BeginnerFree8 minchecklist
Test drive
Test drive basics
Check clutch slip, steering pull, braking vibration, gearbox noises and warning lights safely.
Learning goals
checklist
- ✓Plan a safe, useful route.
- ✓Recognise common test-drive symptoms.
- ✓Know when to stop the viewing.
What to feel and hear
A test drive is not about speed. It is about smoothness, temperature behaviour, braking, steering and gear changes.
- Clutch slip under load can mean expensive work.
- Brake vibration can point to discs, hubs or suspension.
- Gearbox whine or crunching needs caution.
Common mistakes
- Only driving around the block.
Buyer actions
- Do not buy if warning lights appear without diagnosis.