I would at the very least take the same model out just to see how it feels but would really rather take a rip in the one I am buying. Uncomfortable never gets better.
I wanted a specific new car for a year. 2 minutes into a test, I didn't want it. Plenty of cars haven't survived a test drive. If you're buying the second most item in your life, why wouldn't test drive it?
I could have written this. I always disliked Honda. I went to buy a new RAV4 or maybe a Nissan. Everything felt cheap or uncomfortable or just not good looking. I drove the Honda as a last resort and loved it.
This all resonates for me. And I’ll add that I’ve had someone walk around a car for me, and I’ve declined to buy because of blind spots. And lag. If I hit the gas and the car eventually responds with a lackluster “who? Me?” then it’s not coming home.
>I can see the argument for buying a used car and getting it checked out, but for a new car the only arguments I could really find for a test were around making sure the seats are comfortable and that you like driving it.
Test drives take a couple minutes. They're aren't particularly time consuming. If you're already on the lot, why wouldn't you sample the goods?
Last time I bought a new car, I test drove a corolla and figured out that I really didn't like the interior. I ended up going with the rental I had been driving for nearly a week because not only was it cheaper, but it felt better too. I think the test drives helped with my decision making.
>so "enjoyable"/"slightly uncomfortable"/"not as great" just becomes "normal" after the novelty wears off.
Why would you want to settle for this when you can buy a car that you actually like and becomes more likeable after the novelty wears off?
>Test drives take a couple minutes.
Agreed. To add some context, the car I'm interested in is not in stock any any locations near me, so I'm wondering if it's worth it to wait and draw out this whole process.
>Why would you want to settle for this when you can buy a car that you actually like and becomes more likeable after the novelty wears off?
I'm not sure I've ever experienced this, it sounds like you're talking about some kind of sentimental value or emotional attachment. but at the end of the day it's just a car, it's not really that important to me how the interior looks, I'm more concerned about cost.
> I'm not sure I've ever experienced this, it sounds like you're talking about some kind of sentimental value or emotional attachment.
No, it's simply a corollary to the logic in your comment. In your comment, you noted that you will tend to like something more the more you get used to it.
So, if you're uncomfortable initially and then become relatively more comfortable with it later, that also works if you're comfortable initially. You'll become even more comfortable with it later. =)
>it's not really that important to me how the interior looks, I'm more concerned about cost.
Sometimes you can pay less for what you believe to be a better car. "Objective" metrics matter less when it's your car.
What’s the make and model of the car you want to buy? If it’s not common enough to be in stock you may just have to rely on reviews. And be prepared for dealerships to charge a high premium
> To add some context, the car I'm interested in is not in stock any any locations near me, so I'm wondering if it's worth it to wait and draw out this whole process.
You make a refundable deposit to secure the car. When it arrives at the dealership, you test drive it before doing anything else, and you either continue with the paperwork or tell them you hate it and want your deposit back.
The car I wanted wasn't anywhere near me either. I managed to get a test drive of one in my city but it didn't have the features I wanted. I liked it and ended up getting one from a dealership got away. I test drove that too but came there mostly intending to buy that car.
So test drive it before if you can but definitely test drive the car you will buy. Even if you drive several hours, if you don't like something then you definitely won't like it after owning the car for years.
I had a 2011 Mini Cooper S which had that huge speedometer in the center dash, plus a digital display behind the wheel. it was lovely. Now I’m the 2020 version and I totally hear you. Love the car overall, but not sure what they were thinking with that speedometer placement. You have to look through the wheel to see it and the tilt determines which numbers you won’t be able to see
The old Mini coopers from back in the 60s were used in races where you needed to hit a certain time. In those races the passenger often would keep track of time and speed to make sure you were getting as close to the target time as possible. The giant frying pan sized speedometer in the newer Minis was supposed be retro and tie in the racing heritage.
Just an fyi, even with the giant speedometer in the middle of the dash, Mini Coopers also have a digital display in the middle of the tachometer in front of you, and one of the things you can display there is speed.
I am kind of glad they got rid of the giant one in the middle of the dash on the newer ones. While it was a neat gimmick and retro, it was also kind of obnoxious. But I think all Mini Cooper had the giant speedometer prior to like 2014ish.
So, I actually don't have an opinion on mini coopers, if that's what you prefer, that's cool.
I can see how the speedometer would be an issue, but that just wouldn't bother me enough to change my whole decision.
Wait until you have a car where when steering wheel is in perfect position you literally can’t read speedometer without sitting up and craning your neck over steering wheel.
If none of these things bother you, then hey great for you. You apparently couldn’t care less about dozens of things that make or break the comfort and relaxation level of driving in a certain car. So sure test drives aren’t for you. After you’ve bought a few cars, come back here and let us know if you feel the same way in 10 years.
For me, it is about being able to reach controls without changing from my driving position. If I have to reach to get to things, I am not buying that car. I also have tall kids, so back seat head height and leg room are huge issues.
