Buying a new car is not an easy task. The diversity of brands and models offered by the market, together with the different existing engines, increasingly complicates a choice in which the price and propulsion of the vehicle are the two aspects that visitors to Automobile Barcelona 2023 take into account the most.
During the event, manufacturers offer discounts and other exclusive advantages to those who decide to formalize the purchase of a new car, as well as the possibility of testing the car in the test area.
The traditional 'boxes' located in the avenues María Cristina and Rius i Taulet have once again become one of the points of greatest interest for the thousands of visitors who come to the fairgrounds every day. There, the models that the manufacturers exhibit in the Fira de Barcelona halls await them so that they can test them in a unique driving experience through one of the most emblematic places of Barcelona.
The layout of the old Montjuïc circuit, which between 1969 and 1975 was the scene of four Formula 1 Grand Prix until the fatal accident involving Rolf Stonmelen caused the death of four people, is the test bench where those interested in buying of a new car can experience its sensations.
“Buying a car is not buying anything. We allocate a lot of money for its acquisition, so I always recommend the client not to be satisfied with seeing the car at the dealership, but to test drive it to see if the car's characteristics match what they are really looking for”, comments a commercial agent of Seat.
To take a driving test it is necessary to carry the license and request a turn in the tents where the cars wait. Manufacturers advise making an appointment to avoid waiting. Once the time has come, the person interested in testing the car gets behind the wheel with a brand specialist who will inform them of any doubts that may arise while driving.
This is a unique opportunity to evaluate first-hand the performance of the car, its acceleration, braking, maneuverability and stability along a route with straight lines, sharp curves and slopes, explained from the Automobile. This experience also makes it possible to check the comfort of the seats, the visibility from the driving position and the functionality of the vehicle's entertainment and navigation systems.
As already happened in the last edition of Automobile, held in September 2021, 100% electric cars, hybrids and plug-in hybrids are the models that most powerfully attract the attention of visitors. “In general, we see that they are increasingly aware of sustainability. Hybrid cars are usually the ones that arouse the most interest due to the advantages offered by the Eco environmental label and because they are cheaper than pure electric ones”, comments the specialist from one of the firms present at the Automobile.
The driving experience that the Automobile provides to visitors lasts approximately 25 to 30 minutes. The brands, however, offer their hypothetical customers the possibility of extending the test. "Immediately we detect if the person who comes to test drive the car is interested in buying it or simply comes to play", emphasizes one of the testers who accompanies the drivers during the tour.
Also, those who ask to test the car in another environment, a highway for example, have the opportunity to schedule an appointment with the manufacturer. It generally takes place after the Automobile, which this year concludes next Sunday, May 21.
