Test drive tips?
Discussion
Haven’t found anything really under the search function so I’m asking.
Considering going to test a few replacement car options over the next 2 days.
Cars are as follows for info –
07 Ford Focus TDI (The sensible commuter option)
04 Impreza WRX (The ‘want one’ option, if she's happy driving one it could be the option)
04 LR Freelander TD4 (The all-rounder)
Besides the usual tips of parking, seat/steering wheel adjustment etc and trying to get a mixture of motorway/DC speed driving with a mix of town/traffic driving to see how the cars behave under both conditions, is there any other tips to help identify potential faults with the cars. Obviously taking the freelander and STI off road for a test isn’t an option.
I’ve always heard that allowing half hour to an hour with the car is sufficient.
I’m looking into specific items to look at with the Impreza from the web, but any other advice is appreciated.
Never had a Diesel car before so pretty much have no clue what to look for!? Of the ones I see on the road, thick black smoke under acceleration seems the norm.
again any advice for things to look for are appreciated.
Have googled test drive tips, but mostly they are generic, and not that much more help than I already know
Cheers
Considering going to test a few replacement car options over the next 2 days.
Cars are as follows for info –
07 Ford Focus TDI (The sensible commuter option)
04 Impreza WRX (The ‘want one’ option, if she's happy driving one it could be the option)
04 LR Freelander TD4 (The all-rounder)
Besides the usual tips of parking, seat/steering wheel adjustment etc and trying to get a mixture of motorway/DC speed driving with a mix of town/traffic driving to see how the cars behave under both conditions, is there any other tips to help identify potential faults with the cars. Obviously taking the freelander and STI off road for a test isn’t an option.
I’ve always heard that allowing half hour to an hour with the car is sufficient.
I’m looking into specific items to look at with the Impreza from the web, but any other advice is appreciated.
Never had a Diesel car before so pretty much have no clue what to look for!? Of the ones I see on the road, thick black smoke under acceleration seems the norm.
again any advice for things to look for are appreciated.Have googled test drive tips, but mostly they are generic, and not that much more help than I already know
Cheers
I always take my hands (lightly) lightly off the wheel and see if the wheel pulls in any direction whilst driving and again under braking. I also do the test of the clutch - so park up, handbrake on, put it in first and begin to lift the clutch.. see if the clutch slips (bad) or the clutch bites and the car stalls..
Test all electrical items out (windows, sunroofs, door locks) and have a poke under the bonnet for leaks and so forth, see what sort of condition the radiator and pipe work is in, check for mayo under the oil filler cap, check the condition of the coolant... if you can see through the alloys check how much meat is left on the brake pads and what shape the disks are in, check for uneven wear on tyres....
There's some simple checks that'll only take you a few minutes
Test all electrical items out (windows, sunroofs, door locks) and have a poke under the bonnet for leaks and so forth, see what sort of condition the radiator and pipe work is in, check for mayo under the oil filler cap, check the condition of the coolant... if you can see through the alloys check how much meat is left on the brake pads and what shape the disks are in, check for uneven wear on tyres....
There's some simple checks that'll only take you a few minutes
04 Impreza WRX (The ‘want one’ option, if she's happy driving one it could be the option)
Loads of these about so if the other half gives the thumbsup make sure you get a good one with full service history. Check tyres are matched correctly on both axles and across each axle and use approach mentioned above re clutch slip and misaligned wheels. Speak to your insurance company before you part with your money as they might not like the car and tell them of EVERY modification made to it from standard if it has any.
04 LR Freelander TD4 (The all-rounder)
These are notoriously unreliable and had a multitude of faults that were not ironed out until the Freelander 2 was launched, which was in effect a completely new car from the ground up. Pop a post in the LR section here for more information.
The Focus is the sensible option and should get you from A to B with minimal fuss and cost if you buy wisely.............but the Scooby is the better all round car IMHO
I had two and neither ever let me down and both could get me plus 3 mates and 4 large golf bags in the boot and still show a clean pair of heels to most things
Loads of these about so if the other half gives the thumbsup make sure you get a good one with full service history. Check tyres are matched correctly on both axles and across each axle and use approach mentioned above re clutch slip and misaligned wheels. Speak to your insurance company before you part with your money as they might not like the car and tell them of EVERY modification made to it from standard if it has any.
04 LR Freelander TD4 (The all-rounder)
These are notoriously unreliable and had a multitude of faults that were not ironed out until the Freelander 2 was launched, which was in effect a completely new car from the ground up. Pop a post in the LR section here for more information.