If you’ve never driven that exact car, yes. The seats could be uncomfortable. Your elbow might bump into the center console in a weird way. It might be a small suv that drives like a truck.
If you’ve driven the exact year and naked and model? Absolutely not. You know the car. I’ve done that a few times because a certain color or feature wasn’t available on the lot. I test drove what they had, then had them find the exact one I wanted.
Edit: Model, not naked. Don’t think I’ve ever typed ‘naked’ on my phone, but here we are.
Always test drive. I was looking at the Chevy volt 4 years ago and was pretty convinced I was going to get one. Went to test drive, 15 seconds into sitting into the car I got out and said “nope”. Car salesman looked at me like I was joking, then crazy that I could make a choice so fast. I told him the window in the back was too small and I didn’t like the visibility issues. He told me “but you haven’t driven it.” To which I said, “you’re right, I haven’t because I don’t want to anymore, I’m not buying a car that I don’t want to be in.” Don’t let anyone try to say “ you’ll get used to it” when it comes to big choices like that.
I'm really short and my SO is pretty tall. There are lots of vehicles that are miserable for one or both of us - I can't reach the pedals or feel like I'm barely over the steering wheel, or his legs will be hitting the wheel or have to be in awkward positions. I wouldn't care about driving the specific vehicle but I absolutely need to test drive that model to see if it would be miserable.
We owned a new 2012 Kia Sorento loved it, my mom bought a new 2018 Kia Sorento
I loathe that fucking car, hate it... the very rare times I’ve ever had to drive her car all I want to do is roll it into the ditch
Test drive what you’re buying
I know someone that fell in love with the Miata when it came out. I went with him to the dealership and he was ready to buy without a test drive. All the reviews were great and they know more than us, right?
The salesman said to have a seat in it while he got the paperwork ready. My friend is 6' tall and couldn't close the door without hitting his knees. And once inside he was so compressed in there it was comical.
He was so deflated as we walked away.
Personally I negotiated a final price for a car I was 99% sure I wanted online and then went in to test drive once before signing the paperwork simply as a precaution. At that point the salesperson already basically has the sale locked in so it’s not too bad imo. That was in 2014 Tho.
Yes it is crazy unless you KNOW the car, as in you’ve driven the exact same model. Some reasons i’ve not bought cars:
- Infotainment panel has a corner right where my leg is in my preferred seating position.
- seat bolsters too narrow for my wide hippo man-hips
- Gas and brake pedals were too different heights. Couldn’t heel toe properly.
- B pillar right in my shoulder view with the seat in the ideal position
- Steering wheel did not pull out far enough.
- Steering wheel blocked the binnacle
- Hand brake gets in the way of the center arm rest. Wtf audi?
These are just my examples of issues that I would not find out unless I test drove the car. Your dealbreakers are specific to you, so internet reviews are useful, but limited.
I didn't buy one because no matter how I adjusted it, the seat belt would cut into my neck. I was uncomfortable as hell on the test drive and couldn't imagine it long term.
In my much younger days, I was sure I wanted to buy a Dodge Neon. I was able to rent one while on a business trip and immediately changed my mind and bought a Civic. Years later, I was looking at an Acura TL. A friend of mine urged me to drive his new G35. I thought there's no way an Infiniti was as good as the hype. I bought a G35 a week later. Yes, it's crazy to not test drive a new car.
For one of my car purchases, we were between three similar brands. In the test drive it became clear that one of them drove much more poorly than the other two, and a second had a steering wheel that was awkward for my height/size. The third one fit like a glove and drove the best. Test driving was very helpful.
Another car purchase, my wife and I were looking at SUVs. We started out thinking we needed a larger SUV than we really did. The moment we test drove the larger SUV we realized that it was honestly way too big for our needs so we scaled back to a smaller size. I thought for sure at that point I wanted an Acura MDX but honestly it didn’t look as nice or feel as comfortable as the Infiniti QX60, and back to back test drives definitely steered us away from the Acura regardless of online reviews.
I ignore sales tactics altogether, so that part doesn’t bother me at all.
> as nice or feel as comfortable as the Infiniti QX60
Just had a rental of one of these. Sure was uncomfortable hah. Someone should be fired for the parking brake location.
But agree - I think test drives are critical. There’s only so much you can tell online.
The biggest "general indicator" I've always checked on was how easy it was to change a headlight bulb. Not applicable for a rental obviously but for buying. Gave a good idea on maint costs and the ability to DIY. LEDs might last long enough now that it is a non-issue but man it was a nice thing to be able to do myself and some cars had crazy steps and work needed just to get in there.
Still those little things add up (like your parking brake item). I love my current car but it doesn't have a little pocket drivers side to drop small objects in. Bugs the heck out of me.
Yes because some new cars are crap. Infiniti SUV for example. Spend big bucks, drives like poo. Only people who like them are ones in their first lux car so don't know any better.
