How To Test Drive A Used Car
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Written by Steve R. Lowry
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Monday, 09 February 2009 |
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Attention, car shoppers: Sometimes you can soot a winner with just a simple lap around the block. The trick is knowing what to look for once you' re in the driver's seat
I've spent a lot of years testing the limits of cars, seeing what they can do and then making them do just a little bit more. But not every ride has been a smooth one. For example, my first car was actually a truck: a 1980 Chevy step-side pickup with a straight six, a three-speed on the column, and no power steering. I was 16, and I'd earned my license in a driver's-ed car with an automatic, so I didn't know what that other pedal down there was for. I just put it in "3," hoped for the best, and drove my truck all the way home. I spent the next six months rebuilding it, repainting it, putting on new wheels and tires, and generally trying to make it look like I'd known what I was doing when I bought it. In a decade of driving one car after another since then, this is what I've come to look for the first time around:
1. Listen to the music. What do you want to hear when you start a car? As little as possible. The engine should hum along smoothly; if you hear pings, clicks, and other odd noises, you're listening to a lemon. Also look at all the maintenance records. That means all, not just the bill for the rebuilt engine or the new rear axle. And keep in mind that the signs of a bad car are usually small signs, so look closely for quick repairs, painted-over rust spots, and evidence of accidents.
2. Drive straight. Turn left. Is it an automatic? Drop it down into "drive" and see how it handles the pull. The transition should be tight and seamless. A manual transmission helps you evaluate the car's performance: The more gears it has, the better you'll be able to judge its muscle and capabilities. As you approach that left turn, you want steering sensitive enough to let you feel the ground under the tires, but not so sensitive that you have to work to turn the car. A sloppy suspension and flabby steering are dangerous, but steering that's too tight will wear you out just trying to parallel park. The real test-drive begins when you pull out onto the highway. Open it up. You should hear a deep, satisfying roar. Acceleration should be smooth and effortless.
3. The pits: No matter how well your car runs when you take it out for a spin, you're going to be very disappointed if it doesn't stop. Take the car from cruising speed to a full stop in as short a distance as possible without skidding. The car should brake in a straight line, without pulling to either side. We can't use antilock brakes in NASCAR Winston Cup Racing, but they're a must anywhere else. Test-driving a car with bad brakes? Look for one of two things: a different car or a lot of trouble at the end of the road.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 09 February 2009 )
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