fter months of hemming and hawing you've finally decided. You know the exact new car you want, and as long as it feels good on the test drive, you'll take it.

Unfortunately, "feeling good" on a ten-minute cruise around the dealer's neighborhood is not the same as driving that same car around your neighborhood for the next several years.

To really make sure you've picked the right car, you need to understand how to properly evaluate it and how to avoid common mistakes.

The excitement of going for a spin in a brand-new car can often distract a person from the purpose of the test drive. As soon as you get in the car, your first reaction is to start it up and take off. But resist that urge. Some of the most important evaluation happens right there on the dealer's lot. Before going anywhere, take some time to get acquainted with the car both inside and out.

Walk around the car. Take a good, long look from a number of angles. Do you like what you see? Inspect its lines and design, the quality of assembly, paint and body panel alignment. Remember that this is a brand-new car. Everything should be perfect. Any flaws or imperfections are not acceptable.

Try it on for size. Get in and out. Get comfortable. Adjust the seats and assorted controls. Have other drivers of the car do the same thing. Imagine various scenarios you'll encounter with the car such as loading groceries, picking up the kids or elderly passengers, and getting in with heavy winter clothing. Sit in the back seat. Pile others into the back seat, especially the kids if they're going to be riding back there. If they don't like it, they'll certainly let you know. It's better to hear it now than on a six-hour road trip across the state.

Open and close the trunk. Play with the trunk. Imagine loading scenarios. Think of the items you'd need to load such as bags for a trip, groceries, special work equipment or athletic gear. For instance, if you need to load golf clubs, a baby stroller or even a bicycle, make sure the trunk will accommodate these items. Trunks with a low lift-over height make loading heavy or oddly shaped objects much easier.

Play with the accessories. Once you're comfortably seated, feel free to fiddle with the various accessories and controls like the radio, air conditioning, glove box, turn indicators, wipers, headlights and hazard lights. Make sure they're easy to reach without having to take your eyes off the road for more than an instant. Have other drivers of the car do the same thing.

Imagine yourself driving the car. Is it your kind of car? Do you look/feel good in it? Would you be comfortable driving it every day?

Let the salesperson give her pitch now. All too often, salespeople like to share everything they know about the car while you're driving down the street trying to get a feel for how the car rides. This is an unneeded distraction. Have them describe special features while you're still in the dealer's lot.

Now the fun begins. You've checked out the car at the dealership and it's time to hit the road. Here's where you'll really get a feel for how it drives - comfort, handling, power, braking, and overall character. To make the most of your time on the road, it's vital you know what to look for and how to optimize your test-drive experience.

Drive the exact model and trim of car you're interested in buying. Different engine/transmission, trim and interior features can greatly affect the personality and drivability of a car. If possible, drive the actual car you'd like to purchase. This way you can guarantee there will be no surprises.

Ask the salesperson to stay quiet. You need quiet to process your thoughts and evaluate the car without distractions. Request some silent driving time to absorb what you're experiencing with the car. But if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask them.

Choose your own road. If you know the area, request to take the car on a test route of your choosing. You know the types of driving you do and the sorts of roads you encounter in your daily routine.

Drive the car on a number of different road surfaces to better evaluate its behavior in different settings. Seek out winding roads, city streets, hills, potholes and freeway on-ramps to see how the car reacts. Test it on the sorts of roads you expect to drive every day.

Test the power in real-world situations: highway merging, passing and sudden acceleration in city driving. Is there enough power to inspire confidence? How is power affected by use of the air conditioning? Air conditioners put a serious drain on small engines. Be sure to repeat all of your tests with the air conditioning on.

If driving a car equipped with a manual transmission, look for smooth shifter and clutch action. Do both feel precise and easy to use, or vague and notchy? If you're testing an SUV, engage and disengage the 4WD to test how easy or intuitive it operates. If testing an automatic, how are the upshifts and downshifts? Are they smooth? Does it downshift at appropriate times? Not too early or too late? Operation should be nearly transparent with no abrupt jolts or lurches during shifts.

Mix it up. Practice long turns and short turns, sudden swerves and smooth transitions. How well does the car react to changes in direction? Does it feel stable and controllable? Do you feel you could avoid an accident if you had to? Does the steering feel precise with no excessive motion?

Really use the brakes. Make sure they slow you in a straight, controlled manner. Brake softly, then aggressively to test the car's reaction to sudden braking input. Remember to warn occupants of your intentions beforehand and be sure to check for other cars around you to avoid unpleasant surprises. If the car has an anti-lock brake system (ABS), find an open parking lot where you can experiment with stomping on the pedal to familiarize yourself with the pulsing of the pedal. Practice an evasive maneuver while braking with ABS. Do this more than once.

Listen for excessive engine, interior, road and wind noise - with the windows both up and down. If the car is equipped with a sunroof, open it and listen. Do this at both normal speeds as well as under full throttle. Excessive noise quickly becomes irritating over long periods of time.

Parallel park the car to check for blind spots or any difficulty identifying the corners of the car. While the car is parked, take a moment to get out and look at it out in the real world, away from the dealership environment. See if it still looks as appealing as it did on the lot.

Armed with the proper test-drive techniques, you're ready to go out and test some cars. Be tough, thorough and honest. Know what to look for and you'll find the car that suits you best.