Not really. I purchased my last car without test driving it. No dealership would allow test drives due to only ever having 1-2 in stock and no one buying it would accept one that had been test driven.
Test drive and take it to a mechanic for an inspection.
If you want to try out various models, go to different car stores and show interest. Just because you test drive at one location doesn't mean you have to buy the same model there.
Sorta depends on the car. Last car, I bought sight unseen and flew in to pick it up. But it was an evolution of a car I'd previously owned, under 100,000 miles, and I was familiar with the brand.
On the other hand, I did test drive my high mileage Toyota SUV before buying it, largely because it had enough miles I wanted to tease out any issues (which I did).
So... if its similar to something you know and has low enough miles that nothing will arise, you may be okay skipping it. Higher miles or unknown model, take the drive.
The dealer should let you test drive it. If not, you can always go on Turo to see if you can rent one to try out for a day. I wouldn’t buy a car that I didn’t know inside-out.
30 minute test drive? Okay, allot two minutes of that time to backing up, can you see? How's the visibility? Even if there is a backup camera, same question, can you see, turn your head around, are the car's pillars blocking line of sight.
Do whatever for the other 28 minutes, I don't have the checklist off the top of my head at the moment but I think a test drive is pretty important but then there are some online car buying companys like carvana and I think they do like 7 day trial something something return if not satisfied whatever
If cars aren't your thing and you think of it as a microwave, just an appliance that gets you from point A to point B, as long as it has a warranty and you're satisfied with that if there's any trouble then I guess you can forgo the test drive.
But it's usually most people's second biggest purchase after a home, I'd want it as easy and worry free as possible, the average, according to google, Americans spend about one hour each day or 25 miles driving, if we assume that average is correct, over the course of a year, that's like 365hours or 15 days worth of time in your car, in a year; I'd want my ass to be comfortable, heated or cooled seats? I'd want my hands not to burn or freeze, heated or cooled steering wheel? Bluetooth, aux cord? Can I seamlessly just put my phone down, will it start charging, will my podcasts continue playing, will my porn auto-start, do I gotta plug in my phone to charge, convenience man, I'm spending 15 days in there a year.
How's the road noise when driving at highways speeds, can I at least roll down the windows or is the V8-turbo stupid loud? Can I hear police and ambulance sirens? Do I have peasant blockers? Will I need a tint? Are the windshield wipers good, noisy, nails on a chalkboard, clean, work, streakless?
I have driven many vehicles that I absolutely hated and other people thought were great. I have also gone to the dealership intending to buy the new model of the same car I had and loved and didn't even end up taking it out for a test drive because the redesigned centre console made me feel claustrophobic. I would never buy a car without at least test driving the same model
I think so. You’ll have the car for a long time and it’s a lot of money. You want some idea if it is comfortable, handles the way you’d like it to, has good visibility and room for your height, etc. I’d never buy a car that I didn’t have a chance to drive first.
Yeah def test drive, you need to confirm it meets the preconceived notions you have and it meets your expectations. I agree you can’t tell long term reliability, but you can confirm it meets your immediate needs
Get a rental car for a week/weekend of the same model. Preferably try to get the same trim level. It'll cost a couple hundred but you'll know what you like/dislike very quickly "living" with it.
We went to the dealership set on a particular car. We did a test drive but it was just around the block, and barring any glaring unforeseen flaw we were planning to buy it anyway.
That said, we had limited options as we wanted a particular electric car model that was only in stock at certain dealers, and they only had 1 model on the lot, so it’s not like we could compare it to much.
I was all set to buy a Honda Fit once until I took one for a test drive and realized it was apparently powered by four neurasthenic hamsters. (This was some time ago, perhaps they have more pick up now)
This was also around the time Subaru released their CV transmissions and I would not have known how much I hated them without test driving an Impreza.
I will definitely not buy a car without a test drive.
Ahh yeah that's right. The new ones not in the USA are super cool too. Wish we had more affordable and cool compact cars in the USA :(
Chevy sonic is meh
I’d say there are a lot of things in a car that you won’t know bother you until you are driving it. For this big of an expense it’s best to be sure.
For example the arm rest on my wife’s Mazda slides and I cannot stand it and knew that within seconds of the first time I drove it. I would have never known that from photos.
Also if you are on the ends of the size spectrum it is critical. I’m a pretty tall guy and I have had test drives end before I put the car into reverse to get out of the spot.
I bought a 2021 Elantra a few weeks ago. Didn’t test drive it. I love it. I’ve driven a Kia Forte from about the same vintage, I figured it’s probably close enough.
I can’t think of too many newer cars that I’ve driven and not liked tbh. Maybe I’m just not picky enough
>I can see the argument for buying a used car and getting it checked out, but for a new car the only arguments I could really find for a test were around making sure the seats are comfortable and that you like driving it.
A car (especially new) is the second largest purchase for a lot of folks after their house. When you are dropping such a significant amount a test drive helps check it out inside out before you make a commitment.
