Test Drive Tips

"Tripper" (tripe46) 07/01/2019 at 15:20 • Filed to: None

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Tomorrow at lunch I’m set to drive a blue 3 pedal VW Golf Alltrack. Normally this is a confident end of the road for me. I picked the car, I just have to drive it and buy it. This is a little different because I definitely won’t be buying this car because it isn’t green. To further complicate matters, I’m normally 98% sure that I will like the car I am about to drive. Here I am more like 65% sure.

Silk Blue

I’ve been on hundreds of test drives, so have you guys. What do you like to do, not do to get the most out of your test drives? Anything you want to know about the car?

I always like to take a friend. I’ve almost always got a drive without the salesman that way. Other wise I like to go quick though at least 3 turns, and go through at least the first three gears on the floor.

I’m not sure if the car is “silk blue” or “night blue” and I’m not sure if it’s got the beige or black interior. Either way it’s not a combo I’d go for unless they were offering the car at a significant discount.

Night Blue

HammerheadFistpunch > Tripper 07/01/2019 at 15:22

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my number 1 tip is to try and get the salesman OUT of the test drive.

1. I don’t want to talk to you

2. Im not going to get as much out of it

3. Screw your “usual loop” of a few blocks.

lone_liberal > Tripper 07/01/2019 at 15:28

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I like to make sure to take it on roads I’m very familiar with so I have a direct comparison in my mind with other cars. Then I like to do a freeway blast to check out how it does accelerating,  handling the on/off ramps, and whether it makes annoying sounds when cruising at speed. 

Arrivederci > HammerheadFistpunch 07/01/2019 at 15:32

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I never know how to approach that delicately. Like Tripper said, the best way is to bring a friend.

Tested a Cayman S a few years ago with my wife at a Porsche dealer.  Salesman let me take it out 2x - once with him and once with her.  That was really a great experience.

Tripper > HammerheadFistpunch 07/01/2019 at 15:34

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Totally agree. I usually don’t get push back from salesmen about taking my own loop. Like you said though, you don’t get as much out of it when some jabroni that you don’t know is along for the ride.

Tripper > lone_liberal 07/01/2019 at 15:36

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Good points. Lucky for me this dealer is located smack in the middle of the triangle of places that are my usual whereabouts. I plan on driving home from the dealer, to work (the fun way), then back to the dealer.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Tripper 07/01/2019 at 15:41

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When I bought the Ferrari, I told the sales guy I planned on driving on x road, which was close to the dealer. He said no problem as long as we were back by a certain time. That worked well, but I’m not sure about at a VW dealer. Either way, plan a route, and tell the sales person if they come along.

412GTI > Tripper 07/01/2019 at 15:47

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We’ve had decent luck with test driving once with/without a salesman the n asking if we could take it home for the night to really see what it’s like. Of course, this is only with vehicles we are really interested in, but it seems like you’re there with this purchase.

YMMV - we’re close with  and know higher ups at multiple dealers in our area, but generally most will allow and over night ride if you’re serious.

WilliamsSW > Tripper 07/01/2019 at 15:49

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I hate distractions on a test drive, so that means adjusting seats etc first, shuttling off the stereo, and telling the salesperson to STFU if they’re still in the car.

Ask permission for a little bit longer test drive - that usually guarantees that the salesperson suddenly has a customer coming and can’t join you.

Find some bumpy roads to check out suspension firmness and noises

Acceleration out of a corner tells me a lot about chassis balance and whether the transmission can find the right gear.

Try to “trick” the transmission into fumbling around for the right gear. A lot of them do that now, and it can be annoying.

Other than that, push the car a bit, but also drive it gently for a bit - some cars can do one but not the other.

That’s all that comes to mind now  

Good luck!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper 07/01/2019 at 15:51

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Find some really rough roads to try out somewhere along that loop as well.

