Buying a used car? Here is your 20-step checklist
At times you are stuck in a situation wherein on one side you have the sensible choice of buying a brand new car and on the other hand, within the same budget, a bigger – more powerful and stuffed with more toys to play with, used car. Now, I completely understand that the later option at times is so intriguing that you just cannot let it go. But you must ensure that if you going in for a used car, you must get it right. Here is a checklist which, if you follow, will ensure that you don't end up with your worth nightmare.
1. To start off, you must have two test drivers. You must take a pal along. It is a little bit more time consuming, but it will ensure that along with the quality of the ride you get to know about the mechanical wellness of the car.
2. Note down the Vehicle Identification Number to check the car's history – it could very well be a stolen vehicle.
3. Examine the tires individually. Run your hand over the tires from the inside as well to check the tread and whether the tread is even. You must also check the make and size of the tyres.
4. Examine the underneath of the car for any oil leaks. Ensure that you do this twice - once with the engine running and then with the engine turned off.
5. If the car has alloy wheels, look through to check the disc brake rotors for any cracks.
6. Open, close and lock all the doors, the hood and the boot lid to check whether they open and close smoothly. With the doors however, ensure that each of them locks from inside as well.
7. Check the door linings, hinges and edges for any corrosion.
8. With the engine running, open the hood and listen for any knocks, squeaks or hisses.
9. Check the headlights, brake lights and turn indicators.
10. Check the windscreen wipers for their blades and the water-sprinkler nozzle on the hood for any blockage.
11. Roll up and down all the windows.
12. Check of corrosion under the carpet/pads in the boot.
13. Sit on the driver's seat and check the controls for every single toy inside the car, mainly the A/C , the heater and the music system.
14. Check the underneath of the seats. You might find the hinges that are holding the seat up are not tough enough.
15. Air fresheners inside the car could be a trick to hide bad smells inside the cabin. To ensure that you get to know what kind of smells, you must open all the doors of the car for a while, remove the air freshener and let the air pass through. By time you go in for a test drive, you can get the real idea of the actual smell of the car's cabin.
16. On the move, ensure that you drive above 100kmph for as long as possible. This is simply because many issues with the mechanics of the car aren't detectible at lower speeds.
17. Check for wheel balancing and the wheel alignment. For balancing, check for any vibrations in the steering wheel while you drive. For the wheel alignment, notice if the car pulls towards left or right by taking your hands off the steering wheel at the same speed, again for as long as you can.
18. Find a empty parking lot. From a standstill and your hands off the steering wheel, accelerate hard and see if the car pulls left or right.
19. Check if the gearbox is smooth and that you don't have to put in extra effort to get moving.
20. Also, when in motion, apply the brakes hard without with your hands just covering the steering. The car might pull towards left or right. This shows the brakes aren't in sync.
People say that buying a used car is buying someone else's problems. Well, I believe that you can minimize the odds of that happening by spending a little extra time and taking a few extra precautions.
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