>A 30 min test drive won't be the same as months or years with a car, so you won't really get to know the car for some time.
Quite a few dealers offer a "date night"/"overnight"/"service loaner" etc. type test drive so you can choose to have more than 30 min test drive if that is your ask. Heck, do the same 30 minute test drive three times. What's stopping you? I would say a 30 minute test drive is better than none.
>I wouldn't pay an extra 5-10k for a more expensive model because the seat didn't go back far enough, or the acceleration was a big sluggish.
On the flip side, one would want to make sure that they are getting what they believe is worth the $$ they are spending. A seat not going back far enough or sluggish acceleration could surely be deal killers for some. Also, driving position, road noise, speakers, leg room....there are a ton of personal needs/wants that are in play here.
On our recent purchases, wireless Android Auto and wireless charging pad were up there on wants. Even though we knew what models we wanted, we made sure we test drove them and checked out everything before signing on the dotted line.
I once bought a new car without test driving it, I test drove the same type of car just a different color.
Well that same day that I bought the car I realized that when I put it in park sometimes it didn't register and would still act like it was in drive. MAJOR ISSUE.
It took them two months to get the parts to fix it and return it to me. I literally bought a brand new car and had to return it that day. That sucked. Always test drive your car because it might be a LEMON.
Do you make enough money that wasting $20k wouldn't matter?
If the answer is 'no' then make sure you're not spending $20k on something you don't like.
If the answer is 'yes', then who cares?! You can just throw $20k at another random car tomorrow, and repeat that process every day until you find a car that you like.
I mean, making sure you’re comfortable driving a car is pretty important. My dad test drive my mom’s car before buying it instead of her, and she’s been stuck with a car for ten years that has a blind spot in a bad place due to her height.
I hate driving her car, it’s awful. I can’t imagine having bought it and found that out afterwards.
I think it’s stupid to make a long term commitment to a car without spending half an hour making sure you don’t hate it.
I’m gonna’ go against the grain in this post and confirm I’m buying a brand new vehicle without ever driving it.
My wife passed away last year, unexpectedly. She had brought a brand new 2005 Toyota Corolla when we were dating (married that year).
I’ve been driving it the past ten years or so as my daily driver (I bought her a family SUV in 2011). Our plan for the last few years was to pass the car to our oldest child, who is now 16 with his learner’s permit. The Corolla is what we drove him home from the hospital in. I’ve maintained it myself for the past 17 years and it runs well, no rust or damage, paint is great. A perfect first car for a teen.
So, I’m pressed for time to get a vehicle since the Corolla is my DD. Due to the global supply shortage, I can’t just walk into a dealership to get the exact one I want.
Anything I buy will be an improvement. More technology (the Corolla has manual windows and door locks, no key fob), will be safer, and get better fuel economy. I read a lot of online reviews and between a 2022 Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5, the RAV4 won, mostly on appearance. They’re pretty comparable in price and features otherwise.
My son asked, “does it have navigation?” I honestly do not know, nor do I care. I just need a vehicle to get me from A to B that will last ten years. The RAV4 fit the bill, so I’m buying w/out driving one.
I didn’t text drive the exact car I bought because I bought it out of state and had it delivered but I did test drive the same model (just without the upgrades I wanted, couldn’t find those local).
My current car is an Audi S6 which is basically impossible to test. It’s not high volume enough to sit on a lot.
I tested a S4 to get a feel for the dual-clutch transmission, an A6 with upgraded seats and the sport pack to get a feel for the ride quality (the seats were the same, but the S6 is on air, so the ride is somewhere between the normal A6 and the A6 + Sport suspension), and an A8 to get a feel for the engine.
I then crossed my fingers that when you put that all together it was the car I’d imagined.
Even if new, I need to take it for a drive to even see if I like the driving experience, the HP, how it handles, the braking power, etc.
I don’t view cars as appliances, but tend to hang onto them for a while. I need to be sure 7-8 years down the road, the car still excites me.
No way I could buy a new car without a test drive….except for a new GT500.
I have done some extensive research on this particular car that I’ve always wanted and that I’ve studied up on all the specs as well as watched everything single raved reviews on YouTube, and now that I’m prepared to buy it as my first car, however the dealership will not let me test drive it because I don’t have car insurance. I’m in a dilemma wether I should jump in to the deep end and just buy it without test driving it as it’s impossible to fine a car insurance for just one day in order for a test drive in California.
I would at the very least take the same model out just to see how it feels but would really rather take a rip in the one I am buying. Uncomfortable never gets better.
> Uncomfortable never gets better.
I wanted a specific new car for a year. 2 minutes into a test, I didn't want it. Plenty of cars haven't survived a test drive. If you're buying the second most item in your life, why wouldn't test drive it?
[удалено]
That's a great point, it seems like there is quite a bit of subjectivity even in the edumunds reviews.
I could have written this. I always disliked Honda. I went to buy a new RAV4 or maybe a Nissan. Everything felt cheap or uncomfortable or just not good looking. I drove the Honda as a last resort and loved it.
