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Accident damage
Are the gaps between body panels even? If not, the car may have been involved in an accident. Doors that drop on their hinges or fit badly are another tell-tale sign of a shunt.
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Brakes
On a quiet road, brake as firmly without skidding. A metallic grinding noise means the brake pads or shoes are worn out. The car should pull up in a straight line - any tendency to swerve needs investigating.
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Clutch and Gearbox See that the gear stick moves smoothly from one gear to the next.
With the engine running, push down then release the clutch pedal. A change in engine note indicates a worn bearing. Check that the gearstick moves smoothly from one ratio to the next, without any 'graunching' noises, and then pull away. Accelerate to top speed in a low gear then - when it's safe - suddenly lift your foot off the throttle. Does the car jump out of gear? Stop and put the car into reverse. Does the gearbox resist? If so the selector mechanism could be damaged.
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Engine
Start her up. The colour of exhaust fumes is a good indicator of the engine's condition. Blue means it's burning oil, which could be expensive to fix. Black means the fuel to air ratio is too rich. White exhaust is normal on start-up, especially on a cold or damp day. This should disappear as the engine warms up; if not, inspect the head gasket and check for signs of coolant in the oil.
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Mileage
If a car has gone further than the odometer suggests, it's worth less. And, because it's done more work, it could give more trouble. Most 'clocked' cars can be spotted easily. Most tellingly the car's interior particularly the driver's seat and the foot pedals will look more worn than you'd expect. Another sure sign of high mileage is a steering wheel worn smooth around the outside. Look for a full service history. It confirms the mileage, and proves the car has been cared for.
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Paperwork Make sure all the cars paperwork is in order, at TRC we check all paperwork prior to the car being offered for sale.
Take plenty of time to check the vehicle's history. As a rule of thumb, the more there is, the better. Even old receipts for work done on the vehicle are good as they show the level of care it has received from previous owners.
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Rust
To check for rust, run a magnet over suspect areas. If it's not attracted, the body's full of filler. Inspect the sills (the metal rails between the bottom of the doors and the floor), the floor itself and the exhaust for rust. Corrosion here spells an ITV failure and on a cheap car it may not be economical to fix.
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Sound
Listen for noises that could spell trouble. Abnormal engine sounds are the worst. A clattering noise when the engine's cold is bad news for a petrol car, though it's normal for diesels.
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Sunroof
If there is a sunroof, make sure the seal has not perished and that it opens and closes properly. Check the floor for damp - often indicative of a leaking sunroof, which could be causing the floorpan to rust.
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Suspension
Bounce on each corner of the car. It should go down sharply when you put your weight on it, then return back to its original position in one movement, and settle. If the body takes a while to settle, new shocks are needed. Check whether the shock absorbers are leaking fluid.
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Tyres
Make sure the tyres have at least the legal minimum of tread, and that they are worn evenly. Remember that if you're only spending a few hundred quid, the cost of a new set of tyres could take you over budget.
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| Under the bonnet - Only test drive a car when the engine is cold.
Put your hand on the bonnet if necessary to see if the car has been pre-warmed by the seller. If it has, he could be trying to hide an ignition problem from you. Check that there is plenty of fluid in the radiator, and that it contains antifreeze (it will be coloured bluish-green or pink instead of clear). If it doesn't, the car hasn't been maintained properly. |
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Used car buyers must always look under the bonnet
Ensure that the oil level is between the dipstick's maximum and minimum marks. Does the oil look clear, or is it a dirty thick sludge? Sludge could mean the car has been neglected, a bargaining tool in the absence of any engine problems, but also a warning sign that you should look out for mechanical faults due to wear. If the owner couldn't be bothered to change the oil, what else have they neglected?
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