When YOU Buy A Car, How IMPORTANT Is The Test Drive?

This is a particularly interesting question given the technological changes over the past, I don't know, decade? Now we're in the information age where money talks, and people are wheelin' and dealing online.

However, I received this image from a JD Power internet dealer roundtable, which featured a slide that said "91% say a test drive at the dealership remains the most influential information source used in their purchase process."

Is this true or false?

Do YOU test the car you buy?

Have you heard your friends/neighbors speaking about how a test drive sold them on their latest acquisition?

Did you see your latest purchase at a fancy restaurant, do a walkaround and that sealed the deal?

OR was it all researched on the web and that was it?

Let us know in the comments below...

truckman - 10/13/2011 2:52:20 AM

+5 Boost

It will almost always be great for the first few years until you realize that you have little in common and she turns into a bitch and you get none, then how important is sex when you have child support and split the house and you are getting none,lol, isn't this how most people end up?

85bmw745i - 10/14/2011 11:43:27 PM

+2 Boost

Truckman, you are the man. That was a good one lmao

chris760 - 10/12/2011 10:57:26 PM

+3 Boost

You never know for sure if the car will turn out the way the magazines/specs/other people say, so I think it's really important

truckman - 10/13/2011 3:02:18 AM

+1 Boost

I would say very important, especially to have the options that you want, when it comes to 4x4s the dealers almost always have no clue what a 4x4 nut would want, for one always get the tow package, you get a tranny cooler, more powerful alternator, wiring, heavy duty cellionoids....I would almost always throw slightly larger tires on so I would always opt for the lower gearing, they can be very expensive aftermarket, and back to test driving, I recently test drove the 2012 Rubicon 2 door, I love the Rubicon but I didn't like the 2 door because it felt too unstable, the 4 door was night and day, it was great, I would be able to drive it in a rally race, or keep up to speeders on a twisty hwy, I don't find my Civic any better on twisty highways than my 1993 3/4 ton F-250 with a 4 inch lift and 35in tires, seriously, although I would be more confident to crank the wheel as speed in the Civic.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 10/13/2011 6:33:05 AM

+2 Boost

Depends on the type of car.

If M3 / M5 / RS5 / E63........... Not important.

If Q7 / X5 / GL.......... Very Important.

HoustonMidtown - 10/13/2011 7:15:23 AM

+3 Boost

Wouldn't buy a car without a test drive...too much money to take the chance that you won't like the seats, driving position, etc...

irishmike - 10/13/2011 10:09:12 AM

+1 Boost

The test drive is very important. And dealers love to make them as brief as possible. I think you should spend upwards of at least an hour behind the wheel, stopping, getting in and out, look for as many different driving circumstances as possible.
How can one overlook this issue when we are keeping our vehicle longer and having to live with it's faults for the duration?

Brembo - 10/13/2011 10:59:28 AM

+1 Boost

Test drive is way to short.

bergtold - 10/13/2011 11:08:34 AM

+1 Boost

YOU SHOULD DO AT LEAST TWO TEST DRIVES SEVERAL DAYS APART. I HAVE NOTICED A BIG DIFFERENCE IN MY REACTION TO THE CAR AFTER THE SECOND DRIVE

ThierryHenry14 - 10/13/2011 1:51:10 PM

+1 Boost

This is great! I didn't know other people did this too. I definitely agree with this method! It makes a huge difference...

Agent009 - 10/13/2011 3:14:42 PM

+1 Boost

Good advice

ATrain - 10/13/2011 10:18:43 PM

+1 Boost

I have never test driven a car and in more than 25 years, I've owned dozens of new cars. I do a lot of research. That's it. I've never been disappointed. To each his own I guess. Perhaps if I ever purchase a pre-owned automobile, I would take a different approach.