How should I test drive a car??

protexblue

Tried a search but it's all driving test related.

I'm looking to find out what constitutes a good test drive of a, in my case, 2015 IS300h or Accord automatic.

Now that I think of it, I only drive the way I drive (which is fairly mechanical sympatheic /fuel saving).

What things should you do to put a car through its paces?

protexblue

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058390538/how-should-i-test-drive-a-car

Actually: ChatGPT didn't do a bad job of describing a "is it in good condition" test drive (well, it build on what I would have done)

User1998

Hard acceleration and hard braking. Stop and start multiple times. Bring the steering to full lock on each side. Use all the gears. Go from drive to reverse and back to drive multiple times. Drive on bumpy roads, and fast roads. Motorway if possible

kirving

To be honest, as helpful as reading up on it is, it's really one of those things that you have to gain experience to do yourself.

Listen for:

1. Squeaking brakes
2. Knocking noises as you turn sharply or go over ramps
3. Wheel bearings that get loud the faster you go (like a low droning noise)
4. Rough engine
5. Whining of a turbo (not in the Lexus)
6. Hissing noises as you accelerate
7. Squalling fan belt

Actually, I just found this website which has a good library of sounds to listen for, better than I can explain.

https://mycarmakesnoise.com/full-sound-library/

protexblue

A libray of faulty car sounds.

I love this era we live in. Cheers

GPoint

make sure you have bumper to bumper warranty because no test drive will help you find issues. You need to live with the car for few weeks to find some glitches. Test drive will show you gross failures like rough idle, jerky ride or worn out suspension or brakes.
make sure to test drive at motorway speeds and crappy roads. Go with someone and ask to ride in the back seat or sit them in the back to watch out for noises from the back.

Good luck

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123083449#Comment_123083449

Don’t think they’ll get a bumper to bumper warranty on a 10 year old car

Sam Russell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123083964#Comment_123083964

It is the bits in between the bumpers you want covered.

GPoint

I missed the 10 year old car bit:) well then bring some fellow mechanic with you for an advice.

pale rider

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123083067#Comment_123083067

I sold a car I was really fond of a few years back, I had it 7 years and it was my baby.. the sellers son drive the car just as you recommended..hard acceleration… hard braking, he told me he was testing the turbo … I was furious, the car was still mine and not open to any abuse on a test drive.

They bought that car with not a penny off my asking,

On another occasion years back I left a buyers mechanic sent to examine the car on the side of the N7 after again abusing it, that one was a small one litre car. Next day after recovering their mechanic from the side of the road those people also bought the car with not a penny off.

If you don’t know what to look for bring an experienced person with you as it’s worth it but I don’t recommend borderline abuse, as a seller I react badly to my car being treated the way I never would.

protexblue

The whining that gets louder when I go faster is a bearing in my gearbox.

The noise appeared a few months after I bought my 07 A4, got increasingly worse for the first few years I had it.

Then stayed that way until year 6 of ownership.

Result!

Atlantic Dawn

Also test the AC works, unlikely to be covered by warranty later on a used car of that era.

Fann Linn

Or just get the AA or a good mechanic to check it out.

protexblue

Thanks. AA appear to have stopped offering that service but they link to an institute of automotive engineers who do inspections.

I'm afraid I don't know any good mechanics