Very few people trust anyone selling a used car. "Buyer beware" is the catchphrase used often regarding used cars. These vehicles are always sold "as is." Generally, they come with no warranty or one that is extremely limited. The key to buying a used car is a test drive that reveals as many flaws as possible. This way, you have an idea of what expenses will be hitting your pocketbook shortly after the purchase. Check for the rebound on the shocks and struts. Good control on the road is due to a sound suspension. The main players in stabilizing your car are the shocks and struts. While there is no perfect way of knowing their long-term performance, you can try bouncing the car on each corner by pushing down on the body. Give several good pumps on each corner. If the car bounces rather than just coming back to the original point, it probably has weak shocks and struts. Depending on the size and type of car, this repair can cost into the hundreds of dollars. Open and close every door or cover. All of the doors should open easily and glide on the hinges. Lots of squeaks and noise may mean it needs lubrication, but it can indicate failing hinges. Make sure that the doors shut as easily as they open. Sagging hinges will cause you to have to slam the doors and often more than once to fasten them. The hood and trunk should open and close easily. Check the gas tank door and glove box for ease of use. On vans, check under seat drawers and the slides on the side doors. Make sure that all props, braces, and struts are in place. These struts are the braces that hold up the hood, trunk, or a rear hatch on a van. Inspect the interior of the car in full daylight. Look for stains, tears, burns, rips, and wear. This inspection includes the seats, dash, and floor mats. It is also a good idea to look for differences in the texture or color of the exterior paint. This will indicate previous body work. You should also compare the paint color of the body to the color inside the edges of the doors and under the hood and trunk. This also can mean previous body work from an accident. Listen to the car idle. You need to hear the car idle from inside the car, outside the car, and outside with the hood up. Listen for repetitive squeaks or other noises. Ask the owner or dealer to identify the source of these sounds. You also should listen for lots of clicking sounds that indicate lifter problems or oil pressure issues. Look for fluid leaks on the engine, under the car, and on the ground. Identify the source and type of leak if one is found before moving forward with the purchase. Pay attention to the transmission. Inside the car with the engine running, put the automatic transmission into reverse and each other gear one at a time. Go from park to the various gears. Listen for clunking sounds that mean play in the transmission and/or linkage. Drive the car by accelerating at a slow steady pace. Notice if the car shifts smoothly or if it seems to slip or clunk at the shifting points. Smooth and almost unnoticeable is what you want. For stick shifts, you need a clutch that engages smoothly without an obvious slip. Stand outside the car while someone drives it. You need to listen for any types of noises coming from the wheels or axels. Have the car driven slowly toward you and slowly away from you. Watch the tires for wobble. This can mean a problem with the front end or rear end parts. It might also signal a bent wheel. If the car seems to lean or tilt to one side either from top to bottom or front to back, have the springs and suspension checked. Have any noises investigated. Find a level road to test the alignment. Drive the car at an even speed either down a straight street or along a straight stretch of highway. Relax your grip on the steering wheel without removing your hands. The car should track down the lane without veering to one side. If it veers, you need to have the tire pressure checked. If the pressure is good, the front end alignment may have issues. Since this can cost you a couple of hundred dollars or more to fix, have it checked out before making the purchase. Try braking at various speeds. You are looking for brakes that seem to lope or have uneven braking at low speeds. Do not stomp on the brakes. Push on the pedal firmly and evenly. Anything other than a smooth stop is not acceptable. At highway speeds, the brakes should not hesitate or shudder when applied. The pedal should also be firm and engage the brakes within an inch of the top of the pedal. Test drive at city speeds and highway speeds. This is really just a way to see if you like the way the car feels going down the road at various speeds. It should not shake or vibrate. These can signal problems with the suspension, tire inflation, tire balance, tire integrity or various bearings in the drive train or on the axels. Do not assume these will improve. Have them checked. Watch for signals of potential bank account breaking repairs. Rust, electrical problems, air conditioning issues, or broken glass can all set you back huge sums of money. Any signs of overheating have to be considered a major red flag. Look for any dash lights that are lit up indicating problems. If there is an oil pressure gauge, make sure it is in the normal range. If the car runs rough, have it corrected before you buy it. It is critical that you know what you are buying unless you are a professional at rebuilding, repairing and restoring cars
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:37:16 +0000
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