It’s difficult to get a feel for a car in the few minutes a dealership gives you for a test drive. And in some instances, even getting a sales rep to agree to a test drive without completing a bunch of paperwork is a tall order.
However, even when you do get a relatively lengthy test drive, there’s arguably only so much data you can glean from driving around for a few hours at best. For starters, the car’s brand new, and the condition it’s going to be driven in represents the absolute pinnacle of its driving experience. How will the vehicle operate when it has a few tens of thousands of miles on its odometer? Are you simply taken with it because it’s new and pristine?
One prospective car buyer found a way to cut through these variables. It may change how you shop for cars forever.
Julia Shneidman (@juliashneidman) says that she discovered a car buying “hack” that made her decide she’s “never doing a 15-minute dealership test drive again.” Her tip: rent the same make, model, and year of the car you want on Turo.
The Ultimate Test Drive
Shneidman recently posted a video about the Turo test drive hack.
In it, she says, “Instead of going to a dealership … doing one test drive, I know rent a car on Turo. So I just finished one rental it was an Audi. I just dropped it off at short-term parking at PBI.”
She explains that she set up a carousel of rentals. After dropping off one vehicle, she waited at the West Palm Beach airport for the other car to arrive, keeping her test drive momentum going. “So we’re gonna wait inside because the next car is running a little bit late. I feel a little weird sitting inside PBI without … waiting for a flight or waiting for somebody to get off a flight. But, PBI’s always hella dead.”
The second car she wanted to try was a Porsche Cayenne.
“Everything is set up; it does not have that like engine sound, like the Audi RSQ8 did," she says. "Or the Lambo Urus does, but this car so far drives like butter.”
The Cayenne’s odometer reads that it has over 50,000 miles. Not enough to put it in Toyota Hilux territory, but enough so that the car’s pounded the pavement and has undergone some routine maintenance. The vehicle’s held up enough to leave a positive impression on Shneidman.
Gallery: 2009 Cayenne GTS restored by Porsche
Why Pay To Rent A Car Instead Of A Free Test Drive?
One commenter asked the million dollar question: “How is paying to test drive a rental better than test driving at the dealer for free? Am I missing something?”
As one person explained, the fact that it’s a free, short-term test drive comes with some drawbacks. “They give you the … smoothest route to test drive,” they said. Which ultimately means that you’re not going to put the car through the paces to see how it handles. Shneidman replied that this was the exact logic that influenced her decision to test drive on Turo.
“Exactly. I almost went with one car until I lived with it for a few days. So it really helped me make a better choice. Plus I hate the 15 minute test drive where they pick the route it makes me so nervous,” she said.
Others Recommend The Turo Test Drive Experience
Turo touts on its own website the benefit to long-term rentals of its vehicles. “No loans … leases … dealerships … drive the car you need, for as long as you need it,” the company writes. Many who rent their cars through Turo offer long-term rental packages, so if you want more than few days to try out a specific model, you can do so without signing on the dotted line. While this method for test driving isn’t free, it’s certainly a lot cheaper than getting stuck with a vehicle you don’t love.
Folks on a Reddit thread also discussed potentially renting cars on Turo for test drives if you can find the exact ride you want through the service. One commenter echoed Shneidman’s exact sentiments as to why they enjoy Turo test drives: “I use Turo all the time … it’s a good option if you want to try out a car you are considering … since you can get it for longer than the short test drive you get at the dealership.”
Kelley Blue Book also recommended Turo to car buyers looking to gauge whether a not a vehicle’s a good fit for them. “Using Turo is an excellent way for car buyers to test-drive a vehicle for an extended period to see if it works for their lifestyle,” KBB reports.
A rep from Turo told Motor1, "We love seeing guests use Turo to test drive the exact car they’re considering buying. Our latest road report shows 53% of Americans are looking for more flexible ways to access cars, and because guests can book a specific make, model, and trim, Turo is uniquely positioned to support their specific needs, whether that’s a test drive, a vacation, or a long-term alternative to ownership."
Motor1 has reached out to Shneidman via Instagram direct message for further comment.
