Buying a new or new-to-you vehicle can be exciting and challenging – especially since it’s a big decision! A test drive is the best time to get to know a potential vehicle before purchasing and can make a real difference to your decision process. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, or trading in your current vehicle for a new one, you should take a test drive to ensure the model meets your needs. Below are some tips to help you get the most out of your test drive!
Tips to Maximize Your Test Drive
- Perform a Walk Around the Outside of the Vehicle – Whether it’s a new or used vehicle, familiarize yourself with the exterior of the vehicle. Taking a walk around will allow you to see if there are any imperfections in the paint or if there might be any other issues. This is best performed during day time to fully inspect the vehicle.
- Open and Close Everything – Test the doors, hood, liftgate, and even the center console. Every openable door should be easy to open and close with ease. If the vehicle offers a power liftgate, test the key fob to ensure it works efficiently. You should also make sure all of the locks do lock.
- Inspect the Interior – Since you’ll be enjoying the interior the most while driving, make sure the colors and comfort are what you’re looking for. The feeling of sitting behind the wheel is really only enjoyed when you take a test drive!
- Bring Along the Essentials. Make sure to bring larger items you regularly carry in a vehicle with you. Car seats, golf clubs and stroller are some examples of items to test for fit.
- Shifting Is Also Important – By shifting the gear shift, keep the interior noise to a minimum in order to hear the mechanical aspects of the gears. This also means testing the emergency brake release. Make sure to test the air conditioning, heater, audio system, and navigation too.
- Drive the Vehicle as You Usually Would – Don’t just take a potential vehicle around the block. See if you can go onto the highway to test it at higher speeds to fully test the vehicle. Drive as you normally would; obeying all traffic laws, of course.
Test Drive a Honda at Thelen Honda in Michigan
If you are ready to take a new or gently used Honda vehicle for a test drive, Thelen Honda in Bay City, Michigan, is ready and eager to assist you! Our friendly sales staff will help you choose the perfect Honda for you and help you through the test-driving experience. Stop in today to take a test drive or give us a call at 989-414-3055 to schedule.
(photo credit: iStock)
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