How to Buy a Used Car and
Not Get Taken

Parking Brake
Be sure to check the holding power of the parking brake. Ideally, you should find a hill and, with your foot on the brake, put the car into neutral. Then apply the parking brake and lift your foot off the brake pedal. The car should remain stationary.

Check Acceleration
Using the same hill that you used in the above test-even if it's just a slight incline-stop at the bottom, then step on the gas gently. The car should move up the hill smoothly with no hesitation, surges, or strange sounds.

On a flat road, check for traffic to be sure you're clear and then floor the gas pedal and accelerate up to the legal speed limit. If the acceleration is uneven, very slow, and is accompanied by strange sounds, you might want to write the car off your list.

Engine, Overheating

Drive the car out on the highway at the speed limit for ten minutes or more. During this time, notice if there are any strange sounds and check the temperature gauge to see if the car is running hot and overheating.

Bring the car to a stop in a safe place and let the engine idle with the air conditioner on high-if it has one-for five minutes, as it would w-ere you stopped in traffic. Does it overheat?