The Focus is the sensible option and should get you from A to B with minimal fuss and cost if you buy wisely.............but the Scooby is the better all round car IMHO
I had two and neither ever let me down and both could get me plus 3 mates and 4 large golf bags in the boot and still show a clean pair of heels to most things IF manuals, especially the 2 TDIs. Put it in top gear and boot it from low revs. Will show up if the clutch is slipping. An unhappy juddery noise that goes away when the clutch is down could be DMF. If an auto box, make sure if runs through all the gears.
Don't buy a Freelander mk1. From when my dad used to be in a shared Volvo/Land Rover workshop, the Freelanders needed fixing. A lot.
Don't buy a Freelander mk1. From when my dad used to be in a shared Volvo/Land Rover workshop, the Freelanders needed fixing. A lot.
Some of the comments about the Freelanders are possibly a little harsh. There is a view that the later Mk1 Freelanders were much better, the Td4s in particular. There were a number of well known problems with the 1.8s, primarily overheating/headgasket issues, but even much of that either has been sorted now, or can be, with different materials. Personally, I still wouldn't have a 1.8, but that's just my view.
However, you are talking about a TD4, which is a completely different thing.
Do some research on IRD (intermediate reduction drive), viscous couplings etc.. It is important that tyres are properly matched and that the larger rolling circumference tyres are always on the rear (be aware that different makes, even same nominal size, can have different rolling circumference). If it's wrong it messes up the IRD.
Unusual tyre wear patterns can be a pointer (one problem if all new tyres have been fitted - you can't see whether any driveline or alignment issues etc.). Is that why the tyres were fitted just before sale??
Check that there is actually a propshaft fitted to the rear. It's not unknown for the rear propshaft to be removed (and a blanking plate fitted) if there is a transmission problem, effectively meaning the car is permanently 2 wheel drive.
Have a look at http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/, may well be more on there.
However, you are talking about a TD4, which is a completely different thing.
Do some research on IRD (intermediate reduction drive), viscous couplings etc.. It is important that tyres are properly matched and that the larger rolling circumference tyres are always on the rear (be aware that different makes, even same nominal size, can have different rolling circumference). If it's wrong it messes up the IRD.
Unusual tyre wear patterns can be a pointer (one problem if all new tyres have been fitted - you can't see whether any driveline or alignment issues etc.). Is that why the tyres were fitted just before sale??
Check that there is actually a propshaft fitted to the rear. It's not unknown for the rear propshaft to be removed (and a blanking plate fitted) if there is a transmission problem, effectively meaning the car is permanently 2 wheel drive.
Have a look at http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/, may well be more on there.
I remember being told that you can check the condition of a turbo by leaving the car to idle for 5-10 minutes then giving it full throttle up to high revs while still parked. If you see a cloud of blue smoke then the turbo's oil seals are on their way out.
Checking the clutch by trying to pull away with the handbrake on isn't always a good test, it won't work if the handbrake is fairly weak (like on my car
)
Checking the clutch by trying to pull away with the handbrake on isn't always a good test, it won't work if the handbrake is fairly weak (like on my car
)Cheers for all the advice!
Tested the Impreza yesterday, I loved it, unfortunately the mrs didn't
she said she wouldn't feel safe driving it 
The focus diesel was just another car so nothing special tbh, and the freelander wasn't much different, and can't say I was fussed with the lofty driving position either!
Thinking I may have to change my options for other motors before deciding.
Cheers again
Tested the Impreza yesterday, I loved it, unfortunately the mrs didn't
she said she wouldn't feel safe driving it The focus diesel was just another car so nothing special tbh, and the freelander wasn't much different, and can't say I was fussed with the lofty driving position either!
Thinking I may have to change my options for other motors before deciding.
Cheers again
deltashad said:
You could always change the wife.
i've considered that 
but she's a rare model and i'd like to keep hold of her 
Jaguar steve said:
Drive your current car over exactly the same route as you took on the test drive in the potential new one as soon as you can.
thats the route i took tbh. didnt travel miles to test it, was fairly local and i'm familiar with the roads TankRS said:
unfortunately the mrs didn't she said she wouldn't feel safe driving it
Not sure of your budget or what your wife is expecting but perhaps something like this might hit the spot? she said she wouldn't feel safe driving it http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3832960.htm
They can easily be tuned to higher BHP but also remain a bit of a sleeper in standard body and wheel guise.
TankRS said:
Tested the Impreza yesterday, I loved it, unfortunately the mrs didn't she said she wouldn't feel safe driving it
Shame. Mine drove both my WRX PPP and 350 bhp STi for a good few years to school (teacher). However, she did nearly crash when then STi came on boost whilst she was overtaking a bus once. she said she wouldn't feel safe driving it Given the AWD etc, they are actually very sure footed.
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