Test driving the car tomorrow

[vtracer20]

So i'm finally gonna go test drive the white 1stgen talon tsi tomorrow. i've inspected the body and what not, interior looks awsome, now the engine and suspension. What are something i should look for? Noises i should not have? ride quality? I just wana make sure this thing will last me through winter so i dont have to spend a crap load of money keeping it on the road. I'll bring my digital camera and post up some pics maybe u guys will notice something from them . Thanks

 

[HokieDSM]

Is the car stock? How many miles?

Listen for any knocking, ticking, popping, creaking, or thumping from anywhere on the car. Look at the engine for any signs of oil leak, and look under the car at the tranfer case (if its AWD) to see if you can spot any leaks there either. Make sure it accelerates and brakes smoothly.

 

[dustyb]

well check everything. how it pulls, any wierd drivetrain noises, etc etc. be smart about it.

 

[boostedinaz]

If the motor is really dirty it may not have been taken care off well. If it is super clean and the hoses are shiny it may have been really dirty and then power washed to make it look clean. I like to go early in the morning and aks if I can be the first to start the car after is has set all night. That will let you know if it has a hard starting problem, if it knocks, and if it has any lifter tick. I would also take a compression tester and check the compression. It wont be as good as a leak down tester but it will give you an idea of the health. I like to look at all the fluids and make sure they arent low or look old and gross. You can get a good idea of if they took care if that way also. The suuspension can be a bit harder to determine. If you here weird noises you have to isolate them and see if you can find the problem then. i liek toget under the car and look to see if there are any obvious problems like bent parts or missing bolts. Other than that drive it and listen. Do a bit of a launch and a good hard brake to see if that brings about weird noises.

Good luck.