When going for a test drive, measure two things (1) comfort and (2) stability. The vehicle shouldn’t be bouncy or feel unstable. If you feel vibrations, this usually indicates that there are damages to the car suspension – worn out shocks or struts. Whenever you corner, try to measure if the car leans too much.
2. Tire Check
Inspect the tires carefully. You will be able to discern if the outer edges look worn out. If so, this may indicate that the wheels are unaligned. In this case, you may request for a price deduction.
3. Suspension Check
Suspension is best measured by how far the car leans whenever it hits a corner. Too much lean indicates an imbalance in the suspension system. Here are some simple steps to measuring a suspension system,
(a) First, inspect the seating levels. Are the front seats higher than the back seats or vice versa?
(b) To check the springs and shocks, simply press down the front and back end of the car. If it recoils more than once, this indicates that some shocks could be worn out.
(c) Finally, if you duck beneath the car, you can catch a glimpse of the suspension. Check if the parts are bathed in oil. This indicates wear and tear damage.
4. Auto Body
Don’t be deceived by flashy paint jobs or mags. Chances are, there will be major damages beneath the hood. Make a thorough inspection of the whole exterior. Check all panels, examine if some areas have been repainted. You can check if the front panels have been replaced or realigned. One way of doing this is to inspect the colors of the adjoining panels, do the colors match? A slight difference in shade can suggest that the part has been replaced or repainted, ask deductions for those.
You can also compare the paint from the interior to the exterior.
More Tips to come, please continue reading tomorrow!
Dave Collins
