Test Drive 5: The Inside Checklist

It's important to check the inside of the car carefully for several reasons. First, the interior of the car can give you a number of clues as to how well that car has been treated. If the car has been neglected on the inside, it is likely that it was neglected mechanically as well. A well-cared-for car is going to be a better buy than one that has not been maintained. A diligent inspection of the interior can help you tell the difference. Second, the cosmetic factor: if you're spending a lot of money on a car, you'll want it to look good. You'll also want to inspect it thoroughly to make sure that it has all of the features that are important to you.

The following ten spot checks will help you to evaluate the condition of the car's interior:

1. Study the seats. The upholstery and carpeting provide important clues as to the kind of care the previous owner gave the car. Check the cars seat cushions carefully. If they are weak, have broken springs or are full of lumps, that's a sign that the car has had some pretty heavy use. Check the rear seats. If they show excessive wear, the car may have been used as a taxi. If the back seat looks very clean and unused, that's an indication that the car was a one or two person car and was probably not used by a large family.
2. Look under the mats and try the pedals. If the car has floor mats or seat covers, check underneath them to find what kind of wear occurred before they were installed. Press on the gas, brake, and clutch pedals. They should all operate freely without any excessive play or binding.
3. Examine the doors. Look for heavy wear or discoloration on the upper part of the door panel where the driver's arm would rest. Also, check the inside handles to see if they are loose or worn. If there is a lot of wear and the odometer is relatively low, that's a sign that the odometer could have been turned back.
4. Use your nose. If the car smells musty or heavily deodorized, it probably leaks or, worse, was once under water. Pull back the carpeting and check for rusted flooring. Also check under the seats for rust.
5. Check the odometer. The average car is driven about 12,000 miles per year. So compare the car's age with its total number of miles. For example, it's not unreasonable to expect a 5-year-old car to have 60,000 miles on it. If the mileage looks a lot less than the average (12,000 per year times the age of the car), you could have either a cream puff or a car with a rolled back odometer. If the car has considerably more miles on it than the 12,000 miles per year average, don't give up on the car until you find out how those miles were put on. For example, 18,000 miles per year of highway driving can do less damage to a car than 6,000 miles per year of stop-and-go city traffic.
6. Review the dash. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with the dashboard layout and try every feature on the dashboard. Make sure everything works with the key turned on but without the engine running. Check the radio, windshield wipers, heater, air conditioner, cigarette lighter, clock, horn, parking brake, rear window defogger, fan, and all the air vents.
7. Turn the ignition on. With the key on but the engine off, make sure the alternator and oil pressure lights go on. If they don't, either the bulb is burned out or the seller has disconnected the light to ensure that it won't come on later while you're driving. This is something to put on your checklist for your mechanic to go over. When you turn the engine on, both of the lights should go off. If the oil pressure light stays on, turn the engine off and check the oil level. It may just be that the oil is low. However, if the oil level is OK, this light signals that the car could have major problems. If the alternator light stays on, it means the battery isn't charging, which could be a problem as simple as a loose fan belt or as serious as a bad alternator.
8. Try all the windows. Check to see that they slide smoothly and don't bind. Also, make sure that the front seats slide forward and backward easily.
9. Look in the glove compartment. Look for the owner's manual and original warranty papers. If they are present (or if they are still available), and you're buying the car from a third party, you will have the opportunity to contact the previous owner to find out more about the condition of the car. If the warranty papers indicate that the original owner was from a distant area or another state, that's an indication that the car might have become available through an auction or an otherwise less desirable source for used cars. Also examine the original warranty and other papers to determine whether the serial numbers on these papers match the serial numbers on the car. If they don't match, either the car has been stolen or it is the product of two cars that have been welded together.
10. Inspect convertible tops carefully. To check a convertible, park the car in bright sunlight and carefully examine the roof from the inside for any holes or cracks in the fabric. Look for stains from leaks. Check the back window for clarity and test the top at least twice to make sure it goes up and down properly. If you have the opportunity, hose down the top or run it through a car wash to test for leaks.

TIP: Beep, Beep!

As car instrument panels become more and more sophisticated, there is growing confusion about the location of horn buttons. There are no regulations requiring a standard location so manufacturers put them in various places around the steering wheel. In fact, the Center for Auto Safety has been urging the government to standardize horn locations since 1980.

When inspecting the car, make sure the horn button works and is easy to find. Proper use of a car horn can avoid serious accidents.

from The Car Book 1998 by Jack Gillis