How long should you test drive a car?

Kendrick Speedwell
Jul 30 2023
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Understanding the Importance of Test Driving

If there was a cake for buying a car, the test drive would surely be its cherry! What a better way to experience the feel of a new vehicle than cruising it down the streets? Folks often ask, "Kendrick, how long is long enough for a test drive?" Just as the essence of a well-brewed cup of coffee isn't in its quantity but taste, the essence of a test drive isn't in its duration but the quality. Without further ado, let's dive into why test driving should be a memorable affair.

Test driving is an adventure fuelled by anticipation, curiosity, and a sprinkle of adrenaline. It's your unique chance to determine if the car has that special "spark". It's like a first date with your potential car. You want to know if it's comfortable, reliable, and meets your everyday needs. Frequently people focus on the exterior design, overlooking the car's performance, that's akin to judging a cake purely by its frosting; you don't get to know the real taste!

Setting the Right Duration for the Drive

Simply taking the car for a "spin around the block" or a quick five-minute drive can be as deceptive as a mirage in the desert on a hot day. You need significant time to understand the vehicle. Just as you wouldn't buy a house based on a quick walk-through, you shouldn't purchase a car based on a fleeting test drive. Could you imagine buying a house without checking every room, the water pressure, or the background noise? It's the same thing with cars.

While there's no "one-size-fits-all" answer, a thorough test drive should typically last between 30 minutes to an hour. That's the duration you need to assess the car holistically, considering various aspects like comfort, maneuverability, pickup, brake responsiveness, and the list goes on. However, you might need to slightly extend your drive if you're test-driving a used car, an EV, or a luxury vehicle –each with its own set of unique characteristics and nuances.

PAY ATTENTION: The Components to Assess During the Drive

A wonderful and insightful test drive should be like a great movie – well-paced, cohesive, and complete with a climax. You need to add different driving conditions, changing routes, and periods of driving without the salesman's chatter. It's your opportunity to "cross-examine" the vehicle on different elements. From acceleration to braking, turning to shifting gears, ride comfort to visibility, and engine noise to in-built technology - make sure to cover all these bases.

Additionally, you might want to pay heed to the car’s overall ergonomics and the "feel" of the car. Is the driver's seat to your liking? Are the vehicle's control intuitively placed? Does the car fit well within your garage? How does the car handle traffic jams or quick lane changes? Note down the positive and negative aspects, to revisit later. To get the most of your drive, make sure to mimic your everyday car usage as closely as possible.

And...Action! Adding Real-World Scenarios

Every film aficionado would agree, a movie isn't complete without real-world, relatable scenarios - it's what adds that touch of familiarity, making it more engaging. The same holds true for test drives. Adding real-world situations allows you to accurately evaluate the vehicle's suitability to your life and lifestyle. Here is where you put all the sales-talk to the test.

Drive on highways to understand how the car responds at high speeds. Navigate through your local streets to see how the car handles sharp turns and speed bumps. Try parallel parking or swing by your favorite drive-thru – do whatever you typically do with your car. Since a chunk of my time is spent singing-off tune in heavy traffic, I test how comforting the car is in a traffic jam. Remember, at the end of your drive, you should be able to answer – "Is this the car for me?"

Once during a test drive, my cup of coffee accidentally spilled over the console. Not the best move, but it showed me how easy or challenging it could be to clean up unexpected messes (as you know, life is full of them)!

To cap it off, a test drive is not just a ceremonial protocol before purchasing a car; it's an essential tool at your disposal to ensure you’re investing in a vehicle that will serve you well. So, make the most out of it. Keep in mind to test all the pertinent conditions and components, ask all your questions, and drive with an objective. Cars are significant investments, hence your decision should not be based on hurried trips up and down the streets but rather took after thorough consideration. Just like my dear Aunt Mabel used to say, "The sweetness of a pie is in its tasting, not just its appearance."

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