The Importance of Test Driving Your Porsche, Audi, Subaru, or Volkswagen

Whether you have your eye on a new or used sedan, crossover, coupe, truck, or SUV from our inventory of Porsche, Audi, Subaru, and Volkswagen vehicles in Columbus, it is extremely important that you take a test drive before walking away with a new lease or loan. This step in the car buying process is essential and important in helping you narrow down which model is right for you while ensuring you feel completely comfortable, capable, and happy behind the wheel.

Becoming Familiar w/ the Features & Accessories and Test for Comfort

The test drive truly begins before you even start the vehicle. As you sit inside, take a moment to become familiar with the features and accessories offered. Turn the key or set the start button to the accessory position to ensure the dash warning lights illuminate. This is especially important to check on a pre-owned vehicle where a simple bulb may have burned out or there may be deeper issues with the functioning that you may need to have checked.

This is also a good time to spend a few minutes making sure you and your passengers will be comfortable. Check if all of the seats are comfortable, easy to adjust, and if the seat controls are ergonomic to your body. It is also important to make sure that you as the driver will have enough visibility and legroom to be comfortable and confident on the roads. Don’t forget to inspect the cargo space with your typical storage needs in mind.

What to Pay Attention to After Starting Up the Engine on a Used Car, Truck, or SUV

There are a number of steps to test driving that become increasingly important with pre-owned vehicles as you likely want to ensure that you will not end up with major issues down the road. Upon starting the engine, pay attention to any unusual noises you may hear. This could include tapping, ticking, knocking, or squealing. Take a moment to inspect the instrument panel to may sure that all of the warning lights turn off as the engine gets going.

Make sure to test out the heating and air-conditioning elements thoroughly and turn the windshield wipers on and test them at every speed. Turn the steering wheel to ensure it does not bind or stick and pump the brake pedal a few times to make sure it feels firm and not spongy or squishy.

Check that the parking brake is in good order by applying the parking brake and shifting into gear. It should hold the vehicle from moving. It is also important to pay attention to any clunking noises when shifting into gears as these could indicate an issue with a number of components.

If you are unsure about how to go about inspecting a pre-owned vehicle for quality, stick with certified vehicles from our inventory. These have undergone rigorous inspections and warranty coverage to bring greater peace of mind.

What You Should Do During a Test Drive

After this initial inspection, you are ready to take the vehicle for a drive. If you are testing a model with an automatic transmission, make sure it fully engages and shifts through each gear smoothly, firmly, and quickly. If the transmission is manual, check that there is no grinding or groaning coming from the transmission as you select gears.

Ensure the steering wheel stays centered as you begin driving straight and that it does not shake or vibrate at any speeds. You can easily determine if this vehicle pulls to the left or right by safely removing your hands from the wheel momentarily on a flat surface. If it pulls either way it may indicate some alignment or tire issues.

Make sure to take the vehicle on a bumpy or uneven road to see how it fares (a speed bump should work just fine). See how the vehicle responds to rougher terrain and if there are any rattles or strange noises that occur. If you plan on purchasing an SUV for some off-road adventures, it is important that you feel confident about the vehicle’s capabilities on various types of terrain!

Remember to take your time during a test drive. The members of our sales team in Columbus are patient and ready to assist you as you navigate each step of the process to make sure you get a full and complete feel for the vehicle you are testing.

Keep Your Preferences in Mind During a Test Drive

Ultimately, many of the new and certified pre-owned vehicles on our lot will function well and pass these various tests. Don’t overlook your preferences and whether or not you truly enjoy driving the vehicle!

Come to our dealership prepared with a checklist of important priorities for your driving needs to help you efficiently narrow down your choices. Some drivers are looking for an effortlessly smooth, luxurious ride with all the bells and whistles to make every drive more comfortable and convenient. Others may care more that the vehicle offers a sporty look, thrilling performance, and diverse driving capabilities. Every driver is different and it all comes down to what you specifically are looking for in your next ride!

Schedule a Test Drive at our Porsche, Audi, Subaru, & Volkswagen Dealership

Now that you understand the importance of test driving a vehicle before making your final decision, reach out to our Columbus, OH dealership to schedule your test drive for a new or used Porsche, Audi, Subaru, or Volkswagen model. You can also discuss your options with us beforehand via phone to ask specific questions about different models and narrow down which ones you would like to test out.

Whether you are buying or leasing, a test drive will help you drive away more confident with your ultimate decision and happy with the investment you have made. We look forward to giving you a better luxury car shopping experience in a friendly and professional atmosphere!