AAA  OFFERS  TEST  DRIVING  TIPS 

FOR  CAR  BUYING  CONSUMERS

HELENA, Mont., (October 21, 2011) – – It is easy for car buying consumers to fall in love at first sight with the sleek styling and attractive exterior of their dream machine.  In most American households today, a vehicle purchase is a major financial expense. This is a good time of year to get a good deal and a second look and an extensive test drive is time well invested. 

AAA Automotive experts recommend that consumers start that test drive at the computer keyboard.  Valuable information about vehicle safety features, performance data, and purchase pricing and resale value can be researched online.  AAA can assist consumers shopping for a vehicle by providing information they need to make an educated decision at AAA.com/AutoBuying.

“In today’s economy, consumers have additional factors to consider when purchasing a vehicle, often making the selection process more difficult and extensive,” said Tara Hanley, AAA Spokesperson. “There is no substitute for quality research and an in-depth test drive tailored to your personal driving needs, to help make the best car buying decision.”

The physical test drive is the next step in the car buying research process. An extensive test drive can reveal many important factors not immediately obvious at first blush.

AAA recommends the following test driving tips:

Walk around the car. Is it the right size for the needs of your family? Check the quality of the assembly and the tightness of the body panel alignment. Check for bubbles and pitting on the paint and chrome. Open and close the tailgate or trunk and doors.

Be a Backseat Test Driver. Ask the salesperson to take you for a preliminary test drive. You can focus on the ride without the distraction of driving, and you’re more likely to notice noise and overall comfort. And, of course, you can evaluate backseat room for future passengers.  

Find Your Fit. Get in and try the car on for size. Check the leg room and visibility. How easy is it to adjust the seats? Are the controls easy to read, reach and use? Try all of the accessories and options, such as air conditioning, the sound system, and navigation aids.

On The Road. Drive the exact model of the car you want to purchase. Pick your own route for the test drive. If possible, pick a route that mirrors your daily driving routine. It’s a good idea to test the car’s ride quality and handling on a number of different road surfaces: city streets, hills, freeways, and winding roads.

Power and Transmission. Test the engine’s responsiveness in real-world conditions. Is there a smooth and constant delivery of power? Try merging onto the highway, passing, and stop-and-go city driving. Spend part of the test drive with the air conditioner on to see if it drains power. Look for smoothness and ease of operation. Listen for hesitation or straining.

Handling. Check steering responsiveness. Practice long turns and sharp turns. Safely practice sudden swerves and gradual lane changes.

Brakes and Noise. Your life could depend on your brakes, so put them to the test. Brake both softly and decisively to gain an accurate idea of the car’s stopping distance. At various speeds, listen for excessive engine, road, and wind noise. Check for squeaks and rattles coming from the interior and bodywork. Listen with the windows open and closed.

AAA recommends that consumers always have pre-owned vehicles inspected by a quality repair facility prior to purchasing.  More than 8,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities are located across North America.  Nearby locations can be found at AAA.com/Repair.  

AAA MountainWest is dedicated to providing its over 178,000 members in Alaska, Montana and Wyoming with travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services. A fully tax-paying, not-for-profit corporation, AAA MountainWest, Inc. works for the improvement of motoring and traveling conditions and is a leader for travel, civic and safety issues. AAA can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com. To have up-to-date news and safety information from AAA delivered right to your desktop, sign-up for the new RSS Feed at http://mtw.aaashare.com/index.php#rss.

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