Ever wonder how professional car reviewers, like Micah Muzio of Kelley Blue Book, do it? They drive so many vehicles for a relatively short time, and can tell you just about everything you need to know about them.
Part of it is experience and a broad base of knowledge about the automotive world, but some of it you can learn, and apply to your next test drive.
Split your test drive between the road, and the parking lot, advises Muzio. While still in the dealership lot...
- Sit in each seat and test for comfort and support. "Is this somewhere where you'd want to put somebody that you love for hours and hours on end?"
- Make sure there's enough space for all your necessities. Are there cup holders? Does the child seat fit? Is the trunk big enough?
- Get familiar with the instrument panel and control buttons. They should be intuitive to operate and easy to see without squinting.
- Check the sun visors, Muzio warns. "It's the little things like being blinded that'll drive you crazy in the long run."
Once you get on the road...
- Get a feel for the car's turn radius, blind spots, and dimensions while still in the parking lot.
- Go out and drive in places similar to where you'll be doing most of your driving. If you live on a hill, and have long highway commutes, then don't restrict your test drive to flat city streets.
- Listen for cabin noises. Turn on the air conditioning, use the radio, and have a conversation. Is it quiet enough?
- Feel for ride quality. This takes experience, Muzio says, but try to feel any unpleasant vibrations coming through the steering wheel or the seats, and compare that feeling to the next vehicle you test drive.
- Floor it to get a sense of engine power, and take note of whether shifting is smooth and predictable.
- Test the brakes. See if you can come to a "chauffeur-smooth stop."
Now that you know what to do, pick out your favorite used cars for sale in Schenectady, and test them out at Wedekind Motors.