Test the stereo in the parking lot at the dealer, leave it off otherwise. I’d also turn the HVAC off for a minute at highways speeds and see how quiet it really is at speed. Safely try a fast lane change to check high-speed stability, and a near-panic stop from 50 on a off ramp (with no one behind you off course). At cruising speed, rev-match downshift to 4th and pull to 90, just to check responsiveness. Do a U-turn or two at red lights to check the turning radius. Find a parking lot and simulate crawling in stop & go traffic. 

AestheticsInMotion > Tripper 07/01/2019 at 15:55

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Getting a drive without a salesman is the big one for me. Also getting out of the car and just checking it out in detail away from people. I've never gotten the over-night test drive that some of you have, but I bet that would be helpful. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > WilliamsSW 07/01/2019 at 15:57

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“ Try to “trick” the transmission into fumbling around for the right gear. A lot of them do that now, and it can be annoying.”

3 pedals. =)

I test drove an automatic Tacoma, and it was hunting so much on a short test drive that I knew I wouldn’t be able to live with it. Custom o rdered a manual not long after.

WilliamsSW > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 07/01/2019 at 16:04

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Yeah I was just thinking out loud, forgetting about the fact that your test drive was a 3 pedal car.

My previous car, a Lexus GS350, was awful for that. My Mercedes now is pretty good - but that issue is yet another reason to get 3 pedals.

Automatics these days all want to get into top gear too quickly unless you put them in sport mode. 

lone_liberal > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 07/01/2019 at 16:05

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I’m with you about turning the stereo off but i t’s amazing how many salespeople will crank it back up while you’re trying to do a test drive. Another reason to leave them behind.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > WilliamsSW 07/01/2019 at 16:11

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Tripper’s, not mine.

Amazing how good, and how bad, automatics can be these days!

Always chasing that extra MPG in the EPA tests...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > lone_liberal 07/01/2019 at 16:24

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It’s amazing how many people buy a car because the stereo sounds good.*

*probably

Ash78, voting early and often > Tripper 07/01/2019 at 16:29

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LOL, I’m driving a 2017 Alltrack today at Carmax (the same one where DaftRyosuke works). The only hangup is that I just learned VW’s long warranty started with MY2018....dammit.

So I’m like 20% likely to buy this car. I’m being increasingly swayed to spend a wee bit more for a BMW 3-series wagon or something like that. The Alltrack (on paper) has a shocking amount of interior space, but I still felt a bit cramped in it. But it is definitely a nice drive, both DSG and manual. A basic chip will get you to around 230hp, too.

I’m not especially a Carmax fan, but I can find exactly f*ckall for wagons anywhere else. At least Carmax does it from a central site with plenty of info and lots of free transfer options .

Textured Soy Protein > Tripper 07/01/2019 at 16:31

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First thing I do is check the dealer’s inventory online to confirm the kind of car I want is actually there. I never set foot in a dealership hoping but not knowing for sure they have what I want.

I try to avoid peak busy times in general but especially if I’m in the early stages of shopping. I’m not buying a car right then so I don’t want to take the sales person away from the opportunity to sell someone else a car.

If I’m serious I try to set appointments ahead of time so that I can just walk in and hopefully speed up the process. But if I just am curious about a car I might pop in a dealership during a slow time and hope for the best, still knowing for sure that they have what I want.

For the drive itself I try to scout, mentally or on a map, the area around the dealer for the roads I’d like to try. If I have the sales person with me I ask/ tell them before I attempt anything aggressive so they’re not surprised.

Sometimes I know ahead of time that I’m very likely going to buy the car I’m looking at, in that case I do a pretty thorough appraisal of anything and everything because I’m already planning to leave with the car and want to confirm my choice. But if I’m researching, I never buy a car on the spot.

WilliamsSW > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 07/01/2019 at 16:44

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Lol reading is fundamental.

Automatics can be amazing in sport mode - the ZF 8 speed is brilliant.

But it’s still nice to put it in whatever gear you want. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > WilliamsSW 07/01/2019 at 16:50

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I was driving my niece to camp last night in my truck.

