Article - How to Inspect a Used Car Part 4 - The Drive

So in our last chapter on how to inspect a used car, I will explain some of the things to look out for on the test drive.

One important thing that people don't think about when shopping for a used car is how much money they will have to put into the car after they buy it. Realistically, there is no perfect used car. No matter how great the condition of the vehicle may seem to be, it will need some work one way or another. Always anticipate that you will be dumping at least a few hundred dollars after acquiring that new pre-owned car.

With that being said, there are a few things you should pay attention to to prepare yourself on what might need to be replaced. Before jumping into the car, inspect the tires. Check the thread for tire wear. If the vehicle is lowered or has previously been lowered, the tire wear will occur on the inside corner of the tire. Getting a good look at the tires and the inner tire will require getting on all fours so prepare to get dirty!

(picture will be available soon) Bad tire
(picture will be available soon) Good tire

Start the car and pop the hood. Just because you're not a mechanic it doesn't meant you shouldn't look at it! A few things to watch out for are oil stains. That will tell you if there's any oil leaking from the cylinders. Let the car continue to run and check for any abnormal noise. A sign of an abnormal noise could be the engine constantly sounding like it is revving on its own, as if it's short on gas and then there's gas being applied to it and then it's short on gas again. That could be a sign of poor gas flow which could be caused by a variety of different problems.

(picture will be available soon) Oil stain

Now for the test drive. Look for a nice road that you can accelerate on and pay close attention to the transmission. Some older cars tend to be jerky which is normal but if it is excessively jerky or if the shifting feels really rough, that transmission might not last you very long. Take the car on the freeway and listen for the shifts to make sure the transmission can access all of it's gears.

Drive on a straight road and let go of the wheel, just long enough to see if the car will pull itself towards a certain direction. Keep in mind that the car will naturally drift lightly towards the right because our roads are built at an angle to lead rain water into the sewer. If it pulls hard to the right or pulls left however, then you have an alignment problem.

Listen to the brakes. Heavy squeaking noises will likely mean that the car will need new brakes. Some aftermarket brakes could also produce squeaky noises too however, so test the brakes out thoroughly and try braking harder to see how long it takes for you to come to a complete stop.

Check for vibrations each time you are at a stop. Minor vibrations are okay. The most common reason for vibration in a vehicle is the lack of oil change. If there is some light vibration in the car, it might be due for a tuneup.

It is always best to bring it to a local mechanic to have them put the car on a lift and do a full inspection. From there, they can tell you if a major tuneup is necessary such as timing belt and CV Boots. If the car is close to 80,000 miles or over, it will definitely need one if it has not already been performed already.

And there you have it. A full in-depth guide on inspecting a used vehicle. I have provided all the knowledge you need to make a smart and informative purchase. I hope this guide was a great help and please feel free to email me if you have any questions. Good luck on your search!

If you know of someone who might be looking for a used car, please link them to this guide as it not only provides valuable information but it could potentially save them hundreds or even thousands of dollars.