Drivability basically means a vehicle's ability to drive. Opinions might vary as to which vehicles drive better, but there are condition checklists that help technicians to converge their opinions. Here are some of the things on that list:
Will The Vehicle Turn Over With The Key?
When you turn the key in the vehicle, does it start? If there is no response, that's a no-crank. On the way to starting, some of the functions, like the radio, the heat and air, and other such things should startup. If that doesn't occur, it could be because of a dead battery or other such things.
Does The Engine Stall Or Die After Starting?
Once the engine starts, that's a good first step, but will it stay running smoothly? If it stalls out or dies, that doesn't make the vehicle as drivable as it would if the engine runs smoothly. Some of the issues of stalling out could be addressed through maintenance. If there are bigger problems, the vehicle would not be very drivable.
Does The Vehicle Stop Without Dying
The brakes are a very important part of any vehicle and if you can stop smoothly, that's good to know. But you also want the vehicle to continue running when you bring it to a stop. If it doesn't, there might be some things you need to address before it is fully drivable.
How Does It Drive At Full Speed?
You aren't always going to drive super slow and you need to know what the vehicle will do when you get up to speed, like on the interstate. If the car vibrates or shakes, that could be a sign of certain things going wrong and that won't make it nearly as comfortable to drive. It may not be as reliable, either.
If you want to know how drivable your current vehicle is, or how drivable a vehicle you are considering buying is before you make the purchase, give our auto repair shop a call and we can go through the diagnostics and give you a full report on your vehicle's drivability.