Lots of folks are buying a new car. Here are some tips on how to really test some of the vehicle’s features.

RIDE: drive south on Nevada from I-25 to see how it handles the road surface. Turn around at Lake St. and then drive north on Nevada. Another check can be done on Cascade south of Cimmaron. If your teeth don’t rattle and it rides smoothly on these tests, you’ll be happy with the purchase.

CRUISE CONTROL: Get on I-25 and set the cruise for the 65 mph speed limit. If other drivers are passing you easily, your cruise control is set correctly. Another test for this is when you receive the complimentary one-finger salute when they pass by.

STEERING: drive south on I-25 from the Rockrimmon access ramp and stay in the middle lane. When you see a hazard or rough spot, you’ll want to swerve and that’s a good test of your steering function.

TURN SIGNALS: don’t worry about these as they are seldom used by local drivers, especially on I-25.

PAINT QUALITY: Park your test car in any grocery store parking lot and buy a nice coffee. After 20 minutes, check both sides of your car for dings and chips. Look for depth and dimensions. If not too big, then your test vehicle will only reveal minimal dings in the future, which you can match up with future hail impact spots.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your new cars and safe driving!

Don Addy

Colorado Springs