How to test drive a used car
Sometimes when buying a used car it’s easy to be taken in by a seller who seems honest – or to glance at the shiny paint along with the immaculate interior and assume that the rest of the car must be just as good. But failing to take a test drive before buying a used car could prove to be a very costly mistake. It’s only by putting a car through its paces that you can listen for strange noises, make sure there’s no play in the steering or check that the engine doesn’t overheat. Some used car buyers assume that because they’re not mechanically minded they won’t get anything out of a test drive. But you don’t need to be a master mechanic to know that if the engine sounds like a bag of spanners in a spin drier, something isn’t right. So whether you’re buying a used car from a private seller or a trader, don’t consider handing over any money – not even a deposit – until you’ve driven the car at least a short distance to confirm that it’s not a liability on wheels.