Taking a Test Drive? Here’s How to Get the Most Out of It

Our Top Things to Make Sure You Do When Test Driving Used and New Cars for Sale in South Jordan, Utah

Deciding to take a test drive usually means a few things.

It means that you like the look of the car and that it is within your budget. It means that it probably meets your driving style and overall needs for storage, features, and performance. It also means that you’re pretty close to making a decision on whether you want to buy it.

There’s no bigger moment of truth for a vehicle than the test drive, so you want to make sure that you get the most out of it. What exactly should you check out before test driving to ensure that you’re not missing anything?

Here is our list of top things you should check out before and during your test drive.

What to Check Before Getting into the Vehicle – The Visual Inspection

As a savvy used car-buyer, you want to make sure that you are checking absolutely everything on the car before getting into it for a test drive. Be slow. Be deliberate. No detail is too small. Here are some of the top things to look at:

• Doors: Make sure to open and shut every one of them to ensure they are in good working order. If any of them stick or jam, that may be a deal-breaker.
• Windows and windshields: Check each door window to make sure it goes up and down smoothly. Also check every window and both windshields for cracks and chips.
• Body: Make sure that you do a comprehensive check of every single panel of the body. You want to look for things like scratches, chips, rust, and other cosmetic damage that may impact the value of the vehicle.
• Tires: Although you may not be a professional mechanic, you should be able to check the tires of the vehicle and determine if there’s a sufficient amount of tread left on them. If you’re looking at bald tires, you’ll definitely want to bring that up with your sales associate.
• Lights: Although a burnt-out light is relatively inexpensive to replace, you still don’t want to incur the cost of doing it. Make sure that you go around and check all the blinker lights, headlamps, and brake lights of the vehicle.
• Interior features: Before you hit the road for your test drive, make sure that you go through the interior features with your sales associate. Make sure things like the air conditioning, stereo, and other technology features are in good working order.

Getting the Most Out of Your Test Drive

When it comes to test driving, you want to be just as diligent as you were when doing a visual inspection of the vehicle. A test drive should be comprehensive, meaning that you should take it through various situations that will come up while driving.

Make sure to complete the following when test driving:

• Driving at high speeds on the interstate
• Driving at low to moderate speeds through neighborhoods
• Complete multiple right-hand and left-hand turns
• Driving the car in reverse
• Thoroughly testing the brakes (both normal gradual stops and hard stops)
• Acceleration test (getting to 60 mph quickly)
• Making lane changes (left and right)

Don’t feel like you’re in a rush when taking a test drive. Remember, you’re only a few steps away from purchasing this vehicle. Feel free to run it through your battery of tests for as long as it takes for you to feel confident about the car.

If the used car dealership near you doesn’t live up to your expectations – walk away. You can find used cars elsewhere or try shopping for new cars for sale.

Ready to Take a VW for a Spin? You Can Find a Volkswagen Near You at VW SouthTowne!

Whether you’re looking for used or new cars for sale, VW SouthTowne has a wide variety of SUVs, compacts, and sedans all right here on the lot and ready for test driving. We have the fuel-efficient and luxurious VW Jetta, the all-new VW Taos, and the award-winning all-electric VW ID.4.

The best way to test drive used and new cars for sale is by coming down to VW SouthTowne, which is conveniently located at 11000 South 290 West in South Jordan. Call us at (801) 988-5825, or email us directly on our website.

As one of the leading used car dealerships near you in South Jordan, we also offer a wide variety of used cars and certified pre-owned vehicles that have undergone a 100+ point inspection. Don’t forget to check out our specials for more great deals on VW products and services.

Are you a current VW owner in need of routine maintenance, service, or repairs? Contact our Volkswagen service center today to set-up your appointment.

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