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One of the things that continues to amaze me is the lack of attention that some people pay to the new car they are about to order. Some of this is actually caused by me and my colleagues by occasionally coming up with a deal that you can’t refuse, making the decision a bit of a no brainer but it is still a good idea to get a test drive of a car that you are likely to order. It is also important to check for certain items that for you may be essential. For example if you have a baby or young children you should check that the car has ISOFIX fittings for secure fitting of a baby/child seat. Whilst the advice I’m giving you here is good if you’re thinking of taking a new car from me it’s also good advice if you’re buying a used car to make sure that it fits the bill. All cars come with ABS and I don’t know of any that don’t have power steering but if you are buying used this might be something that you would like to check, especially if you have a bad back, PAS would be essential, as would having lumbar support as well as a fully adjustable drivers seat and an adjustable steering wheel. The driving position is critical if you travel many miles at a time or regularly, some cars seem to have a slightly offset angle between the direction of the seat and the steering wheel. There is also nothing worse than not being able to see the dials or use other controls comfortably. Visibility is also a big factor, especially with the daft way that car designers seem to be currently reducing windows to a slit. I remember this being a major problems with the original Renault Megane which drivers only found out about after taking delivery of their new car. It’s always useful to have a ‘must have’ and ‘would like to have’ list to check off against the spec. Hand held sat navs can be bought for not much more than a packet of cigarettes these days but factory fitted units can still cost well over £1,000, so unless it is absolutely essential and you can justify the £35 – £70 per month extra, or it is included in the standard spec. I would nip down to Halfords or Argos and buy a hand held jobee. If you are buying used or you are paying for the servicing costs yourself you need to check service intervals and check the cost of the different services. Also check the cost of an extended warranty. Other essential checks are ease of access, especially if you are taking a 3dr car or you are going to carry infirmed passengers. Oh and make sure that you have enough headroom, you don’t want to be driving with your head touching the ceiling. On the other hand you don’t want to drive a car with no seat height adjustment and end up looking through the steering wheel in order to see out of the front window. You may also like to consider the car’s green credentials and other running costs. If you prefer a comfy ride you probably wouldn’t want a German car, more likely a French car. Boot space, and height of the boot could be important if you regularly carry loads of ‘stuff.’ I hope I’ve given you enough to get you thinking seriously about what is important to you when changing your car. Make a list if necessary, then check the items off and make sure you go for a test drive. Don’t forget that most diesels now have a turbo which gives turbo lag, this can take some getting used to so check that out. Finally don’t forget the colour! That is so hugely disappointing when the car turns up, believing that a colour described as say ‘Evening Red’ is not the burgundy you thought it would be but bright pillar box red! Had any bad experiences – let me know! By Graham Hill