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Useful tips about test driving
Pull the boot opener
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!
Safety features
How Safe Is Your Car will give an indication of how most cars rate in crash tests. It also covers ESC. ESC is short for Electronic Stability Control, a new safety technology that helps drivers to avoid crashes by reducing the danger of skidding.
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.
Sounds
Road and wind noise can be annoying - especially if you do a lot of driving. Turn the radio off when you get into the car. Around suburban streets, most cars 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 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 again 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.
