Taking Your Test Drive - When You First Get In

Comfort And Visibility - The driver's comfort and convenience are essential for safe driving.  Is the car easy to get in and out of?  How close to the steering wheel do you have to sit in order to reach the pedals?  Is the speedometer visible through the steering wheel?  Adjustable steering wheels are pretty standard these days; make sure the vehicle you've selected has one if you want to be comfortable on long trips or need it to see the gauges.  Can the seat be adjusted so that you can reach the controls and still keep 10" of airbag clearance?  (Airbag clearance is the distance from the center of the steering wheel to your chin.)  If available, opt for a power-adjustable driver's seat.  It's more comfortable on a long trip and offers better visibility and control for most drivers.  Make sure the clutch, brake, and accelerator pedals are positioned correctly for your driving comfort.  An often-overlooked comfort item is the driver's armrest.  Do your arms land naturally?  Does the right-hand armrest interfere with the gear shift?   I've test-driven some expensive performance sedans where you can't shift the car with the armrest in its down position.  Be sure to check all radio and CD operations.  Can you easily reach the sound system controls with your hands on the wheel?

Check for good visibility and blind spots by looking through the windows and mirrors.  The combination of rearview mirrors, your personal height, and positioning of the driver's seat determines the size of your personal blind spots.  Try the back seats. Would you be comfortable here on a jaunt? a long trip?  Check to see if your golf clubs fit in the trunk. Do the rear seats fold down so a bicycle or folding table could fit in back? 

On a used car, turn the volume and the bass up and listen for any distortion or buzz, indicating blown speakers caused by abuse.  Some original-equipment stereos can't be repaired and can cost over $1500 to replace.  Make sure to operate every switch, cycle every system, and open each door.  Lower and raise every window, and open the sunroof if there is one.  Make sure the car has a manual, good spare tire, jack and tire tool.  Try using everything. 

With the Engine Running - The engine should start easily, idle smoothly and accelerate without hitches.  If you are testing a four-wheel-drive vehicle, engage and disengage the 4WD to test how easily and intuitively it operates.  Make sure the car's gearshift operates smoothly.  If you feel the vehicle vibrating under your seat, try out a different vehicle with the same drive train options.  Some inexpensive models with automatic transmissions vibrate all the time.  Will you be willing to live with this annoyance?  If not, try out the same car with a manual transmission.  The vibration will usually be gone.  If you hear a "clunking" noise when you put the car in gear, you're looking at the expense of new motor and transaxle mounts.  The car might even need a new transmission or engine.  Engage the handbrake and try to accelerate against it to see if it works.  The hand-brake is part of most state inspections and could cost over $500 to repair on some makes and models.  Determine whether the heater and AC operate well and efficiently, by turning them on High.  Check for air from all the vents. On 4- and 6-cylinder models, air conditioning can have a negative influence  on engine performance and acceleration --you'll hear the difference in the engine noise when you turn on the AC.  Turn on the rear defogger grid and touch the glass to feel if it is heating.  Briefly check the wiper blades while you inspect the windshield for chips or cracks.  New blades are a good indication of a well-kept car.  Check the windshield wiper and washer operation too, and check the rear wipers and washers on SUVs, station wagons and hatchbacks.

The Road Test & Your Impressions are on the next page >

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