10 Steps to Finding the Right Church Bus

Step 8: How to test drive a bus
The goal of a test drive is to experience - as closely as possible - the same type of driving conditions the church bus will be used for after purchase. If you plan to operate a shuttle, drive the bus in both stop-and-go traffic and at freeway speeds. If you will frequently drive your church bus in the mountains, try to find some steep grades to climb. Drive over bumps, take tight corners at aggressive (but not dangerous) speeds and test the brakes in a safe location, such as a deserted parking lot. Get in and out of the bus several times and be sure to sit in the back seats, especially if you plan on carrying passengers. In short, ask yourself what it will be like to live with the church bus you are test driving for a number of years.

Don't drive with the radio on - you can evaluate that later. A new church bus is a big investment; make sure you spend enough time really looking at it. And then, consider one last thing: your intuition. If you are uneasy about a bus, follow your instincts. A vehicle purchase decision is too important (and expensive) to undertake without total confidence.

Step 9: After the test drive
After you have completed the test drive, you should leave the bus lot. Why? Because you will probably need to drive other types of buses at other dealerships. It's a good idea to do all of your test driving in one morning or afternoon. Driving several church bus vehicles back to back will help you uncover even more minor differences, which will lead to a more educated purchase decision.

Step 10: Getting ready for the buying cycle
At this point you should have considered all the church buses in the class that interest you. You should have a good idea what you can afford. You should know if you want to buy or lease your next church bus. You should have test driven your top choices and are now ready to make your purchase decision.