14 Sep 01
Test the engine first. Does it fire up quickly? Check whether the car was warmed up and started before you arrived - the engine will be warm if it was). Are there clouds of blue smoke from the exhaust? Are there any odd tapping noises - especially those that speed up when the engine speeds up - metallic clunks and so on, and does the car tick over evenly when the driver's foot is not on the throttle?
Make sure that you are insured to drive the car. Does it pull away evenly? Check that you can engage all the gears - don't forget reverse - and that the car doesn't jump out of gear. In an automatic, feel for the changes in ratio and smoothness of acceleration - does the car jerk or lurch?
Find a steepish hill and accelerate in third: if the revs go up but the car doesn't get any faster, then the clutch is on its way out. Stop on the hill and apply the handbrake. Does it hold the car stationary? Try the foot brakes (making sure that it is all clear behind). Does the car brake quickly and in a straight line? Find a quiet area - an empty car park, if possible - and test the steering. Are there any clunks or grinding noises? Does the car wander, suddenly feel over-light to steer or pull to one side? Keep an eye on the temperature gauge; this should climb to roughly halfway and stay there. Going into the red is not normal. Listen out for any odd noises: clunks when braking or knocking sounds from the steering column.
