Testing the car

If you announced a wedding after a 20-minute date, it’s almost certain that your friends and family would be alarmed. Yet, many people will buy a car having only spent five minutes driving it on smooth roads around the dealership.

Before you walk in

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Have your lists ready. You should have a list of models you’re interested in comparing and things to check for across all models. Note any model-specific questions you may have (for example, will the smart car have enough cargo room for your golf clubs – the answer is no).

Make your intentions clear

When you arrive, tell the dealer you’re looking to test drive a few models. You want it to be clear that you’ve done your homework, and it’s just a matter of refining the options and finding the best deal.

Make the arrangements

Tell the dealer you want to test the car overnight. It’s an arrangement many dealers allow, and if it’s clear you’re evaluating options rather than casually browsing then you have a good chance of taking the car home with you.

Push for it, but if you can’t make it happen then at least be sure you can test the car for a significant period of time, and you can take it on your own route. Don’t allow yourself to be rushed through a test drive.

Drive it properly

You want to test the car across a variety of terrains, so it’s ideal to have a route in mind. The best are those you drive every day - from your house to the office, from the office to day care, up and down the highway you take every weekend.

You want to see how the car handles across a range of situations and speeds. (Don’t forget to do a lot of merging so you get a good idea of its visibility dynamics.)

As well as paying attention to its mechanical performance, make sure you’re comfortable with the placement and operation of the primary controls. As cheesy as it sounds, ergonomics can make all the difference for driver comfort. Don’t forget to adjust your seat, the steering column and of course the mirrors to properly assess how you feel behind the wheel.

A few things to put on your check list:

• Turn the steering wheel from full-lock left to full-lock right. There should be no strange noises or feelings - no whining, no knocks or clunks.
   
• With the handbrake on, gently put your foot on the accelerator. The brake should hold you in the one spot.
   
• Move the car through its full gear range. Gear changes should be smooth, with a sound resembling a ‘snick’ rather than a ‘crunch’. If you’re testing a manual car, be sure the clutch’s friction point (when it starts to bite in and engage) sits about halfway between the pedal being fully depressed and fully released.
   
• There shouldn’t be any noises coming from the engine. Knocking, squealing, banging, clunking, whistling, whirring... They’re all bad. 

Back to back

Be sure you’re testing cars back-to-back and in similar conditions so you can make the best, most direct comparison. If you’ve arranged to keep the cars overnight, jot down your thoughts immediately after driving it. 

Note: Dealers will push hardest for a sale right after you’ve taken a test drive. Resist! Finish your other tests, or take some time to reflect on the tests you’ve had, before agreeing to anything.

Considerations

Overall, does it meet all your needs? Does it accommodate your lifestyle, your passengers and your cargo? Can you afford to fuel it? Can your parents get in and out of it? Can your kids? If it all looks, feels and sounds good, you’re almost done.