How to choose a car when you can't test drive it?

Spirit_2

Over the last year I have aquired some disabilities. My Licence is suspended but in process to be reinstated with restrictions, i.e. Automatic and adaptations.


I have a driving assessment on Monday and want to buy a new car and get the modifications done as quicky as possible.

How can I choose a car when I am unable to test drive? Initially I will just be grateful to be independent and get around locally but expect my wants will increase quite quickly.

I hope to buy a low mileage automatic from a main dealer.

Please let me have your advice on how I get thhe best assurance about the quality of the drive and 'feel' without driving it?

Ash_McCloud

Take someone whose opinion you trust and value.

BeenThroughItAll

If you had a car you liked before, could you not just buy one of those in an auto variant and have it adapted?

dannyrst

You can usually read reviews to get an idea of how cars drive and whilst they are subjective to the person reviewing, if you read 8/10 reviews that say the ride is firm, you can probably make the assumption that it is reasonably firm.

DigForVictory

+1 for take someone else. Ideally with a solid car mechanical background, but failing that whomever's car you have been most comfortable in being given a lift?
All being well, you can thank your Vizier of Vehicles in a few hundred miles time!

Crag30

Previous experience has taught me not to buy a car without a test drive.
I bought from a car supermarket where the cars were so closely packed you couldn't test drive even when I requested.
You can't base your purchase on reviews or being in a friends car as there's always one or two bad ones in a batch.
By all means get a friend to do a test drive.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Is there not a forum for disabled drivers?, maybe a sub section of a forum for people affected by various disabilities.
I would think there's loads of advice out there somewhere.

Other than that, as the sensible poster above says, take someone whom you know and trust their judgement to test drive and accompany them on any test drives so you can hear as it happens their commentary and see for your self.

Someone who isn't afraid to tell the sales bod that they are going your own test route involving the sort of motoring you do, including parking, hill starts, over speed humps etc all the things you'll do with the car yourself, checking door openings, access, controls, boot access, things that you might find more difficult as time goes by.

sales people have their own preferred routes to show the car off at its best, and to hide deficiencies such as below...

Its the gearbox that going to be the main source of problems IMHO, far in excess of all else.

I strongly suggest you avoid automated manual (often used in Pug/Citroen, sadly even their otherwise superb Berlingo variants, but others too) and twin clutch gearboxes (such as DSG in VW emission specials and some Fords), these boxes do not have the fine clutch engagement, junction and maneuvering control that you will find in almost all Torque Converter (traditional) and the latest modern CVT boxes.

Torque converter boxes will be found in almost all Korean automatics, and almost all of the better executive cars such as proper Mercedes, they are usually extremely reliable for many years.

Modern CVT boxes are also reliable enough if you avoid German offerings, Toyota have an excellent box used in nearly all their cars now (except Aygo which i believe still has an automated manual, avoid if so), as do Honda in the latest and recent Honda Jazz.

You want smooth light accelerator and brake, if its awkward with feet, it won't improve if hand controls are to be fitted, some cars have a foot operated parking brake (Toyota's Prius for example), some cars indicators are simply horrid things clicking one way then the other instead of either on or off, again if you've got your hands full with hand controls, you don't need an idiot design such as Vauxhall used for many years, and i believe some BMW's are similar.

Korean cars tend to be pretty simple reliable and almost all have the TC gearbox of ease, long warranties too Kia/Hyundai), i'd be very inclined to start there if i were you to get the feel for TC autos if nothing else.

Spirit_2

Ash_McCloud wrote: »

Take someone whose opinion you trust and value.

My husband will come with me, He is 6'2" tall I am barely 5', he is fit and able, I am weak on my left side, and have limited movement. We have always had different preferences in cars and he may be able to guesstimate what it will feel like for me. He has a lifelong interest in cars so despite no longer maintaining our own cars/ restoring classics I trust him on quality/ vfm stuff.

Spirit_2

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

If you had a car you liked before, could you not just buy one of those in an auto variant and have it adapted?

this would be ideal.
I have just sold my automatic three year old BMW to my daughter as it is so unsuitable for me now. I had kept it SORN for the last year as I thought I would recover enough to just have the controls adapted.
Some features I thought good have turned out to be unworkable e.g push button start, My arm will not go straight enough to reach easily and then when I do get there , there is not enough power in my fingers to depress the button.

Where I have changed so much, what I have previously had no longer fits.

Amy.B_3

Tricky situation. Yeah definitely discuss with family and friends, do your research and scan the web for reviews and user reviews. Read as many as you can!

Plus it's probably a good idea to check a few buyers guides to find out what to look out for and what to be wary of

Spirit_2

Thanks everyone. your replies have stimulated a light bulb moment. I need to rely on reviews as suggested and take two people with me to test drive. husband to assure a sound vehicle and someone smaller to try out driving position.