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Buying Tips
10 Steps to Buying a Used Car
Step 8: Test driving a used car.
By Philip Reed, Senior Consumer Advice Editor
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Used car shopping will involve inspecting the vehicle to determine its condition.
This process is simplified if you buy a certified used car that has passed a thorough
inspection and is backed by a manufacturer's warranty. But while buying a certified
used car removes a lot of the guesswork about the vehicle's mechanical condition,
you pay for this service.
Most new cars are sold with a three-year/36,000-mile warranty. Therefore, if you
buy a car that is from one to three years old, with less than 36,000 miles on
the odometer, it will still be under the factory warranty. If anything goes wrong
with the car you just bought, the problem will be fixed for free. (Warranties
vary from one manufacturer to the next. Always read the restrictions of the warranty
before buying the car.)
If you are serious about buying a used car but have doubts about its condition,
take it to a mechanic you trust. A private party will probably allow you to do
this without much resistance. But at a dealership, it might be more difficult.
If it is a certified used car, there is no reason to take it to a mechanic.
Once you get behind the wheel, your first impression will be the way the car feels
when you sit in it. Is it a good fit? Does it offer enough headroom? Legroom?
Are the gauges and controls conveniently positioned?
Try to arrange your test drive so that you start the engine when it is completely
cold. Some cars are harder to start when they are dead cold and, when doing so,
will reveal chronic problems. Turn off the radio before you begin driving —
you want to hear the engine and concentrate on the driving experience.
On the test drive, evaluate these additional points:
- Acceleration from a stop
- Visibility (Check for blind spots)
- Engine noise
- Passing acceleration (Does it downshift quickly and smoothly?)
- Hill-climbing power
- Braking
- Cornering
- Suspension (How does it ride?)
- Rattles and squeaks
- Cargo space
On the test drive, take your time and be sure to simulate the conditions of your
normal driving patterns. If you do a lot of highway driving, be sure to go on
the highway and take the car up to 65 mph. If you go into the mountains, test
the car on a steep slope. You don't want to find out — after you've bought
the car — that it doesn't perform as needed.
After the test drive, ask the owner if you can see the service records and if
receipts are available. If so, note whether the car has had oil changes at regular
intervals (at every 5,000 to 7,500 miles). Be cautious of buying a car that has
had major repairs such as transmission rebuilds, valve jobs or engine overhauls.
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