What to do on a test drive

A test drive around the block tells you almost nothing (sample guide).

Start the car cold if you can, and watch the warning lights go out. Drive in town, on the highway and up a hill; brake firmly once on a quiet straight road and feel whether the car pulls.

Turn the radio off and listen over bumps and at full lock in a parking lot. Try every window, the air conditioning and the heated seats. Then compare what you noticed with the car’s walkaround sheet.