Buying car with no test drive

[Pinkie98]

Hi, I'm looking at getting my first car. I'm looking at getting a used fiat 500 automatic however, the one I have found is way too far away for me to go and test drive, also, I don't have my full license yet so I probably wouldn't be able to test drive anything anyway. Would you say test driving is essential? Is a fiat 500 nice to drive?

Can you find a local one and get a feel for that instead? If you like it you could buy the one further away

For me as I'm tall I'd need to at least sit in the car first to check head and leg room.

@PixieKitten I did think to do that, as I said I won't be able to test drive as I dont have a full license, would a member of staff at a dealership be able to drive and I observe as much from there?

Please don't do this. I did and lots of problems as well as features which I don't like (not faults, just things I don't like in a car) have come to life.

This is not a decision to let the heart rule the head. The advice to test drive isn't given for fun...it's a big financial.commitment and you owe it to yourself or whoever is giving you the money to research.

There will be a Fiat 500 on sale near you. This is not your only option. Patience!

I've only driven a manual one briefly as a courtesy car (probably drove 30 miles total) but hated it. It was like a rattly tin can on wheels.
What are you learning to drive in?

I've only driven one as a courtesy car - it was like a hairdryer on wheels.

You really do need to do a test drive. My OH had a hire car last week as his work car was being repaired. The car he hired was something we'd thought of buying potentially as my car and I hated it so it's been very firmly crossed off the list!

Thanks for your input guys, I'll wait a little longer :)

Definitely dont buy without a test drive. I loved the look of them so had one on hire - it was awful, most uncomfortable car I had ever driven. I would hunt around and look at a few small cars before you settle - after trying every make of small car under the sun, I ended up with a Citigo which really surprised me - supremely comfortable, loads of room for 4 adults, great fun to drive and so cheap to run and insure it’s insane!