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Test Driving Your Car
Getting a new car thrills and excites. And unfortunately, sometimes it is easy to become blinded with excitement. Even if you are in love with the car, you should take it for a long, no-nonsense test drive.
You should use every minute you are allowed to test drive the car. Fifteen minutes isn't enough time. You need to carefully check the car, and also have a mechanic do the same.
Take a look at the vehicle overall. Are all the parts aligned? Does the paint match? Will doors open and close easily? Are the tires in good conditions, and all showing the same amount of wear?
Lift the hood. You may not know exactly what you're looking at, but that's okay. Strange smells, dirty oil, worn belts and leaky hoses have a tale to tell. Ask to see the automatic transmission fluid. Make sure it doesn't smell burned. The color of good fluid is reddish and it runs clear. Transmission repairs can cost you a lot of money.
Make it a point to ask to see the radiator water as well. The color should be yellow or green.
All warning lights and gauges should be in good working condition. Get the car started and check all the lights. No lights should remain lit on the dashboard after you start the car.
Look at the airbag indicator lights. If the lights stay on when you move the car, or if they don't come on when you start the engine, something is wrong with the device. Make sure you try the seat belt. You should also test the car in the evening to test the headlights. If you already have a child safety seat, go ahead and install it. Not all seats are compatible with all cars.
Accelerate up to 35-40 MPH. Are your gear shifting with no problems, and is steering smooth? A car that pulls to the left or right when you hit the brakes might signal a serious problem.
If you are buying the car from an independent seller, match the name on the title with the name on the license. Better be safe than sorry.
You might be lucky and find an old lady's car that's only been driven 15,000 miles per year. Of course, low miles on the odometer would be a big plus, too. But even in that case, you can't assume the car is in great shape.
You should be aware that some people do a fair amount of odometer tempering. So do your homework. Ask for a detailed service history report. If the owner can't provide this information, you can find it on your own with the vehicle identification number. Provide this VIN number to your state vehicle history company to get a record of the car's former life.
Even if you are madly in love with the car, you shouldn't buy it if it is not in superb shape. You shouldn't willingly take over someone else's problems. There are dozens of other cars you could enjoy just as much.
Don't just test drive one car. You'll never regret a wise, well-thought out purchase.
You should use every minute you are allowed to test drive the car. Fifteen minutes isn't enough time. You need to carefully check the car, and also have a mechanic do the same.
Take a look at the vehicle overall. Are all the parts aligned? Does the paint match? Will doors open and close easily? Are the tires in good conditions, and all showing the same amount of wear?
Lift the hood. You may not know exactly what you're looking at, but that's okay. Strange smells, dirty oil, worn belts and leaky hoses have a tale to tell. Ask to see the automatic transmission fluid. Make sure it doesn't smell burned. The color of good fluid is reddish and it runs clear. Transmission repairs can cost you a lot of money.
Make it a point to ask to see the radiator water as well. The color should be yellow or green.
All warning lights and gauges should be in good working condition. Get the car started and check all the lights. No lights should remain lit on the dashboard after you start the car.
Look at the airbag indicator lights. If the lights stay on when you move the car, or if they don't come on when you start the engine, something is wrong with the device. Make sure you try the seat belt. You should also test the car in the evening to test the headlights. If you already have a child safety seat, go ahead and install it. Not all seats are compatible with all cars.
Accelerate up to 35-40 MPH. Are your gear shifting with no problems, and is steering smooth? A car that pulls to the left or right when you hit the brakes might signal a serious problem.
If you are buying the car from an independent seller, match the name on the title with the name on the license. Better be safe than sorry.
You might be lucky and find an old lady's car that's only been driven 15,000 miles per year. Of course, low miles on the odometer would be a big plus, too. But even in that case, you can't assume the car is in great shape.
You should be aware that some people do a fair amount of odometer tempering. So do your homework. Ask for a detailed service history report. If the owner can't provide this information, you can find it on your own with the vehicle identification number. Provide this VIN number to your state vehicle history company to get a record of the car's former life.
Even if you are madly in love with the car, you shouldn't buy it if it is not in superb shape. You shouldn't willingly take over someone else's problems. There are dozens of other cars you could enjoy just as much.
Don't just test drive one car. You'll never regret a wise, well-thought out purchase.