer comes in for a test drive, we hand them the keys, and they are back in less than 15 minutes. We see it all the time! A test drive shouldn’t just be about driving the car, it is also about making sure it fits your daily needs and lifestyle. With some help from Kelley Blue book, we’ve compiled a list of suggestions you might want to consider the next time you come into King Volkswagen for a test drive.

1. Drive it. – No, really. Drive it and take note of how you interact with the car and how it runs. Register the interior noise level of the vehicle when you are on the highway versus city streets. Put the driver’s seat in your ideal position. Check your mirrors and their visibility. Carefully check the brakes to make sure you’d feel confident stopping abruptly if you needed too. If you can’t test drive the car at night, drive somewhere darker (like under a bridge or in a tunnel) to test the headlights, high beams, and fog lights. Bring the car to a parking lot and try parking a few different ways to see how easy or hard it is to maneuver into and out of a space. Drive the car on city streets, neighborhood roads, and the highway as cars handle differently at different speeds.
2. Play with the features. – Not every day is going to exhibit the exact conditions of the day you take your test drive so make sure to test the features that aren’t necessarily “in season.” Move the sun visor around to see the coverage you’ll get. Blast the air conditioner and heat fans to see how powerful and loud they are. Turn up the radio to assess the sound quality and to make sure your favorite radio station comes in clear. Adjust the brightness of any interior lights or infotainment screens.
3. Test everything. – And we mean everything! Bring one of your favorite coffee mugs and make sure it fits in the cup holders. Pair your phone to the Bluetooth and test out the voice recognition. Bring a friend or family member and have them sit in the front and back to assess the comfort level and seat space. If you have a child, bring their stroller and car seat to make sure they fit in the cargo spaces and the back seats. Bring your phone cords and charging cords and make sure they fit in the snug spaces outlets are located.

Kelley Blue Book. “14 Things You Should Do to Get the Most out of a Test Drive (Paid Content by Kelley Blue Book).” Mashable. Mashable, 08 Aug. 2016. Web. 10 Aug. 2016.

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