Curious to know if anyone uses a methodical and structured way to perform a test drive. Or, do you just drive it around the blocks a few times and onto the motorway and back home?

 

Anything specific to look for when testing a Superb?

This is what I looked for:

• placement of hazard lamps button (should not be cluttered with other buttons so you can press it without looking)
• haptic access to turn signaling (the lever/handle should remain in position - this is where BMW completely fails, and then people wonder why BMW drivers don't use turn signals ...)
• haptic access to climate controls (again, can you use them without looking?)
• steering wheel and seat adjustments (also, can you easily get in/out without hitting your knees?)
• storage areas (should have something just for glasses, glove compartment etc)
• check if the engine has manageable turbo lag (and/or if gearbox is responsive enough)
• brake check (you wanna know how good the brakes are, but ask for permission before brutalizing the car of course :))
• check how bad is body roll (if it leans in corners etc)
• if you got kits you probably wanna check if you can fit the usual stuff in the trunk
• make sure trunk door opens above your head, and that there are no sharp parts (eg: Volvo is terrible here - cars are made for midgets wearing helmets or something)
• if you like metal pedals check it - also, check that you have footrest with plastic/metal cover otherwise you'll have a always dirty and always hard to clean area
• check that storage area around gear stick ain't stupid - eg: put a bottle in the bottle storage - does it get in the way of the stick or not?
• check that important switches like sports/esp-off mode are not cluttered with other stuff  - you don't wanna press those by accident
• check that light horn lever can't switch high beam on by misapplication of force (eg: Fiat has the most stupid lever design in this regard)

 

Just make a checklist with what's important to you and take notes. There is lot more to check if car ain't new.

Edited 9 March, 20179 yr by ionelmc

Well, it's sort of hard to add to what ionelmc just, um, typed. I sort of did all that without a check list, though. You'll know if the car feels comfortable or not, and what your requirements are re: kids, luggage space, etc.

 

I had two drives: the first with the salesman around the block. Still, I got a good feel for the stop/start (excellent) and the relative size of the car in traffic.

 

The second drive was by myself and I drove it to the motorway via some back roads. Uphill and downhill, lots of curves and narrow roads with no soft shoulders. Did I feel confident at legal speeds? Yes. Checked out the manual aspect of the DSG trannie. Very nice, indeed. And, now, I've learned the word "haptic". Good one. And the Sportline controls were very haptic. Well, maybe except the cruise control, but I don't use that much.

 

Parallel park it! Has it got a rear view camera? Do you need one? It's a big car. Have you ever had a flat? Do you need a spare? When it rains, do you need a rear wiper? I do. I can tell you, everything is in reach and haptic with it. IOW, you know where it is without looking.

 

Do you care about after sales service? I went to two Alfa Romeo dealerships and one Škoda dealership. It's pretty much why I bought a Škoda.

Ah yes, the services, also important. Can't hurt to ask owners at traffic stops in your area what they think about the service/car - you can be pretty sure people will voice their grievances if there's someone that will listen

 

Another interesting thing about the manual mode (not that I need to use it ever) is that on Skoda it keeps the engine at redline unless you shift, while on Audi it automatically upshifts, at least on the A4 (it works like the S mode on Skoda lol, while the S mode on Audi is well ... useless).

Book enough time to travel to, and then on the types of roads you usually drive on.   Worth testing the car in the same environment where it's going to spend most of it's time.  

 

I booked 2 hrs and basically done the majority of my commute home from work detouring on to some B roads to make sure the Superb didn't handle and roll like a cargo ship.

 

The Superb being a big car I also pulled in to a car park and checked visibility, parking and general maneuvering.  I also realised I didn't need to go for a rear view camera as rear sensors and mirrors were more than adequate. 

 

If you have bikes, play golf, go fishing, etc then take your kit to the dealers and try loading the boot.  

 

Fundamentally, try and replicate scenarios/travel that you do in your everyday life.  

 

 

7 hours ago, penguin17 said:

Book enough time to travel to, and then on the types of roads you usually drive on.   Worth testing the car in the same environment where it's going to spend most of it's time.  

 

+1, this is probably the most important thingg IMO