Test Drive 2: Tools for Inspecting a Car

Be sure you wear some old clothes so you can peek underneath the car or open the hood and poke around a little bit. Here are some useful items to take along when you go out to inspect a used car:

Flashlight

Flashlight for inspecting the wheel wells for signs of rust and for looking under the hood.

Rags

Rags for checking the oil and other fluids and cleaning off your hands when you're done.

Magnet

Magnet for telling the difference between solid metal fender panels and those that have been filled with plastic body filler.

Screwdriver

Screwdriver for poking around the engine compartment.

Friend

Friend for giving you practical and psychological support. Your friend can help you check the lights, exhaust, and back seat comfort while you're driving, as well as serve as a reminder to the seller that you're considering other cars by making comments like "The other car had more power."

Notebook and Pen

Notebook and Pen for taking notes. It's easy to forget the good and bad points of the cars you've looked at. Taking notes will prevent you from confusing details of one car with details of another. Using a notebook is also an effective negotiating technique. It shows the seller that you are serious about buying, that you've done your homework, and that you have other options.

from The Car Book 1998 by Jack Gillis