Test Driving a Used Mazda

<If you are shopping for a used car, there are several steps before the test drive. First of all, you need to do some research before you even get near the car lot. Your trip to the dealership is likely to be way more successful if you know the facts, know the vehicles, their price range, their features, and anything else you can learn.  Next, ask yourself if the car really fills your needs. So, what is the best way to test-drive a car, to determine if this is the right car for you? Considering your needs is probably the best way to approach car shopping. Think of what you need to do with the car and you will quickly build a list of qualities you must have in your new car. This list should be labeled "must-haves."

Test Drive Preparations

Map out a driving route before hand, don't drive haphazardly. Make the test route a mixture of local streets, highways, and a big empty parking lot. A long highway on-ramp is a good place for testing a vehicle's acceleration. Also, pack a notepad or recorder. They help you remember what you liked and disliked. Plus it can remind you what you want your mechanic to inspect. If you have kids, make sure you have someone to watch them. It's best to not bring the family along. They'll be too distracting. Do bring along a spouse or partner who is sharing in the decision-making process. If you have young kids, bring along car seats or booster seats to check their fit. Just don't bring the kids. You need to devote 100% of your attention to the test drive. Negotiate with the dealership how long the test drive can be. Shoot for at least a half-hour. Lastly, before you start driving, adjust the seat, the seatbelt and the mirrors. Turn off the radio so you can hear the engine and concentrate on the driving experience.

The Proper Test Drive

 Your test-drive should match your driving requirements. If you drive into the mountains, find a hill and see how the car climbs. If you have a highway commute, see how the car accelerates into traffic and performs in the 60-70-mph range. Tell the salesperson what kind of test-drive you want and he will probably accommodate you. The most important thing to remember when test driving a used car is you are the customer. That is the way to test drive a used car. You set the agenda when it comes to your test drive - not the sales rep or the owner if it's a private sale. If any aspect of the test drive makes you feel uncomfortable - walk away. Trust your gut feelings. Preparation is key. Make sure you're an informed used-car shopper before taking the test drive. A little homework will put you in a used car that exceeds your expectations. Also, this isn't the time to diagnose problems. That's not your goal in a test drive. You want to identify problems for your mechanic to inspect and offer solutions, including price. Don't try to solve a car's problems during the test drive. Here are some things to check during your drive:

The steering: When you turn the steering wheel does it respond promptly? Or, is there some delay in response? There should be no play in the steering wheel.

Hit the brakes: Find a quiet area, get the car up to the maximum legal speed, and jam on the brakes. See if the car pulls to the left or right. The brake pedal should have a firm feel. Soft or squishy brake response should be checked out. ABS brakes will act differently.
Check the alignment: When safe to do so take your hand off the wheel and see if the car pulls in one direction. Do this a couple of times on different road surfaces. This test indicates potential front-end alignment issues.

Find a bumpy surface: It could be an unsmooth road or a parking lot with speed bumps. See how the car responds after hitting bumps. It should feel stable, and in control.

Use Your Ears: Listen for problems or strange noises. Also note wind and tire noise while at highway speeds - is it something you can live with?

Test parking: Take the car into a parking lot. See how easy it is to park. Are you comfortable backing the car in reverse? Take note if there is a huge blind spot.  If you parallel park on a fairly regular basis this should be tested too. Bringing your car into parking lot type situations is a good low-speed indicator of a vehicle's visibility. Problems at 5 mph multiply exponentially on a busy highway.