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Try Before You Buy!
You should never buy a car without driving it. This is one instance where you really can tell a book by its cover. What if your legs are too short to reach the pedals, or worse, what if the brakes don’t work? Here are some key things to look out for. |
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All the doors. Open the bonnet, doors and boot - how simple are they to open, close, lock and unlock, and how secure are their mechanisms? Do you have to slam a door to make sure it’s shut? Open the boot and test the weight of the door. Does it open far/high enough? |
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Passenger space. If you'll often be carrying passengers, see what sort of access and room they will have. Sit in the back. How’s the leg and head room? Would they be comfortable on a long journey? This could depend on whether they're children or adults. If there’s more than one row of seats, do they fold down, do you need a degree to be able to fold them down?! |
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Interior trim. What sort of state is the interior in? Does it look tatty, does the glove box shut properly, does the stereo work and is the sun visor glued on?! If the seats are worn now, how will they look in a few years' time? |
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Load space. What sort of space do you need? Is there room for your shopping? Is the lip of the boot or the loading floor too high? If you'll frequently be carrying bulky or heavy loads, you need to see if you can lift them easily and safely into the boot. |
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The driving position. Get as comfortable as you can. Does the seat slide, tilt or rise? Can the steering wheel position be moved? Can you see all the mirrors? Is visibility through all the windows acceptable? If you can't get comfy or see what's going on around you, you might as well stop now - this car will never suit you. |
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The ignition. Does it start up first time? If you're sold on the money-saving advantages of diesel cars, remember that some sound 'clattery' when starting from cold. This should soon settle down to a more normal beat though.
With your foot on the clutch, gently run through the gears. The shift can be 'notchy' when a car is cold but shouldn’t be so stiff it's a problem. Select first and gently lift off the clutch. How smoothly does the car pull away? Have you stalled before you’ve got to third gear?! A 'sharp' clutch, or one which is very heavy, can be hard work - especially in rush-hour or urban traffic. So does it suit your driving style and needs? Before you go far, test the brakes? Are they slow to react? |
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The engine. Is it powerful enough to pull away from traffic lights and to keep going up hills without needing endless gear changes? Would you struggle to overtake a milk float?! Remember that on most test drives it'll be just you and a salesman or the car owner in the car. If you'll be pulling a caravan or driving with a full complement of adults, you’ll need to judge whether you think the engine will be able to handle it. |
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The noise. Find a stretch of fast, open road, where it's safe and legal to speed up. If you're going to spend a lot of time on motorways and there is a junction nearby, ask the vendor if you can drive on one for a short stretch.
What are the noise levels from the engine, tyres and the wind? Are there any annoying rattles or buzzes from the interior? Can you hear yourself think? If something is a mild distraction on a short test drive, it is likely to be infuriating on a longer journey. |
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Performance. How well does the suspension soak up bumps and take corners? If the ride is too hard, you'll go crashing and jolting over potholes. If it's too soft, you'll find the car rolls in corners and 'wallows' over small bumps. Both ends of this scale will make journeys uncomfortable – and could easily make rear passengers car sick.
The car’s controls should do what you want with minimum effort. The steering should be light, but you should be able to feel the road; the gears should be smooth, quick and easy, and the tyres should grip well so the car always goes where you point it. |
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Parking up. Can you see over the car’s nose? Do you have a good view of the rear? Try manoeuvring the car at slow speed to check that the steering and handling is not too heavy or too light for parking. Check the turning circle: do you feel comfortable with the style of handling? |
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Yourself: the most important opinion is yours – but remember to throw in the biggest measure of logic you can find, too! |
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