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Did you ever do a testdrive? Did you do it good? Two questions. The first is easy to answer with yes or no, the second you can answer but you will probably not be sure of your answer. Why? Simply because most of the people who do a testdrive do not go with a plan. A testdrive is usually done when someone intents to buy a new or used car. To decide whether a car suits or not, people go try it. However, many forget to take a testdrive with a plan: to compare. Testdrives give a driver a load of information regarding a car. Not only the visual and sensual part plays a role, also the hearing. To assess all these criteria within the short period of driving is really complicated and almost impossible to do alone. Then, what is a good start. Well, let me outline some steps for you to take before you go do a testdrive.
- Choose 5 cars and book your testdrives
- Ask an attentive family member or friend to go with you
- Make sure you bring your identification and/or driving license
- Take a mobile with good camera or just a digital camera
- Note comparison criteria up front
Choose 5 cars and book your testdrives
The matter of comparison has everything to do with parameters and values. This sounds really complicated, but as a matter of fact it is extremely easy. In short it means: have criteria ready you can apply to every testdrive you do, to ultimately come up with good values to compare and base your decision on. To make it more easy for you, based on experience, some criteria are outlined below. - Define the road stability of the car
- Define the car safety in a number 1 to 10
- Define the clutch sensitivity as low, less than average, average, above average or high
- Define the performance of the car in various weather conditions (this means driving the car in for example two conditions for a better decision)
- Define the driver position (bad, acceptable, normal, very good)
Make sure you or your attentive family member or friend do this analysis as well as possible, without being preoccupied. Ask an attentive family member or friend to go with you
There is nothing better than a 'second opinion'. Your own opinion might be cluttered by your mood. This has an immediate influence on the results of the analysis formerly described. Especially when you can find an attentive person, this really is a good addition to the decision-making process. Make sure you bring your identification and/or driving license
Identification or driving license are a must when doing a testdrive. It is not possible to do a testdrive without, since the car company is absolutely protecting their possessions from being stolen. Therefore a copy of driving license or other identification will be made up front. Make sure you and your testbuddy bring this to prevent a huge disappointment. Take a mobile with good camera or just a digital camera
A car might get damage. Simple is that. Before you do a testdrive, do a check and state in which condition the car is. Take pictures of every kind of damage that already exists and do not forget to timestamp your pictures. This might be very useful in case someone wants to sue you for any damage that not occurred during your testdrive. It will not be the first attempt from car companies to put the blame on someone completely innocent. Note comparison criteria up front
Before, some criteria have been given. Maybe you can add specific wishes as well that in terms of luxury additions or preferences. But make sure, beforehand you have the criteria ready that you want to compare the cars on. The information above does not guarantee that the ultimate car choice will be perfect, however it might help in the decision-making process. The author of this article is Dutch. In The Netherlands, nowadays people are mostly interested in used cars. This has an advantage, since in The Netherlands there is a tax, called BPM. This applies to the first registration of a car in the country, read: new cars or imported cars. Therefore, it is better to find a car that is already registered in The Netherlands and is in good condition, preferably with full option. In the Netherlands a testdrive is called: testrit.
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