THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR - Once you've find the right car, it's time to check it out. Before you get started, keep in mind a few general rules: GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE A THOROUGH INSPECTION. TAKE A TEST DRIVE THAT INVOLVES MORE THAN JUST DRIVING AROUND THE BLOCK. BE SURE TO INSPECT THE CAR DURING THE DAY OR IN A WELL LIT LOT. Darkness may hide problems. DO NOT LOOK AT OR TEST DRIVE A CAR IN THE RAIN. Nicks and scratches on the finish can be covered up by water and thin, faded paint looks smooth and glossy when wet. Concentrate on big defects, not minor problems. Don't rule out a car because it has a few items that can be fixed easily at little cost. Prepare a check list for things to examine on both the interior and exterior of the car as well as those things you need to test while driving. First, take a general look around the outside of the car. A common practice of many sellers is to detail the car to increase its appeal. Detailing usually includes thoroughly cleaning the interior and exterior, waxing and fixing minor cosmetic items. Detailing a car is a nice touch except for when it's done to hide neglect or abuse. Stand back and look down each side from the front and rear. Look for ripples, uneven contours, poorly fitted panels and mismatched colors which all suggest body repairs have been done. Look for dents or rust around the bottom of the doors and fenders. Bubbles along the molding means rust underneath. The problem could be minor unless it has gone through the metal. You should also look for rust under the car. Check under the car for welding spots on the frame which would indicate that the car was involved in a serious accident. Open and close the doors, hood and trunk or hatchback. Be sure they fit and are easy to close without slamming. Sagging or sticking doors may indicate that the car was wrecked or has been driven excessive miles. Stand back 10 to 15 feet from the car and see if the car is level. If one corner seems lower than the others, it suggests a broken spring or other chassis or suspension problem. Check the shock absorbers by pushing down on each corner of the car and letting go. Your car should bounce upward only once and then settle back to its original position. If the car bounces several times, new shocks may be needed. Check the tires. They should be in good shape without side wall cracks. Uneven tire wear may indicate improper wheel alignment, tired shocks or worn front end components. While you're down there, check the inside of the tires for break fluid leakage. Also look under the car for oil spots or fluid leaking from the transmission, power steering or shock absorbers. Open the hood, check the belts and hoses for cracks or wear. Remove the radiator cap. Coolant should be a clean, greenish color. Brown sludge inside the neck suggests poor maintenance. Pull out the oil dip stick. If the oil is gummy or grayish, the engine might have serious problems. Check the automatic transmission fluid. It should be clear or reddish, not brown or black. A burnt smell or low fluid level suggests neglect. Look inside the trunk. Check to make sure there's an inflated spare and a jack and lug wrench.
