How To Approach A Test Drive

In this blog, I will talk to you about how to approach test driving at a dealership. I want to talk to you about that because there is a lot of misinformation about what matters and what does not. I will try to tell you what to focus on so the whole process is an easy and enjoyable experience. 

The first step is to figure out when you will be test driving. In most dealerships, you can walk in off the street to test drive the car you are interested in, but your time is important. That is why we encourage customers to set an appointment. At Donohoo Auto, get the car pulled up for you and have everything ready for when you arrive. It makes the whole buying process function better and allows you to focus on essential things, like driving the vehicle.

Next, you need to make sure the dealership lets you test drive without a salesperson. We have been offering test drives without a salesperson for years, but some dealers lag behind this trend. This will be your car, and you can make up your mind about how it fits your needs. Honestly, we feel that a salesperson riding with you only detracts from the whole experience. If you have questions about the car, ask them before or after you drive. 

How to Narrow Down Your Vehicles

We need to talk about test driving strategy. We have hundreds of vehicles, and you may not know precisely what you want when you show up. That is perfectly normal. Let me help you figure out the key pieces focus on to help you narrow down your search. 

Model Year: Car manufacturers, excluding Tesla, have model years. These model years represent updates and innovations between different versions of the same car. There will typically be minor updates for about 4-6 years, followed by a significant update. The model year is important for the overall look of the vehicle and typically the pricepoint and mileage of the cars you will be looking at. 

Trim Level: You can think of trim levels as the tier levels of a specific vehicle. If you were shopping for a Tahoe, you would need to research the difference between LS, LT, RST, Z71, High Country, and Premier. If I were to oversimplify the Tahoe’s trims, I would call the LS the starting trim, LT mid-level, and High Country and Premier high-end. The RST and Z71 are special builds or variations. The trim level will affect pricepoint, and if there is a specific option you are looking for, you may be forced to shop a minimum trim level. 

Options: You know what you want your vehicle to do. Think about what features you want your vehicle to have and narrow down which ones are critical to you. Remember, the more options you are looking for, the more the car is likely to cost. Some options are not available at lower trim levels.

When looking to test drive, you need to figure out what year, trim, and options you want to have in the car you are driving. Then, to save time, try to avoid similar vehicles. For example, if you’re going to see if you like Acura, BMW, or INFINITI, but you know you need a sedan that costs less than $20,000, I suggest you pick one of each. Probably start with a 2015 BMW 3 Series, 2015 Acura TLX, and 2016 INFINITI Q50. If you then decide you prefer the BMW, you could try a different model year or trim of the BMW that still falls within your budget.

The last step is to drive, look over, and ask questions about the vehicle you are about to buy. I know most of you are not mechanics, so don’t freak out. Instead, here is a brief checklist of things to look at when going over your future car. 

If you are still not satisfied or see something that worries you, most dealerships will let you take the vehicle to your mechanic to get a third-party inspection. At Donohoo, this would be the point our salesperson would be helping you with finance, insurance, and any other questions you may have. This is a great time to ask questions you had about the car or raise concerns. We hope you enjoy shopping for your next vehicle.

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