One Stop Motors

The most important element to buying a used car is also the fundamental function of an automobile.  What is that, you ask?  How does it drive?  Test driving a car should always be done before buying it.  Let me repeat.  Always test drive before you buy!  Those who do not are setting themselves up to be marks for scammers, grifters, and con-men looking to turn a trick into a profit and a purchaser into a car-less, money-less fool.  Now that I’ve made that clear, you should understand how to buy a car before you just show up at a house and ask for a test drive.  For that, OSM’s Buyer’s Checklist can be found here.  If you’ve done all of that already, then you need to know why and how to test drive a car before you make an offer.  Here’s our checklist. 

1.) Aesthetics

The aesthetics of a car or in layman’s terms, the look of a car is important not only for your personal preference, but also in determining the condition of a car.  Since buying used is like buying a hand-me-down, you can always tell how a car will run based on how it looks from the external and internal upkeep of it.  A car body covered in rust and dents is far more likely to be a waste of time than one that looks clean and unscathed.  Pictures only go so far, but seeing the vehicle up close gives the buyer a chance to make a personal evaluation of the car’s condition.  Here is a list of questions to answer for the aesthetics of a car’s interior and exterior.

Exterior

• Are their visible signs of scratches, dents, rust or paint discoloration/chipped?  Y_ N_
• Are their cracks, chips, or scrapes in the windshield? Y_ N_
• Does the car appear to be balanced properly?  Y_ N_
• Are there fluid leaks (not water from AC) or puddles pooling underneath the car?  Y_ N_
• Does the hood, trunk and doors all open properly? Y_ N_
• Is anything hanging or displaced (bumper, mirror, ect.)? Y_ N_
• Are the break pads old and rusted? Y_ N_
• Is there tread on the tires? Y_ N_

(This last one can be skipped if planning to get new tires)

Interior

• Are the seats, rugs and upholstery ripped or stained? Y_ N_
• Do all the seat belts work properly? Y_ N_
• Do all the doors lock properly? Y_ N_
• Can you operate all the windows properly? Y_ N_
• Check all buttons and power option items.  Do they function? Y_ N_
• What about signals, wipers and four-ways? Y_ N_
• Do the radio and speakers work? Y_ N_

2.) Mechanics

Once the car’s appearance and functionality has been assessed, it’s time to test the practicality of the ride.  The mechanics, how the car runs and the collective parts that attribute to this, needs to dire attention.  This is the whole reason for test drives, to actually test drive a car.  A car can look well maintained and healthy on the outside, but inside could be a disaster of faulty parts and problems.  Having a mechanic or car professional you can trust test drive a car before you buy it is the ideal way to protect yourself from fraud.  Not everyone has that kind of asset, however, so below is a list of things to keep your eyes and ears tuned to while taking a used car for a ride.  Be sure to find a safe and remote place to conduct your driving experiment.  Remember, this section is the crucial factor between making a good buy and making a huge mistake.

While Parked

• Does the car start smoothly when you turn the key in the ignition? Y_ N_
• Tap the gas pedal, does the engine respond fluently?  Y_ N_
• Any irregular or discolored (blue, black, or white) smoke coming from exhaust? Y_ N_
• Without pressing pedal, does the engine sound quiet and controlled?  Y_ N_
• Can you hear any rattling, chugging, grinding or other abnormal sounds?  Y_ N_
• Are the gauges working properly? Y_ N_
• Do all the head and brake lights work? Y_ N_
• How about the horn? Y_ N_
• Does the air conditioning and heat work once warmed up? Y_ N_

In Motion

• Does the car shift gears properly and without slipping, jumping or grinding? Y_ N_
• Are there any vibrations or hiccups in engine while accelerating? Y_ N_
• Look at gauges, is the car overheating? Y_ N_
• What about “Check Engine” or other service lights, do they come on while driving?  Y_ N_
• Are there inconsistencies in the car’s acceleration? Y_ N_
• Is the steering wheel responsive when turned? Y_ N_
• Tap the brakes, are they responsive and without vibrations or squealing? Y_ N_
• Carefully, come to a quick stop.  Do the brakes respond properly? Y_ N_
• Does the car shake or rock back and forth after? Y_ N_
• Does the engine stall while driving uphill? Y_ N_
• Does the emergency brake properly stop or hold vehicle on hill? Y_ N_
• Is there a delay between accelerating and the car’s response? Y_ N_
• Does the car make noise when you turn? Y_ N_
• Does the car vier or pull one way when driving strait? Y_ N_
• When you drive over a bump, do you hear rattling or squealing? Y_ N_
• Throughout all of this, do you smell smoke or burning from the engine? Y_ N_

Go through your list now and see how many of these questions were answered with a ‘yes’.  For the aesthetics, that is really up to the buyer, but if the mechanics is questionable, having an auto mechanic inspect the car before you buy has gone from a preference to a requirement.  Either that or consider shopping for something else.  In the end, buying a car is a big responsibility and an even bigger folly if done without the right research and inspection.  Be ready or buyer beware.

Tyler Baker; OSM Writer