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10 Steps
to Buy a Used Car |
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Step 6: Take It
For A Test Drive |
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And now it's time for what could possibly be the most important part of your
personal used car inspection—the test drive. Test drives are essential for a
variety of reasons but most importantly, they provide you with an immediate
analysis of the car's functionality, drive-ability and overall presence on the
road.
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Comfort: |
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Make sure the car fits you. Set the seat in a comfortable driving position and
attach the safety belt. Make sure that you're at least 10 inches away from the
steering wheel and that you can still fully depress all the pedals. Make sure
that you can reach all the controls without straining, that the controls are
easy to use, and that the displays are easy to see.
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Steering: |
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With the engine idling before you start your test drive, turn the steering
wheel right and left. You should feel almost no play in the wheel before the
tyres start to turn.
Once under way, the car should respond to the helm quickly and neatly, without
lots of steering-wheel motion. At normal speeds, the car should maintain course
without constant steering corrections.
If the wheel shakes at highway speed, suspect a problem with wheel balance or
the front-end alignment, which is easily fixed, or with the suspension, which
may not be. Likewise, if the car constantly drifts to one side, suspect that a
tyre is under inflated or that there is some suspension problem—something to
have a mechanic check.
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Engine and Transmission. |
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The engine should idle smoothly without clattering or metallic sounds, or sharp
hissing, in the engine compartment. Normal sound is smooth whirring of belts
and fan.
With a manual transmission, the clutch should fully engage well before you take
your foot all the way off the pedal. If there isn't at least an inch of play at
the top of the pedal's travel, the car may soon need a new clutch.
With an automatic transmission, don't confuse smoothness with slippage. When
you accelerate, there should be no appreciable hesitation between the engine's
acceleration and the car's. If there is, it's an almost sure sign of
transmission wear—and a costly fix down the road.
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Brakes: |
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Test the brakes on an empty stretch of road. From a speed of 30 kph, apply the
brakes hard. The car should stop straight and quickly, without pulling to one
side and without any vibration. The pedal feel should be smooth and linear, and
stopping the car shouldn't take a huge effort. If the car has antilock brakes,
you should feel them activate with a rapid pulsing underfoot when you push hard
on the brake. (It's easier to make the antilock braking system activate on a
stretch of wet road.)
Try two or three stops; the car should stop straight and easily each time. Then
pull into a safe area, stop, and step firmly on the brake pedal for 30 seconds.
If the pedal feels spongy or sinks to the floor, there may be a leak in the
brake system.
Look, listen, feel. At a steady speed on a smooth road, note any vibrations.
You shouldn't feel shuddering through the steering wheel, nor should the
dashboard shake or the image in your mirrors quiver noticeably.
We recommend to take the seller with you and ask questions when noises pop up.
Listen for noises, rattles, or grinding sounds. If you hear rattling in the
quarter panels, the car may have been in a wreck. If the car is a manual
transmission, see if the shifting is smooth. Ask the seller if the clutch has
been replaced, clutches fail after 4-5 years.
If the car fails on any of the above points, take it to a mechanic to evaluate
repairs. It is then your call whether you want to walk away or negotiate the
price based on the repair estimate.
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