Dec 14, 2002 10:53 AM
4098 Views
(Updated Dec 14, 2002 10:55 AM)
Once I decided to go in for a second hand car, I spent hours on the net, leafing religiously through auto magazines and generally chatting with the auto mechanics. With my newfound knowledge, I started checking out cars, once I was certain about the make, model and the year of manufacture. And of course, the budget.
And today, I am the proud owner of a 1996 Nov white Maruti 800 DX, which has run for 40, 000 kms and flies like the wind, as if there is no tomorrow.
I thought it best to share my experience and general tips about the manner in which one should go about, once one has decided the preliminary details about the 2nd hand car that one wants town.
So, here goes.
The Way She Looks
The night and artificial lights have been known to play tricks on sight. So the golden rule here is that you check the car out in broad daylight. Park the car on a piece of flat land and take a walk around it in order to check for any discolouration. While in the process, you also might detect some rusted areas. Remember, discolouration and rusts indicate a repainting job, which is usually done in order to hide the incidence of accidents or scarping. The most probable places of rust are the wheel arches and door corners.
Check out the lights, the wipers and the piping on the windows. Faulty piping will be a problem in the monsoon, as rainwater will seep through.
Next, check out the manner in which the car is standing. It should not tilt, neither to one side nor to the front or rear.
The Wheels
The whole purpose of checking the wheels is to find out about the alignment problems, if any. Notice the thread marks on the tyres. If they appear to be worn out unevenly, this is a sure indication that the alignment of the car has gone for a toss.
Take A Spin
Take her for a spin. Hold the gear lever and move it sideways. If there is a lot of play the gear bush needs to be changed. Check out if there is more than necessary play in the clutch pedal. If the clutch is worn off then you will have a jerky start. Floor the clutch pedal in full and try pushing the gear in all the slots. The car should respond to your touches smoothly. The gears should fall into their respective grooves without unnecessary hassle. However, remember that the level of comfort in gear shifting will vary across different makes of cars. I found out that the shifting of gears in the Maruti cars is much smoother than in the Indica. Also check for rattling noises and untoward vibrations. The reasons may be many, ranging from worn out axles to faulty suspensions. Switch on the AC. There is bound to be a drain in the power. Ensure that the same is not formidable. While taking a full turn, check whether there is a squeaking noise. Check for body rolling. Speed up on a freeway. Ensure that there is no body roll. My experience with the same has also been varied. For instance, I have found that the Santro, despite being an excellent city car, rolls excessively on high speeds. Check out the brakes. On braking if there is a series of squeaking noises, the lining needs to be replaced. A minimal expenditure, but important nevertheless.
You should also check out the car from outside when someone else is driving it. Any unwanted tilts that you might have missed before, will come to your notice.
The Way She Makes You Feel
The lights in the instrument panel should all work. The oil pressure and temperature gauges should work. The odometer should work. Check the kilometer reading. However, keep in mind that the same can be very easily manipulated. Check out the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals. Just like well-worn shoes, they will be smoothened in one particular corner. They are a sure shot sign of over usage, no matter what the milometer reading says. The upholstery should be comfortable. The lining of the roof should not be torn. The seat belts should fit you smugly, with the correct amount of tension in the straps, without making you feel un-comfortable.
The Engine – The Life Blood
This is where you will require the services of a very dependable auto mechanic, who will the best person to comment on whether the car is at all worth purchasing. However, for the novices like us, here is a list of simple pointers:
(1)Once you open the bonnet, the whole assembly should be clean and tidy. Any sort of oil leakage will make it messy.
(2)Check out whether after switching on the car, the oil pressure lamp remains on even after a long time. If that be so, it might spell trouble.
(3)Check out the exhaust pipe with the car running. Ideally there should be no smoke.
Making Her Your Own
Once you have decided about the car, check out the papers. All original documents should be there. The best way to find out whether the car has had any major accident is to check out the insurance claims and the premium that the owner is paying, i.e., whether he is enjoying a no claim bonus.
If you are satisfied, then go ahead, make her your own. But keep in mind, for a car to run well, you have to love her. And she requires a huge amount of attention. So make sure you give it.
She will never turn you down.
