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What to look for on a test drive

Kiplinger's New Cars & Trucks, Annual, 1999 by Ed Henry

To objectively compare the cars and trucks you're interested in, use our handy scorecard.

A test drive is more than a ritual. It's the most important thing you'll do before talking price, your chance to see how the vehicle of your dreams measures up to the reality of your everyday driving.

Do you know what you're looking for on this trial run? If you come prepared with the scorecard on pages 75 and 76, you can test a car objectively without letting the scent of new leather and the purr under the hood dazzle any doubts away.

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Equipped with the scorecard and the following checklist, you can test a car thoroughly in less than an hour. But you may also want to test drive the car at night or on a rainy day to get a feel for how it handles in less-than-perfect conditions. The checklist on the following pages highlights features that may affect driving at night or in bad weather.

If the dealer insists that a salesperson accompany you (some make it a policy), let him or her know what you'll be doing and the route you'll be taking. Firmly insist that your scores are not open for discussion.

Cover a route that includes steep hills and bumpy roads. Also visit a lightly traveled side street where you can safely test the car's cornering ability, braking power and turning circle. Then head for the open road-an interstate or high-speed highway--to evaluate acceleration and passing capabilities.

Spend the most time on the type of roads you usually drive, including your route from home to work.

What to look for

When you get behind the wheel, here are some things to check:

* Are the gauges easy to read? Does the steering wheel obstruct your view? Must you change position to see any gauges? Does glare make them hard to see?

The dashboard. Check it before you leave the dealer's lot.

* Can you reach all of the controls without moving far out of position?

* Are there any protrusions that would be dangerous if you were thrown forward in a sudden stop?

Visibility. This can be difficult to judge, but these quick tests will point out danger spots.

* Is the top rim of the steering wheel lower than your shoulders? If it isn't, it may interfere with your line of sight.

* Squirt the windshield-wiper fluid, run the wipers and look for any areas that the wipers don't reach. They might reduce your vision at night and in bad weather.

* Check the tint on the windshield. If it extends more than a few inches, it might make nighttime driving difficult.

* Once you're on the road, check the passenger-side mirror for blind spots. Does a car passing on the right disappear momentarily from the mirror, only to suddenly reappear seconds later by your side?

The suspension. You should feel comfortable and safely in control of the car at all times.

* Notice how soft or hard the ride is. You can expect a somewhat stiffer ride from a sporty or performance car.

* When you reach a quiet parking lot, try a few sharp turns at low speed. Make a right, a left and a U-turn. Does the car lean too much from side to side?

* Does the car "dance" over rough or bumpy surfaces?

Steering. A slight turn of the steering wheel should elicit a quick response.

* The car should be easy to steer, with enough power assist to eliminate hard work but not mask the feel of the road.

* On a straight stretch, relax your grip on the steering wheel. The car should remain on a steady course.

* Check the vehicle's turning circle: Can you make a U-turn on a residential street in one continuous motion?

Parallel parking. The steering wheel should turn easily and sharply.

* Note the number of turns it takes from wheel lock to wheel lock; the fewer the turns, the better.

The brakes. Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) are standard on many cars. They electronically prevent a car's wheels from locking up on slippery or dusty surfaces and let you continue steering to maintain control of your car

* On an empty road with no obstacles and no other car in sight, step on the brake pedal as hard as you can. The ABS should bring the car to a controlled stop.

Power and transmission. Now find out whether the car is powerful enough around town.

* See how easily you can merge into traffic from the interstate ramp. Can you reach highway speed easily and maintain that pace?

* Is there enough power to easily pick up 10 mph and overtake the car in front of you? With the air-conditioning on high, do you still have enough power to pass?

Noise level. You want a car to be as quiet as possible, but noise is hard to judge. Here's a simple test.

* Before you get on the highway, close the windows, slow down to 20 mph and turn on the radio so it's comfortably audible. Note how many times you have to turn up the volume to keep the same sound level as you accelerate to 55 mph. In a quiet car, you shouldn't have to increase the volume more than once or twice, and then only slightly.

Finishing touches

When you get back to the dealership, do a final rundown of the car's comfort and convenience features.

What to look for on a test drive

Kiplinger's New Cars & Trucks, Annual, 1999 by Ed Henry

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