Your Ultimate Test Drive Checklist!

Buying a used car can feel like a challenge, especially if you’re purchasing it from someone other than a reputable used car dealer. The car might seem fine at first, and then quickly start to have problems that necessitate expensive repairs. Below are some tips from a mechanic in Minneapolis, MN. If you’re considering buying a used car instead of a brand-new one, be sure to take it on a test drive and check the following things:

• Brakes: We don’t have to tell you that driving a vehicle with less-than-perfect brakes can lead to some serious consequences. Old and failing brakes lead to innumerable accidents and serious injuries each year. For that reason, you’ll want to make sure that the brakes are in tip-top shape during your test drive. Listen for any strange squealing or grinding sounds as you drive along, as this is often the first sign that the brakes need to be replaced or repaired. If anything seems out of the ordinary, tell the seller, “Thanks, but no thanks!”
• Acceleration: Though it’s not as big of a safety hazard, you never want to purchase a vehicle that has acceleration issues. Sluggish acceleration can be caused by a variety of problems, but is typically the result of a faulty fuel injector. Depending on the extent of the damage to the fuel injector, you could be looking at spending a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars for repairs or replacement.
• Tires: Before you even get into the vehicle for a test drive, you should check the condition of the tires. Do they look worn and old? If so, you might want to reconsider buying that car! A new set of tires typically isn’t all that expensive, but there’s no reason why you should have to pay to get new tires for a car you just purchased.
• Alignment: While you’re driving down the road, try to notice if the car slightly pulls to one side of the road or another. If it does, there’s an issue with the vehicle’s alignment. Any alignment issues need to be addressed by a mechanic in Minneapolis, MN, and may cost quite a bit of money to fix, depending on the severity of the problem. Squealing tires can be another sign of poor alignment, so be sure to listen to anything that sounds out of the ordinary when you make a turn.
• Suspension: Assuming that you’re driving down a paved road, your ride should be nice and smooth. If the car rocks back and forth or shakes up and down while you’re driving, avoid buying this car altogether. Suspension issues are common in older vehicles and often cost a pretty penny to fix.

Let’s hope that your new used car doesn’t have problems anytime soon, but if it does, you can trust Quality Coaches, Inc. to fix it right up. As a longtime mechanic in Minneapolis, MN, we perform all sorts of repairs for all makes and models. On top of that, our repair services are competitively priced, so you won’t spend an arm and a leg fixing up your car. Reach out to us today to learn more!

Categorised in: Mechanic

This post was written by Sharon Morgan