When purchasing a used car, the buyer always strives to choose not only the brand and model that suits him, but also to assess the technical condition of the car. This will make it possible not only to choose a well-preserved and well-maintained car, but also to reasonably demand a discount for all discovered defects not indicated by the seller.
Instructions
Step 1
Start your assessment of the condition with the bodywork. Walk around the car and carefully, in good lighting, assess the condition of the paintwork. In this case, it is desirable that the car is clean. Pay attention to the shades and color patterns of body parts (fenders, hood, doors, etc.). Sitting near the headlight, look along the side of the car for dents, geometry and paint defects. Be sure to inspect both sides, hood and roof in this way.
Step 2
Move on to assessing the condition of the engine. Open the hood and ask to start the engine with the hood open. When doing this, lean towards the power unit and listen carefully. Sharp, quiet, loud and not very metallic clangs, knocks and clicks are unacceptable. An ideal engine should make a smooth rustling sound without spontaneous revs. Ask to press the gas pedal. The engine, again, should not make any prominent sounds.
Step 3
Start your assessment of the interior with the seats. Check all their adjustments. Make sure the driver's seat is not squashed, provides lateral support and has no play in the backrest mountings. Examine the degree of wear on the steering wheel. By this indicator, one can indirectly judge the real mileage of the car. Assess the condition of the upholstery, especially where the airbags are installed. The presence of traces of restoration of the upholstery in the indicated places can mean the emergency past of the car.
Step 4
Carry out a road test on the vehicle being assessed. Pay attention to gear shifting: it should be clear, light and free of extraneous sounds on both manual and automatic transmissions. Make sure the clutch is working effectively at all speeds. When squeezing the clutch, there should be no increased noise. When driving on level ground, release the steering wheel. If at the same time the car is pulled to the side, the geometry of the body or suspension may be violated (or simply the wheels are flat). The suspension should not make knocks or rattles. Poor directional stability, roll and abnormal trajectory in a corner mean defects in the suspension.
Step 5
Pay attention to the documents for the car. If the car is removed from the register, the seller must have non-expired transit numbers and a mark from the traffic police in the vehicle registration system about the removal from the register. Pay attention to the presence of a valid OSAGO policy and a technical inspection coupon. When purchasing, be sure to draw up a sales contract with a notarized transaction.
