We have no association with Highlands Auto Centre Bowral selling Ford in Bowral and in no way represent them.
Test driving a Ford
Look in the boot!
Make sure you can fit your stuff! Do you regularly carry golf bag(s) and/or buggies? What about a pram or a stroller? It's not good having a boot that is too small!
Is safety important?
Safety has become increasingly important to car buyers over the last 10 to 15 years. Airbags are important in the event of a crash, but make sure you consider preventive safety features as well. FCAI lists all cars sold with ESC available. ESC is possibly the most important advance in safety since the introduction of seatbelts.
Driving and handling
See how the car handles if you push it a bit in corners. Oversteer or understeer is usually the result (unless it comes with Electronic Stability Control). It’s better to know how it handles before you buy. It is also useful to compare it against different makes and models. It is hard to get an idea of how a car responds to quick manoeuvres in a short drive but you can hurry the car around a couple of corners to check body roll. Test the responsiveness with an abrupt lane change. When avoiding an accident, a vehicle that is slow to respond may not be your best option. Does the front end dip excessively under a hard stop? Try a couple of times. If the vehicle has ABS you will feel some pulsing, try braking hard while turning this will tell you that the system is working. If the pulsing is pronounced the ABS system may not be quite as good as some others.
Noise and sound
Road noise can be annoying - especially if you do a lot of driving. Pay attention and turn the radio off. Around suburban streets, most vehicles will sound quiet but what is the engine and wind noise like on the highway or freeway? The best way for most people to check this aspect is by way of comparing. Have a conversation at freeway speed and compare to your existing car, or a competitor to the car you are testing.
Remember to switch the radio on at some point to check the quality of the sound. Many people like to bring their favourite CD and compare how it sounds in different cars.
