There is a saying from the modern life of the people that goes: "An old car and a young woman are lucky." And there is a lot of truth in it. However, to avoid unnecessary costs and disappointments when buying a used car, it is important to be able to recognize the signs of a bad car.
The first step in looking at a used car is to find out if the car has been used as a taxi. This can be understood by many signs, the main of which are holes or cuts on the dashboard, inspection of the paint in hard-to-reach places, one of which is the "motor basket" to see if it has not been repainted and the previous color was yellow, cream or green.
Second, look at how many owners the car in question has had. If there are a lot of them and they changed often, then this indicates that the car is most likely problematic (broken, drowned, components do not work, etc.).
Third, you need to assess the condition of the vehicle in terms of “wear and tear”. It may be perfectly washed and polished, but its stand itself must be good. not to look "tired". If a 15-year-old car looks like new, with a washed engine and polished headlights, it's clear that work has been done to bring it back to life, but it may only be superficial. Basic service diagnostics will tell you about the rest.
Fourth. Unscrew the oil filler cap and see the color of the decals underneath. The fewer they are, the better. But the cap can be washed off, so look inside the motor and use a flashlight. If there is no serious scum, things are fine.
Fifth. Start the engine and see the color of the exhaust smoke. With an unheated car, it is easy to tell if there is oil burning (blue smoke) or antifreeze entering the cylinders (thick white smoke). Also check the edge of the exhaust pipe - there should be no deposits here - black dry exhaust is considered normal.
Sixth. The engine should run quietly and smoothly, without knocking and rattling, especially in cold weather. There should be no white or blue smoke from the tailpipe when re-igniting.
Seventh. Look at the windshield. Compare its markings with the markings on the side and rear windows - their year of manufacture should match, unless the windows were replaced due to an accident (which is also not good). Next, assess the degree of wear on the windshield. If it is damaged by many small dents, and the car is five years old, for example, and the odometer shows less than 100 thousand km, the dealers have obviously worked on the mileage.
Eighth. Take a good look at the vehicle's tires for uneven wear. Drive the car on bumpy roads (there is no lack of such in our country) and listen for unusual noises from the suspension and be sure to inspect the clearances between the body panels. They must be the same.