For most of us, buying a new car is a serious business. You want to make sure you get the best value for money, and that you are not left with a car that costs the earth to run and maintain. Our experts take a look at your test drive checklist for when you go car shopping.
Things to consider on your test drive
- Does the car pull away smoothly?
- Try out a variety of routes. Ideally, when you go on a test drive, you want to test the car on the motorway as well as around town.
- Does the car have enough power for what you need? Remember, the car is likely to be empty when you test drive it; if you struggle on hills on your test drive, imagine what it will be like fully loaded.
- Do you go smoothly on bumps and corners? If not, there could be a problem with the suspension.
- Are you sitting comfortably? Bad driving position can cause serious back problems over time, so it is important you are comfortable and your seat is adjustable. Check that your seat can rise and tip; see if you can adjust the position of the steering wheel, and make sure the mirrors are adjustable so you can see well. If you will be sharing the car, make sure all of the drivers can easily reach the handbrake, gearstick and pedals.
- Check the brakes. If you are buying your car from a local car dealership, the brakes are probably in good condition, but there is no harm making sure. On a safe, empty road, practise an emergency stop and listen out for grinding, rattling and banging sounds.
- Try a three-point turn, to see how the car handles, and park it on a hill to check the handbrake.
- On a straight stretch of road, check to see if the car veers.
- Are your passenger seats comfortable and spacious enough for your needs? Can you easily fit a car seat?
- Check the boot space. This can be make or break, particularly if you go camping/ have a large family/ own a pet/ need to carry equipment for work.
- Now try to park the car. If it is much bigger than you are used to, can you park it easily? And if you have a garage or designated parking space, will it fit?
Choosing a car is often based on emotions as much as practicalities, but if you decide what is essential (e.g. a big boot), what is preferable (e.g. leather interior) and what is a bonus but not that important (e.g. your preferred colour), you will be able to stay focused and push for a bargain.
If you are looking for a new car from a reliable car dealer, take a look in our directory.