Buying Cars
Exterior Checklist:
• Examine in daytime
• Examine in clear weather
• Check for nicks and scratches
• Check for thin, worn paint
• Check for big defects (costly) and not minor repairs
• General look around the outside of the car.
• Examine both sides of the car from a distance (both front and back).
• Look for ripples, waves, poorly fitted panels and mismatched colors.
• Look for dents or rust around the bottom of the doors and fenders.
• Check for bubbles along molding or chrome (indicates rust underneath).
• Look under the vehicle for rust
• Check for welding spots on the frame (serious accident or repairs).
• Open and close the doors, hood, trunk or hatchback.
• Stand back approximately 10 to 15 feet from the car and see if the car is level.
• Check the shocks by pushing down on each corner of the car and letting go.
• Check the tires (sidewall cracks, uneven tire wear, brake fluid leakage)
• Look under the car for: o oil spots, or o transmission fluid or o power steering fluid or o shock absorber fluid.
• Open the hood and check belts and hoses for cracks or wear.
• Radiator coolant should be a clean, greenish (or blue or yellow) color.
• Pull out the oil dipstick. Oil should not be gummy or grayish or smell burnt.
• Check automatic transmission fluid, should be clear and reddish.
• Check the fluid level in the master cylinder as well.
• Look inside the trunk for an inflated spare tire, a jack and a lug wrench.
Interior Checklist
• Check the mileage
• Compare mileage on service stickers (door jamb/under hood) to the odometer reading.
• Check the condition of the seats, belts and carpeting.
• Check the windows to see if they open and close easily.
• Check the brake, accelerator and clutch -- should work smoothly, no strange noises.
• Check all exterior lights and flashers on the car
• Start the engine and check the warning lights and gauges
• Make certain that the air conditioning blows very cold air.
• Check the
• Examine in daytime
• Examine in clear weather
• Check for nicks and scratches
• Check for thin, worn paint
• Check for big defects (costly) and not minor repairs
• General look around the outside of the car.
• Examine both sides of the car from a distance (both front and back).
• Look for ripples, waves, poorly fitted panels and mismatched colors.
• Look for dents or rust around the bottom of the doors and fenders.
• Check for bubbles along molding or chrome (indicates rust underneath).
• Look under the vehicle for rust
• Check for welding spots on the frame (serious accident or repairs).
• Open and close the doors, hood, trunk or hatchback.
• Stand back approximately 10 to 15 feet from the car and see if the car is level.
• Check the shocks by pushing down on each corner of the car and letting go.
• Check the tires (sidewall cracks, uneven tire wear, brake fluid leakage)
• Look under the car for: o oil spots, or o transmission fluid or o power steering fluid or o shock absorber fluid.
• Open the hood and check belts and hoses for cracks or wear.
• Radiator coolant should be a clean, greenish (or blue or yellow) color.
• Pull out the oil dipstick. Oil should not be gummy or grayish or smell burnt.
• Check automatic transmission fluid, should be clear and reddish.
• Check the fluid level in the master cylinder as well.
• Look inside the trunk for an inflated spare tire, a jack and a lug wrench.
Interior Checklist
• Check the mileage
• Compare mileage on service stickers (door jamb/under hood) to the odometer reading.
• Check the condition of the seats, belts and carpeting.
• Check the windows to see if they open and close easily.
• Check the brake, accelerator and clutch -- should work smoothly, no strange noises.
• Check all exterior lights and flashers on the car
• Start the engine and check the warning lights and gauges
• Make certain that the air conditioning blows very cold air.
• Check the