Day: June 18, 2017

car

Checklist for test driving a vehicleChecklist for test driving a vehicle

In this post, we share some things to do whenever test-driving a car. Purchasing a used or a new car can be quite stressful for many people as each person wants the best vehicle possible, in the right condition, and within seemingly-unrealistic cost. This will narrow the list a bit.

There are some ways to test a car to ensure that you are purchasing a high-quality asset, which is safe and matches your driving requirements. The following are five important things you should consider whenever test driving a truck or car.

Test driving tips

Exterior appearance

driving This is the first thing to look at. You should inspect the vehicle’s exterior. Look at the condition of its paint. Is it scraped, faded, or shipped? Also, check the condition of the body. Does it have scratches and dents on the doors, fender, or bumper? Does the windshield have cracks? These aspects can be applied against a seller during the negotiations to get a fair price.

Interior amenities and appearances

Open the doors and have a detailed check inside. Are doors difficult to open or squeaky? Do they feel loose or heavy? Is the interior fabric in a good condition? Does the interior have burn holes, similar damages, stains, or ripped carpet? What about the roof fabric? Is it droopy and loose? Are dashboards in an acceptable condition? Is there a jack and spare tire?

Under the hood

Before you test drive any vehicle, you should inspect the hood. For instance, check whether the engine bay is damage-free and clean. Also, have a look at the battery and check whether proper caps are in place. Also, inquire whether it consumes unleaded or premium fuel. If there are concerns you want to raise, you might have to consider hiring a licensed mechanic to inspect the vehicle before starting negotiations.

Drivability

driving This is the opportunity to check how the vehicle drives. Check how steering wheel turns. Keep monitoring the car while in drive mode. Does it offer a smooth ride? Or it feels bumpy? Some of these things are good signs of common repair and maintenance issues. Also, you can use such faults as a negotiation tactic.

Interior features

Before you get out of vehicle and test drive your car, you should check different features and amenities inside and check whether they are functioning properly. For instance, you should check the windows, air vents, navigation, lights, sunroof, and much more.…