From The Straits Times    |

PHOTO maridav

 

1. Most car dealers have a regular test-drive route, but ask if you can take the car onto an expressway to gauge how comfortable it is at highway speed. Also drive into a carpark to test how easy it is to park and how it feels going over speed bumps.

2. For most cars, the steering wheel and driver’s seat are height-adjustable. Ensure they are at a comfortable height for you before the test drive, so you can get a realistic feel of the ergonomics of the car.

3. Fiddle with the controls of the lamps, side mirrors, infotainment systems, Bluetooth connections and seats. Ask the salesperson to guide you through them, then try it out yourself to see if they are easy to use.

4. Bring along your kids and parents for subsequent test drives after you have shortlisted the cars you like. Ask them if it is easy to get in and out of the vehicle, whether the ride is bumpy and if it is roomy and cool enough at the back, especially in the third row of an MPV.

5. Turn down the radio and note if the engine is noisy when you rev and when going over rough patches of tarmac. A quiet interior generally means a car that’s better insulated and kinder to the ears, especially if you’re planning to go on road trips.

 

This story was first published in Simply Her April 2015.