The Test Drive - The Most Common & Expensive Mistake Of All
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Q: What is the most costly mistake you can make when looking at a new, or pre-owned car, van truck or SUV?
A: Not doing a thorough Test-Drive!
Test Driving a new car, van, truck or SUV should really be referred to as "How to avoid making a very, very expensive mistake".
Or better yet, "How not to buy the wrong car". How do you buy the wrong Car? It's really very simple.
The Test Drive - Seat-Time Will Save You A Boat-Load Of Money
You can spend hours and hours researching the vehicles you are interested in, but unless you get "seat time" in the vehicles you're considering, all of the research you've done means nothing.
Most new car buyers only spend five or ten minutes Test Driving. This happens because the Car Dealer only commits that much time to it, or the potential buyer decides that's all the time they need.
Let me make it as plain as I can - A 5 or 10 minute Test Drive can be the most expensive mistake you make when researching a new car purchase. Don't think so, huh?
Then why, year after year, did almost 40% of the people visiting Dealerships want out of their car, van, truck or SUV - and they hadn't even had it for 3 years.
They wanted out because they hated the vehicle. And why did they hate their vehicles?
Because they spent a lousy 5 minutes Test Driving the car or truck before they purchased it!
Test Drive Rules
Take the vehicle on the highway and city streets. How does it handle? How does it brake? Does it accelerate as expected? Is the visibility good – can you see when you change lanes?
Park the vehicle in a crowded parking lot - Is it easy to park? Are the seats comfortable?
And leave the radio off – listen carefully for excessive tire or wind noise.
Most of us spend a considerable amount of time in our vehicles driving to work, taking the kids to soccer practice or just plain sitting in traffic. By my calculations, most of us spend more than 8 hours a week in our vehicles.
And since you’re looking at spending a small fortune on a new vehicle, you’d better be sure it’s the right one for you.
A minimum of fifteen minutes is recommended, preferably up to 45 minutes. Get some seat time.
A $26,000 Mistake
Here's a quick story of how valuable a 45-minute test-drive was to one of our customers.
I met Mike, a 58-year-old retired executive from a large Fortune 500 Company, at a fundraising event for an area charity. He was considering both the Honda Accord and VW Passat. Both options are superior vehicles and either of the two would work for him.
He had test driven both (a very short 10 minute drive) and still wasn't sure. Pricing was about the same. Both dealerships treated him very well, yet he couldn't make up his mind.
I suggested he take both cars for extended test drives - 45 minutes in both. What he discovered is one of the reasons I suggest a long, thorough test-drive.
In the Passat (thirty minutes into his test drive) he found the leg support to be uncomfortable. In fact, his legs actually hurt. There was nothing wrong with the Passats Seat. It just didn't support his legs well enough.
Mike avoided buying the wrong car. If he had not taken the extended test-drive, and bought the Passat, what would his after-purchase thoughts have been?
It's very likely he would have thought that he made a $26,000 mistake.
One last thought - If you've test-driven your choices and can’t make up your mind on what vehicle you like, and the costs are relatively the same, what the heck, test-drive some more.
I do have an obligation to point out that not all Car Makers, Dealers, Salespeople, Insurance Companies and Banks are greedy or crooked. This site is dedicated to honest Companies and their Professional Employees who've grown weary of the ignorant and classless giving the automotive related industry a black eye......a black eye that I feel is very close to being permanent.
By using these new and used car guides, I hope to be able to help you find the Best Businesses, and the Professionals that represent them, with very little effort on your part and help you....
Save More Money and More Time Than You Ever Have Before.
It is also my hope that these Companies and the Professionals that represent them will have more business than they can handle - a reward they justly deserve.
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I guarantee that you will have an exceptional experience the next time you buy a car, van, truck or SUV - again, thank you for visiting this Web Site!
Tom O'Leary - "A Concerned Dad....and Automotive Analyst"
New Car Purchase - Exceptional New Car Purchase Advice and Automobile Purchase Strategies for your next new car or used automobile purchase.
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