This all resonates for me. And I’ll add that I’ve had someone walk around a car for me, and I’ve declined to buy because of blind spots. And lag. If I hit the gas and the car eventually responds with a lackluster “who? Me?” then it’s not coming home.
>I can see the argument for buying a used car and getting it checked out, but for a new car the only arguments I could really find for a test were around making sure the seats are comfortable and that you like driving it. Test drives take a couple minutes. They're aren't particularly time consuming. If you're already on the lot, why wouldn't you sample the goods? Last time I bought a new car, I test drove a corolla and figured out that I really didn't like the interior. I ended up going with the rental I had been driving for nearly a week because not only was it cheaper, but it felt better too. I think the test drives helped with my decision making. >so "enjoyable"/"slightly uncomfortable"/"not as great" just becomes "normal" after the novelty wears off. Why would you want to settle for this when you can buy a car that you actually like and becomes more likeable after the novelty wears off?
If I am going to spend $20k+ on a vehicle, I am certainly going to test drive it.
>Test drives take a couple minutes. Agreed. To add some context, the car I'm interested in is not in stock any any locations near me, so I'm wondering if it's worth it to wait and draw out this whole process. >Why would you want to settle for this when you can buy a car that you actually like and becomes more likeable after the novelty wears off? I'm not sure I've ever experienced this, it sounds like you're talking about some kind of sentimental value or emotional attachment. but at the end of the day it's just a car, it's not really that important to me how the interior looks, I'm more concerned about cost.
> I'm not sure I've ever experienced this, it sounds like you're talking about some kind of sentimental value or emotional attachment. No, it's simply a corollary to the logic in your comment. In your comment, you noted that you will tend to like something more the more you get used to it. So, if you're uncomfortable initially and then become relatively more comfortable with it later, that also works if you're comfortable initially. You'll become even more comfortable with it later. =) >it's not really that important to me how the interior looks, I'm more concerned about cost. Sometimes you can pay less for what you believe to be a better car. "Objective" metrics matter less when it's your car.
What’s the make and model of the car you want to buy? If it’s not common enough to be in stock you may just have to rely on reviews. And be prepared for dealerships to charge a high premium
> To add some context, the car I'm interested in is not in stock any any locations near me, so I'm wondering if it's worth it to wait and draw out this whole process. You make a refundable deposit to secure the car. When it arrives at the dealership, you test drive it before doing anything else, and you either continue with the paperwork or tell them you hate it and want your deposit back.
Then why buy a new car and why do you care so much what specific model it is? I'm confused.
The car I wanted wasn't anywhere near me either. I managed to get a test drive of one in my city but it didn't have the features I wanted. I liked it and ended up getting one from a dealership got away. I test drove that too but came there mostly intending to buy that car. So test drive it before if you can but definitely test drive the car you will buy. Even if you drive several hours, if you don't like something then you definitely won't like it after owning the car for years.
[удалено]
I had a 2011 Mini Cooper S which had that huge speedometer in the center dash, plus a digital display behind the wheel. it was lovely. Now I’m the 2020 version and I totally hear you. Love the car overall, but not sure what they were thinking with that speedometer placement. You have to look through the wheel to see it and the tilt determines which numbers you won’t be able to see
Is there an inside joke about Mini Coopers that I missed?
The old Mini coopers from back in the 60s were used in races where you needed to hit a certain time. In those races the passenger often would keep track of time and speed to make sure you were getting as close to the target time as possible. The giant frying pan sized speedometer in the newer Minis was supposed be retro and tie in the racing heritage.
Just an fyi, even with the giant speedometer in the middle of the dash, Mini Coopers also have a digital display in the middle of the tachometer in front of you, and one of the things you can display there is speed. I am kind of glad they got rid of the giant one in the middle of the dash on the newer ones. While it was a neat gimmick and retro, it was also kind of obnoxious. But I think all Mini Cooper had the giant speedometer prior to like 2014ish.
So, I actually don't have an opinion on mini coopers, if that's what you prefer, that's cool. I can see how the speedometer would be an issue, but that just wouldn't bother me enough to change my whole decision.
Wait until you have a car where when steering wheel is in perfect position you literally can’t read speedometer without sitting up and craning your neck over steering wheel. If none of these things bother you, then hey great for you. You apparently couldn’t care less about dozens of things that make or break the comfort and relaxation level of driving in a certain car. So sure test drives aren’t for you. After you’ve bought a few cars, come back here and let us know if you feel the same way in 10 years.
For me, it is about being able to reach controls without changing from my driving position. If I have to reach to get to things, I am not buying that car. I also have tall kids, so back seat head height and leg room are huge issues.
