Late-model used cars are more plentiful and less expensive than ever before. With all the choices available, though, how can you tell the difference between a good deal and a lemon?
Before you drive:
- Verify the odometer reading. Several services are available to conduct a title search. Ask your department of motor vehicles for procedures.
- Ask for maintenance records. If records are not available, find out where the car has been serviced and check with the facility.
- Inspect the condition of the paint. Look for any indication the car has been repainted. Examine the lower edges of the car body, behind the bumpers and around the rocker panels below the doors for rust. Inspect doorsills, floors and inside the trunk.
- Test the brakes. Step down on the brake pedal, maintaining a steady pressure for at least one minute. If the pedal continues to sink, repairs may be needed.
- Check for badly-worn tires, including the spare. Uneven wear on any tire may indicate alignment problems — perhaps the result of a collision.
- Look for possible water damage. Check under carpets and behind door panels. Traces of dirt or mud indicate the car may have suffered water damage.
- Look for signs of wear. Badly-worn upholstery and floor mats might indicate more use than the odometer reflects.
- Check windows, door locks and seat adjustments for ease of use. Repairs to these items are expensive.
- Listen to the engine for loud or unusual noises. Note whether all gauges and warning lights for oil pressure and generator go on and that they go off after the engine starts.
- Make sure safety lights work properly. Check headlights, tailgates, brake lights and turn indicators.
On the road:
- Take a test drive. A wobbly steering wheel and bouncy ride are signs that suspension components are badly worn.
- Check the automatic transmission. The transmission should take hold promptly when put in gear, with no slamming sound or lurching of the car.
- Test the car's acceleration. Accelerate quickly from a low speed to about 55 mph so that the engine labors. Bucking or engine hesitation is a sign of trouble.
- Make several sharp turns at low speed. The steering wheel should not stiffen or become difficult to turn. Strange sounds or vibrations in the steering wheel indicate problems with front-end components.
- Test the brakes. Step down on the brake pedal, maintaining a steady pressure for at least one minute. If the pedal continues to sink, repairs may be needed.
- On an open road with no following traffic, make several hard stops decelerating from about 45 mph.
- On cars without anti-lock brakes, the pedal should remain high and solid. A spongy brake or sudden swerving or grabbing can indicate brake trouble.
- On cars with anti-lock brakes, pedal vibration is normal under hard stopping conditions.
- Have the car inspected by a qualified technician. A small investment now could save much more in repairs.
Source: American Automobile Association
