Checklist for inspecting a used car

[alphatarget1]

I know there are some resident gear-heads here and I'm sure many of you have purchased used cars before. For the people who don't bring it to a mechanic- what do you guys check?

I visually inspect the following:
drive belts, leaks (oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brake), CV boots, suspension components, tires, body panels on the cars

On the test drive I try to see if the following are in order:
Alignment, transmission shifting, any engine noises (like valve ticking), brakes, ride quality (if the strut is shot I can tell).

Check everything else, headlights, windows operations, etc etc.

I have yet to buy a bad used car doing the above things. Can someone chime in for more tips? I have never brought a mechanic along and I don't know what they actually inspect... I can't imagine them being able to look at a lot of things in detail... like, say compression on the cylinders.

Maybe mods can sticky this?

 

[jlee]

You can do a compression test easily, if you really wanted to (as long as you can access the spark plugs). I did on my snowmobile before I bought it.

Make sure to look underneath the car and behind bumpers/bumper covers - I completely missed something on my last car..the entire rear bumper brace was gone, though the cover wasn't crushed.

 

[CRXican]

http://www.miata.net/faq/inspection_list.html

 

[zylander]

Pull out the dipstick and smell the oil...if it smells like gas, do not buy!

 

[Eli]

Pull out the dipstick and smell the oil...if it smells like gas, do not buy!

I make it a habit to smell the oil, but just because I smell fuel doesn't mean it's a do not buy. That could just mean that the air filter has been neglected, or the carburetor(if applicable) is out of adjustment.

I'm more looking for strange smells. Burnt or sweet smells, or milky looking.