Look Before You Leap
Looks may betray
Never go by the looks. A common myth is that a great looking car ought to be a good buy. The truth is that in most cases the car was done up to fool the prospective customer and such fast paint jobs will surface as rust spots and paint bubbles later on. If the car was done up just before the inspection, certain clues would be there to betray the truth. Reach out under the wheel arches of the car and look out for dirt accumulated over the years. Also check any place that is difficult to reach by hand easily, by driving the car over a service ramp. The glossy paint and turtle wax will in all probability be hiding rust eaten underpinnings or worse still a bent chassis itself. Worn out seats and a car floor that resembles a dirty beach are sure signs of continuos neglect from the previous owner which subsequently gets reflected in the overall condition of the vehicle too.
As a benchmark, a used car with original paint job is preferable over a repainted one.
Rust in peace?
Those living in coastal towns beware of rust. It is indeed the worst enemy of the car body and subsequent repairs can be expensive. Wheel arches, door sills and bumpers are the first to show signs of rust. Try and deduct the cost involved in doing the patch work from the quoted price. I If you see brand new carpeting, be a septic and lift it and check the car floor in all probability it was installed so that it hides a few holes on the floor.
Rubber wears
If the car sports bald tyres, try negotiating on the price a new set of tyres can set you back by 10 to 15 thousand; more if you go for radials.
Under the hood
A clean engine bay is a good sign. Check the oil level and the condition of the battery. The tell tale signs of a neglected car are corroded battery points and dark engine lube with a lot of carbon muck. Clean engine oil is vital for the longevity of any engine.
Suspension
Many prospective buyers of used cars push the car on its flanks to check the suspension system. Most are happy to see it bouncing up and down like a rubber ball. A fit suspension should never show unrestrained movement.
Crank her up
Time to crank the car to life. A good car starts up in one go. But dont be prejudiced little electrical problems wont really cause a hole in the pocket and may very well be the root cause of the car not firing in one go. If your would-be set of wheels are powered by diesel, you might as well be aware that the clatter that you are sure to hear just after starting up is generic to diesel engines.
Never buy a used car without driving it. Insist on a test drive, however short it may be. This brief driving session with you behind the wheel might reveal that the car or the model that you always wanted to own does not suit your driving style. I have seen people cursing the performance, the driving position etc. after they have dolled out the cash. Take it easy, you may find another make or model that is tailor-made for you. If you are convinced that you can be comfortable on the long run, go ahead and proceed. The same applies to those who are driving diesel engine cars after long stints with gasoline powered ones.
Free of friction
Engine and the transmission are the core components in any automobile. Be finicky here and get the engine analysed in a reputed garage and dont hesitate to pay for it. A good garage will give a print out on the performance of each cylinder, the out put registered and may even have it compared with the original specification.
However some checks dont require a fully equipped garage. The condition of the gear box starts depreciating the day the car rolls out of the plant. Friction is its main enemy and there is little one can do about it. More than a soft and silky feel mostly due to worn out gear wheels check whether the gears engage in a reassuring manner. Beware if the gear lever tends to jump out of the selected gear since the transmission may need an expensive overhaul.
Hit the brakes
Once you get the feel of the brakes, bring the car to a good speed and slam the brakes. (When doing so, wear the seat belts and ensure that theres no vehicle behind you.) If the vehicle sways to any side, the brake shoes at any of the four ends are jammed or the hydraulic system has a fault or leakage. More repair work involved here.
Electricals
Imported cars have complicated electrical systems and repairs may run into five digit amounts. Check all the electricals by working through the switches and deduct more if the battery unit needs replacement. A good unit may cost a couple of thousands for replacement. You dont have to settle for a vehicle sans legally prescribed indicators, headlamps etal.
A time to smile
Start wearing that smile if the car accelerates and cuts off in tune with the pedal inputs. You are almost there. Smooth power delivery, low vibration while on the move and lack of noises uncharacteristic of an engine are indicators of a good motor. A sticky throttle and deferred acceleration indicates a unhealthy engine. An experienced mechanic can listen to the engine and tell you whether it is healthy or not.
The green signal
The least you can do is to take the car to a fuel station near by and get a Pollution (PUC) check done. Legal readings indicating a polluting engine might force you away from the deal.
Now that you are aware of what to look for when shopping for an used car, be sure of your needs. The more focused you are, the greater the chances of coming across the car of your choice. Remember, patience pays. A decent set of wheels are not hard to acquire if you have that in abundance.