So you've done all the research and you know what type of car you want
or maybe even the exact model, but you haven't tried it out. Don't you
dare pluck down that cash before you take a test drive! Ask Patty has
putt together some tips for you to take with you to the car lot. Jot
down these questions or print them out and make sure you skim through
them before driving off into the sunset. Make sure to check out our Find Your Dream Car page!
Before you go on that test drive, check how well made the vehicle is. Are the gaps even between the hood and the fenders? Is the paint smooth? Under the hood, is the wiring neatly bundled and are the metal edges smooth?
Initial Sit test:
Is the car easy to get into and out of?
Make
sure to sit in the back seat. Will there be enough room for your
passenger’s legs, bags, etc? Is their room for a child car seat if you
need one?
Does the driver's seat support your thighs and the
small of your back? It is very important to note this because it might
not bother you on a 10 minute test drive, but the first long drive or
traffic-filled commute will tell you if the support here is lacking, so
check now!
Can you comfortably reach all the controls?
Once You Are Behind The Wheel Check These Things:
Are
the gauges easy to read? Does the steering wheel obstruct your view?
Must you change position to see any gauges? Does glare make them hard
to see?
The dashboard:
Check it before you leave the dealer's lot. Make sure all lights turn
on and knobs/buttons work like they are supposed to.
Can you reach all of the controls without moving far out of position?
Are there any protrusions that would be dangerous if you were thrown forward in a sudden stop?
Visibility While Driving:
This can be difficult to judge, but these quick tests will point out danger spots.
Is the top rim of the steering wheel lower than your shoulders? If it isn't, it may interfere with your line of sight.
Squirt
the windshield-wiper fluid, run the wipers and look for any areas that
the wipers don't reach. They might reduce your vision at night and in
bad weather.
Once you're on the road, check the passenger-side
mirror for blind spots. Does a car passing on the right disappear
momentarily from the mirror, only to suddenly reappear seconds later by
your side?
Suspension Check:
You should feel comfortable and safely in control of the car at all times.
Notice
how soft or hard the ride is and make sure it is what you prefer. Does
it hurt or jar your back? Are uncomfortable in any way? Remember that
you can expect a somewhat stiffer ride from a sporty or performance car.
When you reach a quiet parking lot, try a few sharp turns at low speed.
Make a right, a left and a U-turn. Does the car lean too much from side
to side?
Check the vehicle's turning circle. Can you make a U-turn on a residential street in one continuous motion?
Does the car "dance" over rough or bumpy surfaces?
Steering:
A slight turn of the steering wheel should elicit a quick response.
The car should be easy to steer and provide enough power to eliminate hard work but not so you feel you aren't in control.
On a straight stretch, relax your grip on the steering wheel. The car should remain on a steady course.
Parallel Parking:
The steering wheel should turn easily and sharply. Note the number of
turns it takes from wheel lock to wheel lock. A tip: the fewer the
turns, the better.
Brake Test:
Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) are standard on many cars. They
electronically prevent a car's wheels from locking up on slippery or
dusty surfaces and let you continue steering to maintain control of
your car. It will feel weird when it is engaged... read on to test it.
On
an empty road with no obstacles and no other car in
sight, step on the brake pedal as hard as you can. The ABS should bring
the car to a controlled stop. You may feel some "Catching" or push back
on the brake pedal when you do this and this is normal. It will feel
strange, but if the car locks up or skids, this is not a good thing.
Power and Transmission:
Now find out whether the car is powerful enough around town.
See
how easily you can merge into traffic from the interstate ramp. Can you
reach highway speed easily and maintain that pace? Do you feel safe
doing it?
Is
there enough power to easily pick up 10 mph and overtake the car in
front of you? With the air-conditioning on high, do you still have
enough power to pass? Most people forget to check this.
How Quiet Is It?
You want a car to be as quiet as possible, but noise is hard to judge. Check out this test:
Before
you get on the highway, close the windows, slow down to about 20 mph and turn
on the radio so it's at a comfy level--no loud thumping. Note how many times you have
to turn up the volume to keep the same sound level as you accelerate to
55 mph. In a quiet car, you shouldn't have to increase the volume more
than once or twice, and then only slightly.
When
you finally get back to the dealership, do a final rundown of the car's
comfort and convenience features. With all of this detailed research
you will definitely know if this is the car for you. If you need help
narrowing down your vehicle choices, check out our Find Your Dream Car page!
Happy car hunting!
