The Drive to Buy

Deciding on a new car based on the brief test drive afforded by most dealers – with a salesman pushing hard to get you to ease off the throttle and load up on extras – is not the most reliable way to find the right car.

Half an hour of burbling along in traffic, to a soundtrack of the car's virtues, might test your patience but it doesn't really tell you whether your relationship with the new baby is going to be a good one or if you'll hit the rocks.

A small number of manufacturers and dealers have recognised this and are beginning to offer alternatives that might actually suit the customer. Volvo and Subaru are at the front of the grid with rather different schemes, while new online service Driving Seat offers the chance to drive four different upmarket models from a variety of manufacturers on the track.

Hard Day's Drive

Subaru's offer is limited to drivers over 25 but younger than 60 unless you want to test one of their high-performance models, in which case you need to have reached your thirtieth birthday.

But you do get to drive the car for 24 hours, without having to take a salesman along, and your spouse will be able to try the car as well. Obviously this scheme, like the others, has small print but it does enable you to get a real feel for the car. Including a shopping trip, some traffic congestion and a motorway trip with the children would make any decision about buying a more complete one.

Family Event

Volvo won't give you the car overnight, but they have organised a series of event weekends around England for which you can pre-book test drives in two Volvo models. There may be opportunities to drive other models on the day. These &#39test days' mean prospective buyers can bring the whole family along and take the vehicle out for an extended drive and &#39live with' check.

Volvo's experts will also be on hand to answer queries and to demonstrate a vehicle's functions and capabilities.

Faster Decision-making

The third group recognising buyers' requirements is Driving Seat that, from the end of November, will be organising test drive track days in the southeast, expanding these to provide national coverage by the end of 2005.

Aimed at the upper end of the car market, the service works with multi-franchise dealers to provide access to a range of makes, including Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes, Porsche, Saab, Volkswagen and Volvo.

Customers will have to hand over £250 for the privilege of testing any four models from the marques available, but this fee can be redeemed against the price of a car if the customer decides to buy.

After signing away much of your future earnings, it's normal to have a slightly oily knot in your stomach. A more complete test drive before deciding on a car could make buying an easier task. If these projects are successful, extended test drives could become the standard against which all dealers are measured.

Is this a good idea? Tell us your thoughts: comment@theAA.com Date posted: 11-11-2004