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Step 9: Trying it out – Test Drive |
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It's lovely, it's shiny and it's got that new car smell. You know it's the car
for you, and all you want to do is sign wherever the salesman tells you to and
take it home.
Trouble is, on that first drive home you may find that the steering is too
heavy, that you can't adjust your seat enough, and your head touches the roof
lining. But by then it's too late!
That's why it's vital to thoroughly road test a new car before buying it. Make
sure you are comfortable, and that you find it easy to drive and also satisfy
yourself that its performance and handling meet your expectations.
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In the showroom
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Make sure the car is right for you. Check there is enough space — if you are
tall legroom may be cramped, your knees may touch the steering wheel, and your
head could be touching the roof-lining. If you're short, you may find you're
sitting too low to see around you.
Take the family along and make sure they all fit and are comfortable. Check
boot and/or luggage space; do the rear seats fold down to make more space? Is
there enough storage space in the cabin itself —parcel shelf, cubby holes, cup
holders etc?
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In the driver's
seat |
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Make sure...
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It's easy to get in and out of. On a two-door or three-door model, make sure
access to the rear seats isn't too difficult, especially if there are elderly
members of your family, or if you intend to use child seats.
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The seats are firm and supportive without being hard and uncomfortable. How
much adjustment do they offer? (fore/aft, up/down, tilting backrest, lumber
support, adjustable headrests etc.) Can you tailor a good driving position for
yourself?
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All the controls make sense to you and that they are easy to see, reach and
use.
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All-round visibility is reasonable; are there any blind spots; will
lane-changing, parking and reversing be a problem; is rearward vision affected
by headrests, thick rear pillars, small rear screen etc?
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Sit in the driver's seat with the door shut. Are the pedals and steering column
offset? If so, do you find this awkward? Can the steering column be adjusted
for reach and rake?
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The road test |
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Try to take in a mixture of driving conditions from city traffic to motorway
cruising. Depending on where the dealership is and the amount of time you have,
this may not be realistic, but it is important to assess the car in as many
different situations as possible.
It may be smooth at speed but cumbersome around town, or easy to park in tight
spaces, but hopelessly under-powered when you need to overtake.
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Get the 'feel' of the car
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Take a few minutes at the beginning of your road test to get the feel of it —
the gear change or steering weight might not seem 'right' immediately. You
should be confident enough to commence the test properly after a mile or two.
Make sure you know which stalk operates the indicators and which one works the
wipers!
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Too light or too heavy?
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The first thing you are likely to notice is the weighting of the controls,
particularly if they are different to what you are used to. The steering,
pedals and gear-lever all vary from car to car. Are they too light or too heavy
for your taste?
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Power steering
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If the car doesn’t have power steering it may feel very heavy at low speeds or
when parking. It may be better to go for a model equipped with power assistance
(PAS). On the other hand, some power steering systems are over-light — although
many tend to firm up at speed — and give you less 'feel' for how the car is
behaving.
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Changing gears
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On a manual car the sensitivity of the clutch is usually another thing that is
immediately apparent — which is why drivers often immediately stall a car
that's new to them. How much or how little effort does it require; and is the
biting point too high or too low?
Does the gear lever slot in and out of ratios easily and smoothly? With an
automatic transmission pay attention to how smoothly it changes gear. Are the
changes almost undetectable or does it lurch or hesitate between gears? How
smooth is it on 'kickdown' (accelerating hard so that it has to change down a
gear)? Does it 'hunt' for the gear ratio?
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Brakes
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Some modern braking systems are over-sensitive and take some getting used to.
And while we’re down in the foot well, is there enough space for your feet, and
is there room beside the clutch to rest your left foot when cruising?
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Other controls
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Try out the heater, air conditioning, climate control (if fitted), the
radio/stereo/CD player, and the electric windows, mirrors, sunroof etc.
Ideally, everything should be within comfortable reach, easy to use, and not
distract you while driving.
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