Like life, falling in love with a vehicle is about more than what you see in a digital catalogue. So much more!
Do you have to test drive a car before buying?
Before you buy a new or used car, you’re going to want to be sure to test drive it to make sure it’s right for you. You might have seen the commercial, drooled over pics and body-builds online… but does it drive the way you’ve dreamt it would? Does it have the right amount of cargo space for you, your lifestyle, and your brood? It might be too high, too low, too rigid, or not responsive enough. These are things you wouldn’t know without the all-important test drive checklist.
With the amount of money that you’re going to be spending, the test drive before purchasing is an integral part of the decision you’re about to make.
How to test drive a car before buying?
Tips on What to Look for While You Are Test Driving
Here are 10 simple tips on how to test drive a new car!
1: Concentrate
The salesperson at the dealership would have already sung like a canary about all the bells and whistles. Ideally, once it gets to the point of taking the car for a test drive on the road, try to negotiate to be able to do this alone. This way you can take in as much as possible of the experience, the sounds, the drive, the reaction to the steering wheel, brakes and so on.
2: Seating
Make sure you can find your ideal driving position behind the wheel before you set out for the prized test drive. Check the lateral movement of the seat and your distance from the pedals; make sure to adjust the height for optimal vision; the backrest of the seat, and then the positioning/height/angle of the steering wheel. All these things define your ideal driving position before you set off for the test drive.
3: Passengers
The next thing to look out for with your test drive before purchasing; you’ll want to consider the comfort of your passengers. For example, do you regularly transport your elderly parents? This would impact the height and ease of getting in and out of both the front passenger— and rear seats.
If you anticipate frequently having three passengers in the rear seat, you could sit in the middle seat and ask two salespeople to sit on either side of you. This way you can get a feel for how comfortable the back seating is, if and/or when you might have three passengers along for the ride.
4: Space
Check that the boot is big enough for the lifestyle you lead. If you’re a solo, digital nomad and most of the time it’s just you and your laptop, then maximum boot space isn’t going to be a dealmaker or dealbreaker for you. But if you’re into cycling, have a baby, or three kids who play six different sports… well, then boot space is a dealmaker for sure — and a crucial part of the test drive!
You might take your bike with you for the test drive, or you might be able to tell by putting all the seats down and getting a sense of how much space is available. It’s also important to see how easy it is to get the car from regular seats up position into its maximum space configuration. Does that involve major renovations and the fitness level of an Olympic athlete? Or is it user-friendly and easily manoeuvrable?
Another biggie when it comes to the space aspect of the test drive seems like a no-brainer — but is honestly one that many people overlook. Make sure you ask yourself this question: Is the size and length of the car going to fit in your garage? You may want to take a tape measure along with you to be sure.
5: Driving
The actual driving part is obviously the pinnacle factor of how your decision-making. Try taking your car on three different types of drives:
- Town driving
- Twisty roads
- Highway
These three options will give you great insight into the car’s handling in different settings and under different circumstances. From the stop-start of heavy traffic to cornering, and to getting the most out of the handling and experience once the car settles into cruising mode.
6: Parking
No matter how much people hate having to parallel park, it’s a fair test of the visibility (out of front and back windows) afforded to you in the car you’re looking to buy. What are the parking sensors like? Is there a reverse camera? Is there auto-parking? You may not even want or need these things, but if you do, part of the test drive means that it’s important to know that they meet your expectations.
7: Controls
While conducting your test drive, make sure the steering is nice and light. Heavier steering will mean you may battle with trickier twists and turns, and navigation in general.
Go through the gears and make sure the transitions are nice and smooth and work in tandem with your driving style. If you are taking an automatic for a test drive, you’ll want the gear changes to blend (almost) seamlessly. But, when you want to accelerate quickly, you’ll want the automatic gearbox to instantly drop a gear and give you the needed power.
Check the validity of the brakes by giving them a solid hard push — as you would in an emergency. But also give them a light press on the open road and see whether the response is an effective yet gentle slowing, or too jerky for you.
8: Comfort
This part of the test drive should have you doing things you otherwise would avoid — like driving through excess gravel or potholes. You’ll want to see how the car responds to these calamities and how much of the comfort in the cabin is compromised by incidents like this.
9: Relaxing
Great trips on the open road should be — while you should be aware — a very relaxing experience. Part of the test drive should see you take the car up to a decently high speed; this allows you to listen to the sound of the car at this speed. Can you concentrate? Hold a decent conversation? And while you’re driving at that high speed, check how easy it is to navigate the infotainment system without hindering your concentration on the road.
10: Handling
This is the part of the test drive where those winding roads are important. You need to know that it is safe to drive with ample grip through the corners with the steering feeling intuitive and precise. This is also a great opportunity to see how the engine and braking respond to your inputs.
Are these other things to check when test driving a car for the first time?
Of course, everyone’s needs are different, but these 10 tips are a great guide to give you a thorough overview of the car you’re looking to add to your life. You can always develop your own test drive checklist depending on your level of experience with cars. Just be sure to test drive the car like a mechanic so that you are 101% satisfied the car ticks the box.
If you’re leaning toward a Subaru, then you’re already on a winning streak! Get behind the wheel yourself by locating your nearest dealership and booking your test drive today, or for further information, call us on +27 11 608 0116 or email info@subaru.co.za.
