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3 Things To Do During Your Test Drive With A Used Car

23 December 2014 by Brent Porter

If you're in the market for a good used car, the best thing you can do is to choose a well-respected brand. However, that's just the first step; you need to ensure that any car you're considering will work well for you long after you decide to buy it. So when you're planning on a test drive, here are three things to do to determine whether the used car is suitable for you.

Get in the Back Seat

As the driver, you probably don't think too much about the backseat when you test drive a car. However, it's important to get a feel for what a ride in the backseat would be like. Do the rear windows work? Are the seatbelts functional? Are the seats uncomfortable to sit on? Even if you never plan to have anyone in the back seat, you may end up selling the car yourself at a later date; someone with children or other backseat passengers may not buy the car from you if there are problems with the back seat.

Put Something in the Trunk

A rear suspension can be very expensive to fix. One of the easiest ways to make sure that you aren't buying a used car with rear suspension issues is to fill the trunk and see how the car rides. You can pack a duffle bag beforehand and bring it with you, or put a few old tires in the trunk before your test drive. As you drive around, listen for unusual sounds coming from the back of the car; that may very well mean the rear suspension is not quite right.

Look at the Door Jamb

When a car has been in an accident, sometimes it is repainted. However, in an effort to save time and money, the door jambs are usually left unpainted. Before you finish your test drive, check to see if the door jamb's paint color is different than the rest of the car; that may mean the car has been in an accident. If that's the case, you need to do more investigation to make sure that the car is still a good option, in spite of its history.

After your test drive, you will have a better idea of whether the car is suitable for your lifestyle. For even more help, head to a reputable acura dealership that can pre-screen quality cars for you to consider.

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