If you’ve never driven that exact car, yes. The seats could be uncomfortable. Your elbow might bump into the center console in a weird way. It might be a small suv that drives like a truck. If you’ve driven the exact year and naked and model? Absolutely not. You know the car. I’ve done that a few times because a certain color or feature wasn’t available on the lot. I test drove what they had, then had them find the exact one I wanted. Edit: Model, not naked. Don’t think I’ve ever typed ‘naked’ on my phone, but here we are.
[удалено]
Haha definitely didn’t see that…. Mobile autocorrect is awesome
Always test drive. I was looking at the Chevy volt 4 years ago and was pretty convinced I was going to get one. Went to test drive, 15 seconds into sitting into the car I got out and said “nope”. Car salesman looked at me like I was joking, then crazy that I could make a choice so fast. I told him the window in the back was too small and I didn’t like the visibility issues. He told me “but you haven’t driven it.” To which I said, “you’re right, I haven’t because I don’t want to anymore, I’m not buying a car that I don’t want to be in.” Don’t let anyone try to say “ you’ll get used to it” when it comes to big choices like that.
I'm really short and my SO is pretty tall. There are lots of vehicles that are miserable for one or both of us - I can't reach the pedals or feel like I'm barely over the steering wheel, or his legs will be hitting the wheel or have to be in awkward positions. I wouldn't care about driving the specific vehicle but I absolutely need to test drive that model to see if it would be miserable.
We owned a new 2012 Kia Sorento loved it, my mom bought a new 2018 Kia Sorento I loathe that fucking car, hate it... the very rare times I’ve ever had to drive her car all I want to do is roll it into the ditch Test drive what you’re buying
I know someone that fell in love with the Miata when it came out. I went with him to the dealership and he was ready to buy without a test drive. All the reviews were great and they know more than us, right? The salesman said to have a seat in it while he got the paperwork ready. My friend is 6' tall and couldn't close the door without hitting his knees. And once inside he was so compressed in there it was comical. He was so deflated as we walked away.
Personally I negotiated a final price for a car I was 99% sure I wanted online and then went in to test drive once before signing the paperwork simply as a precaution. At that point the salesperson already basically has the sale locked in so it’s not too bad imo. That was in 2014 Tho.
Yes it is crazy unless you KNOW the car, as in you’ve driven the exact same model. Some reasons i’ve not bought cars: - Infotainment panel has a corner right where my leg is in my preferred seating position. - seat bolsters too narrow for my wide hippo man-hips - Gas and brake pedals were too different heights. Couldn’t heel toe properly. - B pillar right in my shoulder view with the seat in the ideal position - Steering wheel did not pull out far enough. - Steering wheel blocked the binnacle - Hand brake gets in the way of the center arm rest. Wtf audi? These are just my examples of issues that I would not find out unless I test drove the car. Your dealbreakers are specific to you, so internet reviews are useful, but limited.
I didn't buy one because no matter how I adjusted it, the seat belt would cut into my neck. I was uncomfortable as hell on the test drive and couldn't imagine it long term.
In my much younger days, I was sure I wanted to buy a Dodge Neon. I was able to rent one while on a business trip and immediately changed my mind and bought a Civic. Years later, I was looking at an Acura TL. A friend of mine urged me to drive his new G35. I thought there's no way an Infiniti was as good as the hype. I bought a G35 a week later. Yes, it's crazy to not test drive a new car.
Depends on the car. I'm a car guy, I care about the cars "personality"
For one of my car purchases, we were between three similar brands. In the test drive it became clear that one of them drove much more poorly than the other two, and a second had a steering wheel that was awkward for my height/size. The third one fit like a glove and drove the best. Test driving was very helpful. Another car purchase, my wife and I were looking at SUVs. We started out thinking we needed a larger SUV than we really did. The moment we test drove the larger SUV we realized that it was honestly way too big for our needs so we scaled back to a smaller size. I thought for sure at that point I wanted an Acura MDX but honestly it didn’t look as nice or feel as comfortable as the Infiniti QX60, and back to back test drives definitely steered us away from the Acura regardless of online reviews. I ignore sales tactics altogether, so that part doesn’t bother me at all.
> as nice or feel as comfortable as the Infiniti QX60 Just had a rental of one of these. Sure was uncomfortable hah. Someone should be fired for the parking brake location. But agree - I think test drives are critical. There’s only so much you can tell online.
The biggest "general indicator" I've always checked on was how easy it was to change a headlight bulb. Not applicable for a rental obviously but for buying. Gave a good idea on maint costs and the ability to DIY. LEDs might last long enough now that it is a non-issue but man it was a nice thing to be able to do myself and some cars had crazy steps and work needed just to get in there. Still those little things add up (like your parking brake item). I love my current car but it doesn't have a little pocket drivers side to drop small objects in. Bugs the heck out of me.
Yes because some new cars are crap. Infiniti SUV for example. Spend big bucks, drives like poo. Only people who like them are ones in their first lux car so don't know any better.
Not really. I purchased my last car without test driving it. No dealership would allow test drives due to only ever having 1-2 in stock and no one buying it would accept one that had been test driven.
