How to Test Drive a Car?

Test Driving a Car

Before buying a new car, it is very important to test drive it. This will ensure that the new car will serve all your purpose and needs for the coming years.

There are various factors to consider while test driving a car. Before we start to talk about it, you need to note three important things:

• Make sure that the car you are going to test drive fits your budget. Get on road price of the model you wish to own from manufacturer website or car dealers or any reliable auto website. Check for any discounts or offers available for the model.
• Make a wish list including all the ‘must haves’ in your new car. Ensure that the car that you are going to test drive has all the essential features that you would like to see in your new car.
• Before test driving a car, make sure that you can afford its running and maintenance cost. This will include service cost, insurance cost and fuel cost.

So we will get back to the topic – How to test drive a car and make sure that it is the right car for you?

We will mention below few tips to take care while test driving a car.

Research Well

Before stepping to a dealership, do your research on the car model. Learn about its specification, comfort features, equipment list, mileage, standard accessories and safety features. 

Know about the various model options or variant available. Check the equipments and features that come with these variants. All these information are easily available from manufacturer’s website or any reliable auto website or magazines. So get all the facts clear before feeling the wheel.

Choose Your Test Drive Time

Never test drive in a hurry when you have very little time to spare. A clever salesman can take advantage of this situation. So test drive on a day when you have ample time to spend. Ideally, you should test drive on a bright day time during non peak hours when traffic is less.

Take your friend or family member

It is always good to hear a second opinion from your reliable friend or family member. So bring them along and let them sit at the back while you drive. Ask them to share their feedback. As they have a different riding experience, they can share feedback from a different angle.

Check exteriors, door and boot Space

How the car looks from outside?

Look the car from all possible angles. Check the build quality and finish of the car.

Inspect the side and boot doors. Are they feeling solid and well build?

Check the Boot space and try other alternate option to stretch the boot space, as suggested in the manual. Is the boot space adequate for your needs? Will you able to load and unload luggage with ease?

If you are happy with the exteriors, then it is time to look what is inside the car.

Examine interiors

Here, you need to check interior space, leg room, head room, cabin quality, seat fabrics, different controls, instrument clusters, storage spaces, seats and adjustments.

Are you able to easily get in and out of the car?

Check for interior space and over all cabin quality. Verify the quality of the plastics used.

Is there ample legroom and head room. Is it spacious enough for your purpose?

Test the climate controls and other equipments provided.

Is the instrument cluster clearly visible? Make sure that all the controls including gear are easily accessible, ease to use and of good quality.

Ready for the drive

Inform the accompanying salesman politely that you want to focus on the drive. Ask him questions only when necessary. Inspect everything yourself. Don't be tempted to take the salesman's word for anything or let him demonstrate for you.

Get in to driver’s seat. Adjust the seats. Sit in your most comfortable position.

Cover different road types

Before staring the test drive, inform the salesman that you want to try out different terrains and not their pre determined test drive route. This will reduce unnecessary delay in getting permission from his supervisor.

Test drive on highways, rough roads, country roads and busy streets to get a feel of how the car handles on various road types. Try to replicate different driving situation you can.

Check the suspension, ride quality, handling and speed.

Visibility Check

This is simple but an important check before buying a car.  Are you able to see the road in your most comfortable seat position? Adjust the mirrors and see if you can see the sides and rear of the vehicle clearly.

Noise level check

Start the engine and roll up all windows and close all doors. Don’t accelerate.

Can you feel any vibrations inside the car? Can you hear any noise inside the car?

Check for any sound coming from outside the vehicle.

A well insulated cabin should eliminate almost all outside noises. Also, check for any rattle or engine noise.  If the noise and harshness make you uncomfortable, then it is a negative sign.

Now, accelerate the car with gear in neutral and rev up the engine for few seconds. Observe the vibrations again. Though there might be engine noise on acceleration, but the vibration should be minimum and acceptable.

Check car handling

Start the car, switch off the air conditioner and try to drive as gently as possible, slowly picking up speed. You can feel whether the car is smooth to drive or not. Now, switch on the air conditioner and check the power lag. Also, observe for any noises or vibrations during these tests.

Turn the car at varying speed to test car handling. Check whether the car is flying away or holding close to the road. You can check car’s turning radius by doing a full circles on an open ground. You check how the car handles while braking hard after giving a hard acceleration. 

Take the car to any rough road (but not too bad) and drive at a normal speed. Examine how the car handle the potholes and bumps. Is the car feeling stable? This can give an idea about its suspension.  

Ride back to Back

If you have wide range of cars to test drive, then it is advisable to test drive all of them one after the other or within shortest possible break between each test drive.

Check for your specific need

If you have any specific requirement for your car, then check that too. If you have less parking space at home, then ensure that you can park the car properly at home. If you have a large family, then ensure that the car accommodates all of them comfortably.

Test Drive again

If you are still not sure on few aspects, then test drive again. It is advisable to have a second test drive after a couple of days to get a fresh outlook.

Always remember that it is your money and you are going to own and maintain the car. So decide well before signing the check. If you are still not sure about the car, feel free to walk away.

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