What particular aspects of a car should you examine before or after a test drive? Let's take a quick overview. It can be good to do this on your own or with a friend, and you should do most of it while the vehicle is parked rather than when you're cruising down the road. While you're looking things over, ask any salesperson breathing down your neck to leave you alone for a little while.
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Interior fit, finish, and color. Examine whether all of the seats are comfortable and offer adequate support and elbow room, whether the fabric is satisfactory, whether the space is roomy enough, and whether the color scheme is pleasing. Also spend some time in the driver's seat, making sure all the controls are logically laid out and easily reachable, and whether the line of sight is good. Test the sound system and the various buttons, levers, and other controllers. If things like cupholders and the glove-compartment layout are important to you, check them out, too.
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Exterior fit, finish, and color. Here you want to consider whether the color appeals to you, how practical the design is, how well all of the pieces fit together, and how easy it is to operate the doors, trunk, and hood. Are there any paint or surface imperfections?
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Engine compartment. Find out where everything is located, evaluate how easy it is to jump-start the battery, and see how easy routine maintenance will be to perform, such as checking oil or adding washer fluid.
- Trunk and storage space. Evaluate whether there's enough room for your needs and whether everything is configured in a way that you like.
For much more on the ins and outs of the car-buying process, check out the Fool's "Buying a Car" area, and ask any questions on our Buying and Maintaining a Car discussion board. Our Insurance Center can also be of use.
