Top tips for test drives

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and start researching your next vehicle purchase. While the online tools available via motoring.com.au and carsales.com.au have enabled you to narrow your search, the time has come to leave the screen behind and physically inspect the shortlisted vehicles.

We asked Theo Cosmetatos of Redbook AutoInspect for his top tips on what to look for when it comes to test driving a potential vehicle purchase.

“Start the car, let it warm up to operating temperature and leave it to idle for 15 minutes,” he explains.

“Once that is done, hit the accelerator for 30 seconds, holding the revs of the vehicle up to around 2500-3000rpm. Look in the rear-vision mirror for signs of smoke.”

Any smoke is bad news, but Theo offers further explanation: “White smoke indicates the engine is burning oil which means the engine is likely to need costly repairs or replacing soon,” he says.

“Black smoke indicates poor tuning, which would require immediate servicing,” he adds.

Once satisfied there’s no smoke, Theo suggests taking the car onto the streets.

For automatic vehicles (including dual-clutch gearboxes like Volkswagen’s DSG), he recommends a minimum 20-minute test drive that includes driving uphill and downhill.

“If there are any jolts or erratic shifting patterns, there could be a gearbox issue,” he says.

He also recommends bringing the vehicle up to normal road speed then manually down shifting the gearbox to check for any thumps.

“This test is a good indicator that there may be a problem inside the gearbox,” he explains.

For manual machines, the process differs.

“Go through the gears and listen for any crunching or abnormal or harsh shifting in the gear lever. A sloppy gear lever also indicates worn linkages and/or bushes.

“Depress the clutch in top gear. Let the clutch out and accelerate firmly while keeping an eye on the tachometer to see if it immediately revs out. This indicates clutch slip and would require its replacement, which can be costly,” he says.

The next phase requires caution, but is vital for vehicles equipped with anti-lock braking.

“Find a quiet street where there is no traffic. Reverse backwards and hit the brake pedal hard to check the ABS [anti-lock brake system] is working. The wheels will not skid [if it’s functional].” You should feel the brake pedal pulsing as ABS is triggered.

It’s also important to assess suspension and steering, as Theo explains: “Do a full [steering] lock turn to the left and right. Listen for any abnormal ‘clicking’ noises which could indicate CV [in a front- or all-wheel drive vehicle] or suspension joints are worn. This will be most evident on full lock as this is where the steering system is under its biggest load.”

Another common fault is wheel alignment.

“On a straight road at a slow speed, position your hands around the steering wheel and let go for two seconds (with your hands on standby still close to the wheel). See if the car pulls left or right and check if your steering wheel is centred. This will indicate that a wheel alignment is needed,” he explains.

If you detect ‘humming’ noises or vibration while driving from the wheels and/or tyres, it could indicate there is a problem with the wheel bearings or, indeed, the tyres themselves.

“If there’s a noise when you swerve left or right, and the noise changes, there could be a problem with the wheel bearings. If the noise is consistent, it’s usually uneven tyre tread.”

Theo also recommends that you check the speedometer is working and that the odometer is clocking over correctly.

“Also check the dash for any warning lights,” he says.

Once you have returned from your road test, Theo suggests running your hand over the tyre tread on each wheel, while checking for bulges and bubbles, cuts or damage on the tread or sidewalls.

Of course, all the other normal visual checks should also be carried out, such as inspecting the body panels, paintwork and under the carpet in the boot for signs of crash damage, and that everything inside the cabin is in good working condition.

Finally, be sure to query any item you may have picked up on the road test and negotiate the value of appropriate repairs before handing your money over.

If things all look good and you’re serious about buying a car consider an expert inspection. The Redbook AutoInspect team can be contacted via info@autoinspect.com.au or tel 1300 373 992.

Note: Redbook AutoInspect is part of the carsales.com Ltd group.