2.1 Don't be afraid to test every switch, button and lever. Check all the doors and locks, and operate the windows. If there's a sunroof, open and close it. Try the interior lights, overhead dome light, any reading lights and the lighted vanity mirrors on the sun visors. If you have road rage, be sure to test the horn.
2.2 Turn on all audio and electrical components. Do the lights and radio seem to dim with every beat of the song? This might indicate a short in the electrical, a dying battery or an alternator going bad. If you suspect the alternator, disconnect the negative ground on the battery while the engine is still running. If the vehicle quickly shuts off, the alternator has kicked the bucket.
2.3 Does the air conditioning work when the engine is idling? If the fans are blowing full-blast but only emit warm air, press and depress the A/C button while listening for the compressor to engage and disengage. If the unit won't respond with the touch of the button, either the refrigerant has run dry or diminished from a leak in the lines. An air conditioner that functions properly then suddenly looses its chill is a candidate for future problems.
2.4 Try out all the seats even if you don't plan to sit in them. The driver's seat typically has more wear than the passengers', but it shouldn't sag. The upholstery shouldn't be ripped or badly worn, particularly in a low-mileage car. Try all the driver's-seat adjustments, along with the steering wheel's height-and-reach adjustment, to make sure you can have a good driving position.
2.5 Does the interior smell like your grandma's mothball-infested closet? That pungent mold smell can only mean it was flooded at some point. You can check your insurance agency or Web sites like Carfax for the vehicle's history. You just might find out this particular vehicle fell victim to Tropical Storm Allison in 2001.
3.1 To check for low oil pressure, simply turn on the engine and count how many seconds it takes for the indicator light to turn off. If the light takes more than two seconds, don't purchase the vehicle.
3.2 Serious buyers can purchase an OBD-II scan tool, which is sold at most automotive stores, to check for any potential problems. Hondas and Acuras have built-in diagnostics ports to read problematic codes off the engine check light that you can cross-reference with the factory manual.
3.3 Prior to inspecting the vehicle, browse the Web to check the odometer. Does the actual mileage match up to the Carfax inquisition? If there are discrepancies, credit your shady salesperson or private seller on a job well done with his or her odometer rollback.
4.1 After starting the vehicle, leave it idling and press and hold the clutch pedal firmly to the ground. Listen for any unusual grinding or clinking sounds. Then depress the clutch, once again listening for any irregular noises. Those noises could be a bad clutch, faulty throw-out bearing, frozen pilot bearing or dislodged clutch fingers.
4.2 A simple way to check for slippage is to apply the parking brake while in neutral. Simply place the car in second gear while slowly easing the clutch to catch the flywheel without stalling. The car should feel ready to stall while the E-brake is still in locked position. If the clutch is heavily worn, it will literally spin upon engagement without stalling, as if the car were in motion.