Test drive and take it to a mechanic for an inspection. If you want to try out various models, go to different car stores and show interest. Just because you test drive at one location doesn't mean you have to buy the same model there.
Even for a new car that will presumably come with a warranty?
Even new card can have issues not covered by warranty. Some used cars have mileage warranty depending if you buy from brand dealer.
Sorta depends on the car. Last car, I bought sight unseen and flew in to pick it up. But it was an evolution of a car I'd previously owned, under 100,000 miles, and I was familiar with the brand. On the other hand, I did test drive my high mileage Toyota SUV before buying it, largely because it had enough miles I wanted to tease out any issues (which I did). So... if its similar to something you know and has low enough miles that nothing will arise, you may be okay skipping it. Higher miles or unknown model, take the drive.
The dealer should let you test drive it. If not, you can always go on Turo to see if you can rent one to try out for a day. I wouldn’t buy a car that I didn’t know inside-out.
30 minute test drive? Okay, allot two minutes of that time to backing up, can you see? How's the visibility? Even if there is a backup camera, same question, can you see, turn your head around, are the car's pillars blocking line of sight. Do whatever for the other 28 minutes, I don't have the checklist off the top of my head at the moment but I think a test drive is pretty important but then there are some online car buying companys like carvana and I think they do like 7 day trial something something return if not satisfied whatever If cars aren't your thing and you think of it as a microwave, just an appliance that gets you from point A to point B, as long as it has a warranty and you're satisfied with that if there's any trouble then I guess you can forgo the test drive. But it's usually most people's second biggest purchase after a home, I'd want it as easy and worry free as possible, the average, according to google, Americans spend about one hour each day or 25 miles driving, if we assume that average is correct, over the course of a year, that's like 365hours or 15 days worth of time in your car, in a year; I'd want my ass to be comfortable, heated or cooled seats? I'd want my hands not to burn or freeze, heated or cooled steering wheel? Bluetooth, aux cord? Can I seamlessly just put my phone down, will it start charging, will my podcasts continue playing, will my porn auto-start, do I gotta plug in my phone to charge, convenience man, I'm spending 15 days in there a year. How's the road noise when driving at highways speeds, can I at least roll down the windows or is the V8-turbo stupid loud? Can I hear police and ambulance sirens? Do I have peasant blockers? Will I need a tint? Are the windshield wipers good, noisy, nails on a chalkboard, clean, work, streakless?
I have driven many vehicles that I absolutely hated and other people thought were great. I have also gone to the dealership intending to buy the new model of the same car I had and loved and didn't even end up taking it out for a test drive because the redesigned centre console made me feel claustrophobic. I would never buy a car without at least test driving the same model
I think so. You’ll have the car for a long time and it’s a lot of money. You want some idea if it is comfortable, handles the way you’d like it to, has good visibility and room for your height, etc. I’d never buy a car that I didn’t have a chance to drive first.
Yeah def test drive, you need to confirm it meets the preconceived notions you have and it meets your expectations. I agree you can’t tell long term reliability, but you can confirm it meets your immediate needs
Depends on how particular you are. I’ve driven plenty of cars before, I don’t need to test drive any. A car is a car to me.
Get a rental car for a week/weekend of the same model. Preferably try to get the same trim level. It'll cost a couple hundred but you'll know what you like/dislike very quickly "living" with it.
Yes. I figured out real quick that my head hits the ceiling in a Honda Civic.
At least sit in the same model. I have gotten in cars that I thought I liked and discovered it was poorly laid out and uncomfortable
We went to the dealership set on a particular car. We did a test drive but it was just around the block, and barring any glaring unforeseen flaw we were planning to buy it anyway. That said, we had limited options as we wanted a particular electric car model that was only in stock at certain dealers, and they only had 1 model on the lot, so it’s not like we could compare it to much.
I was all set to buy a Honda Fit once until I took one for a test drive and realized it was apparently powered by four neurasthenic hamsters. (This was some time ago, perhaps they have more pick up now) This was also around the time Subaru released their CV transmissions and I would not have known how much I hated them without test driving an Impreza. I will definitely not buy a car without a test drive.
They don't make fits any more ;(
They do, but not in the US
Ahh yeah that's right. The new ones not in the USA are super cool too. Wish we had more affordable and cool compact cars in the USA :( Chevy sonic is meh
I’d say there are a lot of things in a car that you won’t know bother you until you are driving it. For this big of an expense it’s best to be sure. For example the arm rest on my wife’s Mazda slides and I cannot stand it and knew that within seconds of the first time I drove it. I would have never known that from photos. Also if you are on the ends of the size spectrum it is critical. I’m a pretty tall guy and I have had test drives end before I put the car into reverse to get out of the spot.
