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Interior Noise

Is the car noisy inside? Does the noise level bother you? If so, think twice about this particular used car model. Generally speaking, noise level decrease with the cost of the car. Economy cars are usually noisy; luxury cars are nearly always quiet. But in between the two extremes, there’s simply no accounting for why [...]

How’s the view to the rear? Any blind spots?

Once you’re comfortably seated, look at the rear-view mirror(s). Do they give you a clear unobstructed view to the rear? If not, adjust the mirrors. Many newer vehicles have power side mirrors. This is a good time to check out the adjustment mechanism, which is usually located on the left armrest, the dash or the [...]

How’s the Suspension?

Drive over smooth and rough pavement. Hit a few bumps. Drive over some railroad tracks. Find some expansion joints on the highway and run the car over them at your usual cruising speed. Excessive bouncing over bumps could indicate worn shocks, struts or springs. But keep in mind that, when assessing the ride quality of [...]

The Test Drive

If the suspension and alignment is in good shape, you should be able to remove your hands from the wheel without the car darting off – do this on a deserted road at moderate speeds.
Freeplay in the steering wheel could indicate problems with parts of the steering linkage. Dering steering wheel usually indicates a serious [...]

After the Test Drive

If you haven’t already done so, take a few moments at the end of your test drive to put your thoughts and impressions on paper. Don’t leave anything out. These notes are vital to your mechanic. Even if you think a certain sound, smell or vibration might very well be nothing at all, write it [...]

The Haynes Used Car Buying Guide: How’s the Engine?

Accelerate hard on a clear road – throttle response should be quick and sure. Back off and hit the gas again – there should be no “flat spots,” hesitation or black smoke emissions. Does the engine “ping” under a load (accelerating, passing, going up a steep hill)? Maybe it simply needs higher octane gas. Or [...]

How’s the Transmission

Run the transmission through all four or five forward gears (and don’t forget to check Reverse). A manual transmission should shift easily without grinding gears. Some transaxles may lightly grind the lower gears the first couple of shifts on a cool day before the fluid warms up enough to allow the synchronizers to slide smoothly [...]

The Test Drive

The smaller the car, the firmer the suspension. But there are exceptions. Some smaller American and Asian four-door sedans are designed and built for an older, more conservative buyer. These vehicles have a softer ride. And the suspension on some larger vehicles is calibrated toward the sporting end of the spectrum. Bottom line: If the [...]

Full-Sized Sedans Under $40,000

WHAT WE DISLIKED:

The lower-end model doesn’t handle like a charm with such a soft as a marshmallow suspension, and there’s a whole lot of shaking going on.
Steering is terribly over-assisted, so it robs the driver of any real feel for the road and it’s far too volatile, so driving is no quiet Sunday picnic.
Brakes could [...]

Full-Sized Sedans Under $40,000

Sensitive suspension and wheels go wild on even the tiniest bumps on the road.
Steering is over-assisted, so it’s terribly light and touchy at higher speeds and so the driver doesn’t have a clue as to the feel of the road and besides, it’s awfully inaccurate at the center.
Brakes only offer average grip and those stretching [...]