Use this checklist to evaluate the car you are looking at. By the noting a "yes" or a "no" on each point, by the end of the checklist, if not before, you will be able to clearly evaluate "to buy or not to buy?"

1. Call the seller on the phone and ask:

Why are you selling the car?

What is the mileage on the car?

How is it running?

Have you had any problems with the car?

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Use these questions to size up the seller. Does he sound honest? Does he hem and hah? If a lot of things have been fixed recently then it is likely the car is falling apart and the seller is dumping it before he spends more money fixing it, though it may also be that everything has now been fixed and you can pick up a bargain. The character of the seller has a lot to do with it.

2. Decide to pursue this car? yes no

If you decide to pursue this one further, set up an appointment to see the car. Give yourself time to check the car out thoroughly. Size up the seller when you meet him/her in person.

3. Good impression of the seller? yes no

4. Good impression of car? yes no

5. Maintenance records okay? yes no

Ask to see the repair and maintenance records. Does the seller have the manual? When the oil was last changed? If the records and manual are missing and the oil was changed 10,000 miles ago, then you have a car that has not been well taken care of and is more likely to give you trouble.

6. Owner has owner's manual? yes no

7. Oil changes okay? yes no

8. Rust okay? yes no

Check out the body for rust and damage.

9. Accident free? yes no

Is there any evidence of the car having been in an accident? Sometimes a re-done paint job can cover up accident damage. Look under the car for rust and accident evidence.

10. Leak free under car? yes no

Check for evidence of oil or other leaks under the car.

11. Under hood okay? yes no

Open up the hood. Does the engine look reasonably clean? Or is it really messy? Too dirty and it may be neglected. Too clean and it may have been steam cleaned for show, misdirecting attention away from other problems.

12. Coolant okay? yes no

Open the radiator cap. Is oil floating in the coolant? Does it look rusty? Both of these are bad signs.

13. Transmission/brake fluid okay? yes no

Is the transmission/brake fluid dirty?

Have the seller start up the car while you stand over the hood and watch and listen:

14. Car starts at once? yes no

15. Exhaust okay? yes no

Does black or blue smoke blow out the exhaust? It shouldn't.

16. Engine sound smooth? yes no

17. Shake free? yes no

Does the engine shake when idling? Bad sign but it could just need a tune-up.

18. Ping/knock free? yes no

Have the seller step on the gas with the car in neutral. How does it sound? Any pinging or knocking noises?

19. Did the car turn off at once? yes no

The engine should stop at once when the key is turned off.

20. Gears clank/clash free? yes no

Put the car in first gear and slowly bring the clutch up if it is a manual transmission. Does the clutch engage too close to or too far from the floor? (It should engage somewhere in the middle).

21. Clutch engages okay in first gear? yes no

22. Clutch engages okay in reverse? yes no

It should engage smoothly not jerkily for both forward and reverse. Move the car back and forth a few times. Any clanks in the transmission or strange engine noises?

23. Steering play is okay? yes no Not too tight, not too loose?

24. Hand-brake works okay? yes no

25. Slowly drive around the block. Do the following feel and sound okay?

26. Take the car up to 55 MPH on the freeway. Do the following feel and sound okay?

Engine yes no
Transmission yes no
Clutch yes no
Brakes yes no
Comfort of the ride yes no
Steering yes no

27. Does the car veer:

when you take your hands off the steering wheel? yes no
If so, this could be tires or alignment.
when you brake? yes no
when you hit a bump? yes no

Could be a suspension problem.

28. No noises when braking? yes no

29. No noises when changing gears? yes no

30. Temperature looks okay? yes no Watch for any indicators of overheating.

31. Other gauges okay? yes no

32. Lights all okay? yes no

Check all the lights including the brake lights, indicators, and reverse.

33. Suspension okay? yes no

If you push down hard on the corners of the car, does it bounce a lot? If so, you have a suspension problem.

34. Tires okay? yes no

Any signs of wear or unusual wear patterns could be alignment or suspension trouble.

35. Under the hood still looks okay? yes no

Check under the hood again. Any fresh oil visible after your test drive?

36. Odometer okay? yes no

All the numbers should line up perfectly. Does the mileage seem appropriate for the condition of the car? If not, the odometer may have been tampered with.

37. Seat belts okay? yes no

38. Estimated cost of needed repairs acceptable? yes no

39. Features as desired? Yes no

40. Price okay? Yes no

41. Insurance cost okay? Yes no

42. Want to buy it? Yes no

By now you will have a fair picture of the car's condition. If you are still interested it is negotiation time. The factors involved in negotiating include what the buyer and seller each feel the car is worth and how badly each wants to or needs to buy or sell, versus how long the buyer is willing to shop around, and how long the seller is willing to hold out for a better price.

Get hold of the Kelly Blue Book which contains the range of prices at which various makes, models, and years of cars are being sold and bought on the open market.

As a rule of thumb in negotiating, a seller will often ask for more than he is willing to settle for, and the buyer will often offer less than he is willing to end up paying. The best policy is honesty and fairness. Pay a fair value if you are buying. Be honest about the condition of the car if you are selling.