Full disclosure: We love buyers who research cars online. You are the reason we are in business. But would you believe that 10% of shoppers buy a car without ever driving it?

No matter how much information you find about a car online, there are things that have to be experienced. Factors like comfort, visibility, and driving style will vary from person to person, and those are things you simply can’t evaluate online.

Factors to consider on a test drive:

Oh say, can you see? Identify the car’s blind spots, and make sure you can adjust the mirrors correctly to parallel park, reverse out of driveways, change lanes, and perform other driving operations safely.

Junk in your trunk. If you routinely haul items in your trunk, take them with you to the dealership. Don’t get your new vehicle home to discover that your double stroller, your golf clubs, or dog crate, or other important cargo won’t fit.

Have a seat. Most of your time will probably be spent behind the wheel, so make sure it’s a good fit. Make sure all power-adjust features work correctly and all necessary controls are within reach. If you have a family or carpool or regularly transport any other passengers, you’ll want them to be comfortable as well. Climb in to check out rear legroom. See how easy the seats are to adjust. If there are removable or fold-flat seats, see how easy they are to operate.
 
Hit the road. Don’t just cruise around the block. If possible, take the car on varied terrain to evaluate performance on different surfaces and in different traffic conditions. Make sure the car can take you where you want to go by testing the highway acceleration, parking garage maneuverability, hill-climbing capabilities, or whatever your case may be

Having said all that, we invite you to browse CarLocate.com for the car of your dreams. Then, to avoid future nightmares, make sure to contact the dealership and go take it for a spin!

April is officially Car Care Month and after the long months of winter it’s time to prepare your car for the spring and summer months ahead. We here at CarLocate have put together a list of just a few of the maintenance checks you’ll want to look into.

- Probably one of the most important features of your car is its tires – improperly maintained tires may make driving very dangerous. Check the tread on your tires, if you notice any excessive edge wear, center wear or shoulder wear it may be time for new tires.  You’ll also want to make sure and check your tire pressure.  Improper tire pressure can lead to premature wear and a decrease in fuel mileage.

- Check your headlamps, tail lamps, turn signals, and hazard lights. Properly functioning headlamps and tail lamps play an important role in safe driving, especially at nighttime, or in rainy or foggy weather.  Ensure all lights are properly working and are in proper alignment.

- Check all fluid levels and top them off if necessary. Winter driving conditions typically require your car to work harder and therefore deplete fuel levels more quickly. Dirty or low fluid levels may affect the performance of a vehicle and can lead to breakdowns if not properly monitored and filled.

- Wiper blades take quite a beating during the winter months; it is necessary to inspect them and check to make sure they are working properly.  Properly functioning wiper blades will increase visibility in all conditions – especially those spring showers and summer storms.

- Clean your vehicles underbody.  During those winter months the buildup of salt and dirt under your vehicle can start to eat away at the metal structure of your vehicle. Make sure to thoroughly scrub and rinse all of that corrosive salt away.

- Last, but most certainly not least are your vehicles brakes.  They also take on a bigger role during the winter months and should be checked to ensure they are working properly. It’s vital to replace pads or shoes before drums or rotors become damaged. Check pads, shoes, drums, rotors, calipers, fittings, brake hardware, and parking brake to avoid potential problems.

If for some reason your vehicle didn’t survive the winter you can shop for a new or used one here.  We have an extensive list of new and used cars from many dealers in your area – check it out!

The 2012 J.D. Power & Associates Dependability Study is based on reviews and ratings of 2009 models. Despite 2009 being one of the toughest years for the automotive industry 2012 has turned historically high levels of vehicle dependability.

The Dependability Study measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of three-year-old (2009 model-year) vehicles.  Overall dependability is determined by the level of problems experienced per 100 vehicles, with a lower score reflecting higher quality.

25 of 32 brands have improved in dependability from 2011; domestic nameplates have improved in 2012 at a slightly faster rate than imports, narrowing the dependability gap seen in 2011.

“Despite facing immense challenges in 2009, automakers placed a keen focus on delivering outstanding levels of quality, which they understood should be essential to their long-term success,” said David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power and Associates. “Three years later, owners of these models are enjoying unprecedented levels of vehicle dependability and manufacturers for experiencing market recovery.”

Some highlights from this year’s study results:

- Lexus ranks highest in vehicle dependability; in fact the Lexus LS has the fewest problems in the industry

- Rounding out the five highest-ranking nameplates are Porsche, Cadillac, Toyota, and Scion.  MINI and Scion post the greatest year-over-year improvements from 2011 to 2012.

- Toyota Motor Corporation earned 8 segment awards – more than any other automaker in 2012

The Vehicle Dependability Study is used extensively by vehicle manufacturers worldwide to help design and build better vehicles – which typically translate to higher resale values and higher customer loyalty.  It also helps consumers make more-informed choices for both new- and used-vehicle purchases.

For a complete list of how all automakers fared check out J.D. Power and Associates online.