Have you found a lovely pre-owned vehicle on Wheels365.co.za and want to take it for a test drive? Here is how you prepare to test drive second hand cars in Johannesburg.

Don’t make an appointment to test drive a vehicle without doing your homework first. It is important for you to know exactly what it is you are looking for in a vehicle. Remember that sales people see hesitance in a potential buyer as weakness and an opportunity to close in on the sale. Research your chosen vehicle online – what are the car’s weaknesses and what are its strong points? What is the value of the car? What is its fuel consumption?

Know what to expect.

Don’t take your kids along. They will distract you and the owner of the vehicle. You need to be focused when driving second hand cars in Johannesburg so you can identify potential problems in the vehicle. Rather take your spouse or a friend along. This way you can be safe and have a second opinion.

Map out a route. Don’t just drive haphazardly – this will distract you from the driving experience. Start of in local streets so you can get a feel for the vehicle, and then proceed to a highway. The reason for this: not all cars handle the same. If you take an unfamiliar car on the highway, who knows what can happen. Familiarise yourself with the clutch and the brakes before you just speed off.

When preparing to test drive second hand cars in Johannesburg, negotiate the length of the test drive beforehand. Anything up to half an hour is acceptable. The longer you drive around, the bigger the possibility of picking up on problems. If the owner accompanying you on the drive gets nervous about the amount of time you spend in the vehicle, he might be hiding something. Trust your gut on this.

What (except for your children or pets) are you planning on taking with you in the vehicle a lot? If possible, take these items along and see if they fit in the vehicle. Whether it is a baby seat, a pair of ski’s or equipment/ tools you take with you to work every day. Choose second hand cars in Johannesburg that can fulfil all your potential needs.

Lastly, ask the owner/seller to have the maintenance records and other relevant documentation ready when you arrive for the test drive.