What to look out for when test-driving a car?

Buying a new car should be an exciting event, even if you're only shopping for a used car. The anticipation of this new addition to your driveway should herald a new chapter in your life, one of adventure and purpose, even if it's downsizing or simply solving your mobility demands. It can however turn into a nightmare if you're not careful and rush into things; not all cars are created equal and used cars bring with them a history that can often be chequered.

Related: Do I need insurance to test drive a car?

To make sure that you don't burn your fingers with your next purchase, we've compiled this list of things to look out for when test-driving a car. While it's impossible to cater for all eventualities, this will at least help you ascertain whether the vehicle you're looking at is worth considering or not.

 

Before you drive

Half of the battle can be won by simply preparing yourself before you even see the vehicle in person. Arming yourself with the necessary knowledge will help you weed out the deals that are too good to be true, suspect or not worth considering. Here's what you can do to prepare yourself.

- Do your research on the car.

Knowing the specifics of the make and model that you're interested in will help you ascertain if what you're looking at is being accurately represented. The salesman won't be able to spin you a story about it if you know what is needed to know about the model. Knowing what trim has what features is handy and will help you ascertain whether the vehicle you're interested in is priced fairly, has respectable mileage, and how available other, similar models are on the market.

- Research the dealership.

The dealership is as important as the car itself. A scan through Google Reviews or consumer websites like Hellopeter will help you gauge what sort of dealings the dealership is known for. Do keep in mind that you're only hearing one side of the story, that of the consumer only and the general consumer is quick to complain and slow to compliment.

 

Visiting the dealership

More important than the homework though is the actual inspection of the vehicle, right before you take it for a test drive. Taking your time here is crucial and don't be rushed by the salesperson. Any salesperson that is trying to rush is probably trying to hide something, in which case you should turn around and walk out.

- Inspect the vehicle.

Take your time looking over the vehicle and if possible, take a knowledgeable friend or mechanic with you to assist. You'll be looking for signs of wear and tear, damage and previous damage. Naturally, you don't want to see leaks, poor electrical connections or obvious signs of mechanical wear. Parts that are obviously a lot newer than others will indicate repairs; ask about this. You will also be looking for mismatched paint or a difference in the paint finish which could indicate that repair work has been carried out. All the lights should match, no one light should be clearer or less yellow than the others.

- Check the paperwork.

Ask to see the registration papers and the service history. Both should be current and updated recently with a service stamp from a dealership or RMI-approved centre within the last 12 months. The service history will give you an indication of how the vehicle was maintained and who was entrusted with carrying out services and repairs. The more paperwork the dealer is able to present, the better the picture you will be able to form on the vehicle's history.

- Check the functionality.

Before heading out on the road, power the car up and check the functionality of the various features and electronics. Ensure that the displays work, electric windows all work, central locking works and go through the infotainment system to check the speakers and connectivity and that all the buttons work. Check to see that the fans work and anything else that you're able to while the vehicle is stationary. Knowing that this all works will allow you to concentrate on the mechanicals when you head out on the drive.

 

The test drive

The test drive is crucial. It will tell you quite a lot if you know what you're looking for. It's harder for you to be misled when driving the car yourself but shady dealers will try and manipulate the test drive to hide faults or concerns that they know about.

- Listen to the start-up.

The vehicle you wish to test should be the exact vehicle you wish to buy if you're buying a used vehicle. The vehicle should not be warm when you arrive and you should request to have the vehicle started from cold in front of you. This will allow you to check for any noises or smoke that comes from it when the engine is cold, 

- Drive a familiar route.

While not always possible, try and replicate your daily commute as best as possible. If you spend most of your time in traffic or in an urban setting, try and mimic this. There's no point in only driving on the highway if you seldom venture onto it. The inverse is also true; if you do a lot of highway driving, tooling around in town won't tell you what you need to know. Discuss this with the salesperson beforehand and explain your intentions. If they want to make the sale, they will facilitate your requests. How long should you test drive a car?

- Listen for noises.

You should already have tested the radio so there's no need to have the radio playing while you test drive the car. Drive it with the radio off and the windows both open and closed. Listen carefully for odd sounds, creaks, squeaks and rattles. Any mechanical noise that sounds out of place should serve as an immediate warning.

- Pay attention to the way things feel.

While on the test drive, pay attention to the way the suspension feels, the steering and the performance. Drive it at part throttle and wide open. Try driving over some rough roads to listen to the suspension and on smooth tar to see if there are vibrations. Pay special attention to the steering feel and the brakes. Ensure that there's no unnecessary play on either of these.