Tips for Test Driving a Used Car Columbiana OH

Used cars offer a lower purchasing cost of a vehicle that has been a tried-and-true friend to previous owners. When thinking about purchasing a previously owned vehicle, it’s important to gauge if the vehicle meets your expectations and is capable of providing consistent performance over time. Meeting the friendly expert dealers, such as our own team here at Columbiana Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, is a great way to get to know the used vehicle in person. Taking a test drive brings valuable information and a sense of confidence knowing that you are about to purchase a reliable car that will take you on many adventures. Here are some helpful tips that we suggest when test driving a used car.

Perform Own Self-Inspection
Each used car has had maintenance performed, exposure to the elements and maybe some previous bumps and bruises, and it is important to check over the car yourself to evaluate its past and current condition. Check the exterior for chipped/scratched paint and for signs of rust forming, which can spread and degrade once ingrained. Have a look under the hood to check the oil and other fluids while seeing if there is any obvious rusting/degradation around the battery and other systems. Bring a penny with you, and check the tire tread depths by sticking Abe Lincoln’s head down into the tread; if you can see the full head of hair, the car needs new tires, but if part of the head is obscured then you are good to go. Check each of the interior features to make sure each one functions as intended; air conditioning should produce cool air, lights should all work, windshield washer fluid should spray evenly, windows should roll down smoothly, seats should adjust so you can sit comfortably, etc.

Bring a Friend
Impartial eyes and ears help give a well-rounded opinion on the well-being of any used vehicle. Bring a friend or family member along for the test drive, especially if they have experience purchasing a used vehicle previously. Communicate before you go out to visit the used car lot, come up with a game plan of important information you are looking for. Write down a check-list of features and systems you wanted to inspect and check which you can discuss with them during the test drive. While you are test driving, having another person there increases the overall capability to pick up on positive elements of the driving experience as well. They may also pick up on certain things you might have missed or not considered otherwise.

Listen While You Drive
One of the best ways to tell something wonky is going on in your vehicle is by hearing a sound that is out of place; you don’t quite have the months of experience when you go to test drive, but the test drive is a great chance to try and spot nuances that could point out important traits of the used car. Listen for odd squeaks and noises from the belts, transmission, and brakes as you drive around. During the test drive itself, it’s also important to put the car through paces you would put it through on a normal day; do you commute on the highway or in high traffic areas daily? Allow the car to warm-up and then drive in similar areas (if possible) that you would normally. 

Each used car has been put through its paces in previous years and meets factory requirements to be put back on the road under a new owner. Objective information is what will help you the most in ascertaining the lifespan remaining on a used vehicle. Our expert dealers here at Columbiana Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram are always happy to help you understand the ins-and-outs of any of our used cars on our lot; our dealers and service specialists have put each used car on our lot through their paces in order to help bring each one back onto the road! You can check out our current line-up of top-tier used vehicles by clicking here; give us a call and schedule a test drive today!