| The test drive is one of the most important steps | | | | without the car pulling to one side at both low and high |
| when buying used cars. Every car will have its own | | | | speeds. Check the alignment while cruising on the |
| quirks and not all miles on the odometer are equal. | | | | highway, and listen for transmission noises on tight |
| Even the same make and model with identical miles | | | | turns at low speeds. Overall, the vehicle should be |
| will not operate the same. | | | | responsive and easy to control. |
| Let's take a look at 5 essential tips for the test drive to | | | | Under The Hood And On The Dash |
| make sure there is no buyer remorse. | | | | At the end of the test drive, don't turn the engine off. |
| The Inspection | | | | Pop open the hood and look for obvious problems. |
| With a particular make and model of car, truck, or | | | | Leaks and smoke are easy to spot and both are a |
| SUV in mind, the first step is a thorough visual | | | | huge red flag. Turn on the air conditioner and heater to |
| inspection. In this case, it is not required to have a | | | | test the electrical system and compressor. Enable all |
| mechanic look over a vehicle. Shoppers are looking for | | | | of the vital accessories, from windshield wipers to |
| signs of recent body work or subtle differences in | | | | headlight and parking lights. Set the parking brake and |
| color tone that could indicate prior repairs. Open and | | | | make sure it holds with the engine in neutral. |
| close all the doors, the hood, and the trunk to make | | | | Many people miss these little things, but they will all |
| sure everything lines up properly. Take a look at the | | | | cause a car to fail state inspection. |
| tires for wear and feel the hood of the car; if it is | | | | Do It All Again |
| warm, then it might have been warmed up to help it | | | | When at the auto dealer, take two test drives of the |
| start better just for the test drive. | | | | same make and model. This test will highlight any |
| Starting The Engine | | | | differences between how the vehicles have been |
| The engine is the heart of any vehicle, so being critical | | | | used, since all the parts should be equal otherwise. |
| of its performance is a good idea. During start-up, look | | | | In order to get the best value from a used car, the test |
| for smoke from the tailpipe and listen to make sure the | | | | drive is vital. When on the road, keep the radio off and |
| engine cranks smoothly. Problems during ignition will | | | | focus on how the car feels and sounds. Don't be |
| usually cause long term damage to engine; avoid this | | | | afraid to test many different vehicles between |
| type of problem in a used car like the plague. | | | | different auto dealers. Before signing the title, getting |
| Cruising | | | | the opinion of a licensed mechanic is always worth the |
| A smooth ride with easy gear shifts is a sign of a | | | | inspection fee. In the end, making the right decision is all |
| good used car. Braking should be even and consistent | | | | that matters. |