Test Drive a Used Car before Buying

It doesn’t matter your relationship with the person you are buying a car from, be it your friend or a total stranger, you should perform a pre purchase car inspection New York. This is one of the first things to do before making payment. After all, you will be using the car for a couple of years and you don’t want to live in regret for the short period you’ll be using the car for. Many people who fail to inspect a car before buying spend most of their time at the mechanic’s workshop.

One of the ways to ascertain the condition of a car is by going for a test drive. Take the car for a test run for at least 30 minutes. That way, you can detect any mechanical fault that needs attention. So what are the benefits of test driving a used car?

1. Test driving gives you an idea of the condition of the steering, transmission, brakes, and tires. The steering should be soft and lightweight and the tires should respond swiftly to the commands of the steering. It should not feel strong or heavy. Take the car on a reverse and ensure the steering moves clockwise and vice versa. The tires should respond swiftly when you move the steering wheels.

2. The transmission is yet another area to look into. A car with manual transmission has a clutch, brake, and accelerators. Check to see if these parts are in perfect condition. The clutch makes the gear selection easy and smooth. So you might want to check if the clutch plate works excellently. Take the car to a hilly road to see if the clutch slips. You may also want to check how the gear transition from lower to higher speeds.

If the gear isn’t functioning the way you like it, you might want to rescind your interest in buying the car. If you go ahead with the car, then expect to spend additional money replacing the gearbox. If you are driving a car with an automatic transmission, you might also want to check if the transmission gear transitions effortlessly.

3. Another important aspect to check while test driving is the effectiveness of the brakes. Check the condition of the brakes. A tight brake is a great sign that the braking system works perfectly. Also, you should notice what happens when you slam on the brakes at high speed? Does it make slight sharp turns? If no, then you are good to go. Car safety depends greatly on how effective your brakes are.

4. This list will be incomplete without mentioning tire conditions. You want to buy a car with quality four tires. Ask the owner how long has he been using the tires. Moreover, check the expiry date of the tires to see if it is still roadworthy. Driving on an expired tire can be a risky affair.

No matter what you do, you should perform a pre purchase car inspection New York before buying a car. Doing this helps you make a far better car decision.