She asked me why I had to shift the gears myself.

I attempted an explanation, but I’m not sure how convinced she was - ha !

Thankfully my kids seem to be looking forward to learning how to drive a manual like their dear old dad.

Tripper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 07/01/2019 at 16:55

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Great call. I won’t mind “beating” this car a little because even if I do buy, it won’t be that one.;)

Stereo is a non issue. Audio will get upgraded regardless, if I get one that comes without Apple CarPlay I’ll be replacing the deck too. That’s one of the other things I hate about when the salesman tags along...Always pointing out all of the “features”.

I would have completely neglected the A/C, thanks as that is a big deal for me (In my cars that have it). I love they way you don’t “feel” it in pretty much every German car I have ever driven.

I was might rip it around our work parking lot:) we own the building so I’m allowed haha.

Tripper > Textured Soy Protein 07/01/2019 at 17:00

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I’ve got an appointment. I won’t do it any other way. The dealer is in an area I’ve known all my life so I’ve got most of the boxes ticked there. Just hoping I can find a way for him not to tag along.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper 07/01/2019 at 17:01

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Just let it warm up first - haha! You can do all this stuff without doing any damage at all, but yeah, if the salesman’s in the car with you, a little lighter touch, I guess.

Bring some cones and set up a little autox course? =)

Tripper > Ash78, voting early and often 07/01/2019 at 17:06

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Hah, that is a bummer on the warranty! I’m actually down with a tight cockpit, my mom’s 19' GTI felt huge inside. However the wagon might be a little more cramped.

I see that APR “warranties” that 230hp tune if you pay $1000 for it...via APR plus. Everything that I have read says that you’ll need a clutch in the near future after that tune. So that’s more like $3k to do it right which isn’t out of the question but isn’t something I’d do right away and would want clarification on APRs warranty. Knowing that VW will tell me to cram it straight up ma cornhole if anything breaks.

Tripper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 07/01/2019 at 17:15

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Just bring it back with 40% of the tread left, haha.

Ash78, voting early and often > Tripper 07/01/2019 at 17:17

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Yep...technically you can “hide” the APR tune before taking it into the shop and it’s invisible. I knew a lot of people with the “old 1.8t” (also rated at 150-170) who pushed 230-250 for many years without issue. Stock internals, maybe a CAI and exhaust.

Both trannies should be able to handle close to 400hp but they may not be overengineering them like they used to.

I prefer to keep things stock and I’m mostly just bummed they didn’t put the 2.0t in the wagon like they used to do for the Jetta Sportwagen (FWD). Lots of potential there, but VW is much more careful these days about cannibalizing GTI sales or...heaven forbid...having people cross-shop them with Audi.

It’s a great car, for sure. I’m just trying to guess what I’m going to want 10 years from now, since I plan to keep it a long time.

Ash78, voting early and often > Tripper 07/01/2019 at 17:21

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One other thing is that my local dealer has a silver one and a red one (both “S” models) sitting on the lot for under $25k...sticker! That’s a pretty good value for that much warranty.

Very tempting, but the wife hates them. And she’ll be driving it quite a bit, too. Once bitten, twice shy with VW I suppose. Not a fair assess ment to use your experience with a 17-year-old car to judge today’s vehicles, but that’s how people are.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper 07/01/2019 at 17:29

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Just breaking them in for the eventual owner! 

Under_Score > Tripper 07/01/2019 at 19:18

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I wanted to go to the Ford dealer and drive a Ranger. My friend was telling me that he’d have to get the manager out, etc. to talk to me. Oof.

The Nissan dealer by school has always been pleasant for test drives. They know I have no interest in buying right now, but they’re glad to let me get behind the wheel of a random car.  I went on a ten mile drive with an older sales guy in a Frontier SV with that package (heated seats & fogs), and we just talked about the area, cars, etc. It was a good experience. I thought you had to have a guy with you so they don’t let you run off with the car?