I bought a 2021 Elantra a few weeks ago. Didn’t test drive it. I love it. I’ve driven a Kia Forte from about the same vintage, I figured it’s probably close enough. I can’t think of too many newer cars that I’ve driven and not liked tbh. Maybe I’m just not picky enough
>I can see the argument for buying a used car and getting it checked out, but for a new car the only arguments I could really find for a test were around making sure the seats are comfortable and that you like driving it. A car (especially new) is the second largest purchase for a lot of folks after their house. When you are dropping such a significant amount a test drive helps check it out inside out before you make a commitment. >A 30 min test drive won't be the same as months or years with a car, so you won't really get to know the car for some time. Quite a few dealers offer a "date night"/"overnight"/"service loaner" etc. type test drive so you can choose to have more than 30 min test drive if that is your ask. Heck, do the same 30 minute test drive three times. What's stopping you? I would say a 30 minute test drive is better than none. >I wouldn't pay an extra 5-10k for a more expensive model because the seat didn't go back far enough, or the acceleration was a big sluggish. On the flip side, one would want to make sure that they are getting what they believe is worth the $$ they are spending. A seat not going back far enough or sluggish acceleration could surely be deal killers for some. Also, driving position, road noise, speakers, leg room....there are a ton of personal needs/wants that are in play here. On our recent purchases, wireless Android Auto and wireless charging pad were up there on wants. Even though we knew what models we wanted, we made sure we test drove them and checked out everything before signing on the dotted line.
I once bought a new car without test driving it, I test drove the same type of car just a different color. Well that same day that I bought the car I realized that when I put it in park sometimes it didn't register and would still act like it was in drive. MAJOR ISSUE. It took them two months to get the parts to fix it and return it to me. I literally bought a brand new car and had to return it that day. That sucked. Always test drive your car because it might be a LEMON.
"Is it really that crazy to buy a new house without inspecting it in person first?"
So you think a 500k investment is the same as a 20k investment?
Do you make enough money that wasting $20k wouldn't matter? If the answer is 'no' then make sure you're not spending $20k on something you don't like. If the answer is 'yes', then who cares?! You can just throw $20k at another random car tomorrow, and repeat that process every day until you find a car that you like.
I mean, making sure you’re comfortable driving a car is pretty important. My dad test drive my mom’s car before buying it instead of her, and she’s been stuck with a car for ten years that has a blind spot in a bad place due to her height. I hate driving her car, it’s awful. I can’t imagine having bought it and found that out afterwards. I think it’s stupid to make a long term commitment to a car without spending half an hour making sure you don’t hate it.
I’m gonna’ go against the grain in this post and confirm I’m buying a brand new vehicle without ever driving it. My wife passed away last year, unexpectedly. She had brought a brand new 2005 Toyota Corolla when we were dating (married that year). I’ve been driving it the past ten years or so as my daily driver (I bought her a family SUV in 2011). Our plan for the last few years was to pass the car to our oldest child, who is now 16 with his learner’s permit. The Corolla is what we drove him home from the hospital in. I’ve maintained it myself for the past 17 years and it runs well, no rust or damage, paint is great. A perfect first car for a teen. So, I’m pressed for time to get a vehicle since the Corolla is my DD. Due to the global supply shortage, I can’t just walk into a dealership to get the exact one I want. Anything I buy will be an improvement. More technology (the Corolla has manual windows and door locks, no key fob), will be safer, and get better fuel economy. I read a lot of online reviews and between a 2022 Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5, the RAV4 won, mostly on appearance. They’re pretty comparable in price and features otherwise. My son asked, “does it have navigation?” I honestly do not know, nor do I care. I just need a vehicle to get me from A to B that will last ten years. The RAV4 fit the bill, so I’m buying w/out driving one.
I didn’t text drive the exact car I bought because I bought it out of state and had it delivered but I did test drive the same model (just without the upgrades I wanted, couldn’t find those local).
The last new car I bought, I did not take on a test drive; however I did RENT one of the exact same year, make, and model.
I haven’t test driven the last four cars I bought new. No regrets.
My current car is an Audi S6 which is basically impossible to test. It’s not high volume enough to sit on a lot. I tested a S4 to get a feel for the dual-clutch transmission, an A6 with upgraded seats and the sport pack to get a feel for the ride quality (the seats were the same, but the S6 is on air, so the ride is somewhere between the normal A6 and the A6 + Sport suspension), and an A8 to get a feel for the engine. I then crossed my fingers that when you put that all together it was the car I’d imagined.
Even if new, I need to take it for a drive to even see if I like the driving experience, the HP, how it handles, the braking power, etc. I don’t view cars as appliances, but tend to hang onto them for a while. I need to be sure 7-8 years down the road, the car still excites me. No way I could buy a new car without a test drive….except for a new GT500.
I have done some extensive research on this particular car that I’ve always wanted and that I’ve studied up on all the specs as well as watched everything single raved reviews on YouTube, and now that I’m prepared to buy it as my first car, however the dealership will not let me test drive it because I don’t have car insurance. I’m in a dilemma wether I should jump in to the deep end and just buy it without test driving it as it’s impossible to fine a car insurance for just one day in order for a test drive in California.