Survey reveals that test drives are growing unimportant

A new survey by LeaseTrader.com reveals that more drivers are skipping the test-drive when buying new cars, according to The New York Times.

"Generally, these are people who know what they want, whether it's because they're very brand-loyal or they've fallen in love with the styling of a particular model," Oren Weintraub, an industry expert, told the Times. "Same goes for buyers who are strictly interested in getting the best deal, and those with limited choices like a big family that needs a nine-passenger vehicle with four-wheel drive."

However, test-driving a vehicle is an important part of the buying process. If you're purchasing a new vehicle, you should be sure that you like the way it handles on the highway when driving around town. The same can be said for used cars, but the test drive is even more important when buying used. This is the driver's chance to find out if there's anything wrong with the vehicle that wouldn't be noticed just by looking at it.