You've narrowed down your choice of vehicle and have studied up on safety equipment, fuel choice, etc, now it's time to go test driving
But first, what happens if you crash? Does the owner's insurance cover your test drive? Does the owner expect you to pay up for all repairs or just the excess?
Check the owner's insurance cover first so both parties are agreed on who's responsible for what. Alternately some insurance companies will extend temporary cover on a vehicle for a nominal fee.
BEFORE YOU DRIVE
There's much more to test driving a new car than just taking a couple of spins around the block. Knowing what to look for can help you choose the new car that's right for you.
Unfortunately, feeling good on a 10-minute cruise around the dealer's neighbourhood is not always the same as driving that same car around your neighbourhood for the next several years. To make sure you're picking the right car, it helps to understand how to evaluate it, and how to avoid common mistakes.
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. Everything should be perfect. Any flaws or imperfections are not acceptable.
As soon as you get in, your first reaction will be to start and take off. Resist the urge! Some of the most important evaluation can happen right there, so before going anywhere, take some time to look at the car both inside and out. Back up and start again!
Get in and out. Do you have head clearance? Are you or regular passengers with special needs going to be able to get in and out easily? Is the vehicle too low (or too high) for children, pets or older passengers to climb into?
Get comfortable. Adjust the seats and assorted controls. Have your partner do the same thing. Imagine various scenarios such as loading shopping, picking up the kids or elderly passengers, and putting in pushbikes or strollers. Sit children in the back seat -- if they don't like it, they'll certainly let you know.
Once you're comfortably seated, fiddle with the controls, such as the radio, air-conditioning, glovebox, indicators, wipers, headlights and hazard lights. Make sure they're easy to reach and operate. Ask your partner to do the same. Is it your kind of car? Do you look/feel good in it? Would you be comfortable driving it every day?
ON THE ROAD
If at all possible, drive the exact model and trim of car you're interested in buying if you are looking at a new car. Different engine/transmission, trim and interior features can greatly affect the personality and driveability of a car.
In fact, if possible, drive the actual car you'd like to purchase. If you are buying used, it helps to drive a few and get a feel of how a good one should drive. This way you can guarantee there will be no surprises.
You need quiet to evaluate the car without distractions, but if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask. If you know the area, take the car on a test route of your choosing.
You're testing this car for potential ownership, so don't treat it with kid gloves. At the same time don't attack the streets like you are on a mission to win Bathurst, either. What we mean is, give the suspension and steering a chance to demonstrate what condition they are in over rail crossings and other broken surfaces.
Consider:
Ride quality -- Drive the car on a number of different road surfaces. Seek out winding roads, city streets, hills, potholes, etc, to see how the car reacts. Test it on the kind of roads you expect to drive every day.
Power -- 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 the air-con? Air-conditioners put a serious drain on small engines. Be sure to repeat all the tests with the air-conditioning on.
Transmission -- If driving a manual look for smooth gearshift and clutch action. Do both feel precise and easy to use, or vague and notchy? If you're testing a 4WD, engage and disengage the 4WD to test how easy or intuitive it is to operate (but make sure it is on a loose surface if this is what the system requires). 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? There should be no abrupt jolts or lurches during shifts.
Handling -- Practise 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?
Braking -- 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 passengers beforehand and be sure to check for other cars around you. If the car has an anti-lock brake system (ABS), find an open parking lot where you can experiment with stamping on the pedal to familiarise yourself with the pulsing from the pedal. Practise an evasive manoeuvre while braking with ABS.
Noise -- Listen for excessive engine, interior, tyre and wind noise with the windows 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.
Parking -- 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. See if it still looks as appealing as it did on the lot.
FINAL CHECKLIST
If you're happy to proceed further after you've done the above, here's a quick list of what else to look out for:
- Check the engine starts easily when it is cold and hot. Has the car been warmed up before you got there?
- Do any warning lights come on during your drive? Check that all warning lights work when you turn on the ignition. Have the warning lights been disconnected to hide missing ABS and airbags or faulty mechanical systems? Do all gauges work, if not, what are they hiding?
- Do the gears change easily -- they should on any car.
- Does the clutch slip? Accelerate hard from around 70km/h in fourth gear to check. At the same time, check in your mirror for a smoky exhaust -- is the engine worn?
- Does the automatic engage decisively hot or cold from rest, especially reverse? Does it flare between changes? Are changes delayed, then engage with a jolt? Does fourth or overdrive engage decisively at highway speeds?
- Is there excessive whining or rattling from the engine or gearbox?
- Does the steering pull to one side, or the wheel wobble in your hands?
- Can you feel rattles and slack through the steering wheel?
- Are there clunks when you turn, or when you accelerate or decelerate?
- Does the car wander or try to follow the road camber?
- Does the engine temperature climb rapidly when stationary?
- Are the brakes as effective as you think they ought to be?
- Drive slowly with steering on full lock -- unusual noises can mean big expense.
With the above information absorbed and your research done (see part one here) you're now 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. Remember, if the car doesn't feel right, it probably isn't!
Also read Part I of our Test Driving Tips here
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