You've seen three cars this week. One had a chip in the windshield, one smelled like a wet dog, and one had a price that seemed too good. By Thursday you can't say which was which. That's normal. Every used car blurs into the next one after the second test drive.
The fix is boring and it works: write down the same few things at every car, right after you see it. Here's what to note, and in what order.
Before you go
Ask the seller for the VIN before you drive anywhere. A seller who won't share it has told you something already.
Run a vehicle history report with the VIN. It shows reported accidents, title problems, odometer readings over the years and how many owners the car had. It won't show everything, but it gives you questions to ask. While you have the VIN, check it for open recalls too. NHTSA's recall lookup is free.
Look up what the car usually sells for at that mileage. You'll want a number in your head before the seller gives you theirs.
Write down the asking price, the mileage and where the car is. Three facts, ten seconds.
At the car
Walk around it in daylight. Look along each side for ripples and check that the gaps between panels are even. Paint that's a shade off on one panel usually means it was repaired. That's not always bad, but it should match what the history report says.
Check the tires. Uneven wear on one edge can point to alignment problems. Mismatched brands on the same axle can mean corners were cut.
Open the hood. You don't have to be a mechanic. Look for fresh oil on the engine, cracked hoses or a battery covered in white crust. Pull the dipstick and see if the oil looks very dark or low.
Inside, try everything with a switch: windows, locks, AC, heat, lights, wipers. Smell the carpet. Lift a floor mat. Water damage is easier to smell than to see.
On the test drive
Start the car cold if you can. Some problems only show up before the engine warms.
Drive the kind of roads you drive every day. Some city stops, a highway merge, a bumpy stretch. Listen for knocks over bumps, grinding when you brake and any pull to one side. Turn the radio off.
Afterwards, park and let it idle for a minute. Look under the car for drips.
Questions for the seller
Ask these at every car and note the answers:
- Do you have the title in your name, and is it clean?
- How long have you had it, and why are you selling?
- Do you have service records?
- Has it been in any accidents, even small ones?
- Is anything not working right now?
- Can I take it to a mechanic before I buy?
The last one matters most. A pre-purchase inspection costs a little and can save you a lot. A seller who says no to it makes the decision easy.
Comparing them afterwards
Once you've seen two or three cars, line them up on the same few things: price, miles, history, condition, how the seller answered. The car that felt best on the drive isn't always the one that comes out ahead on paper.
Give each car a short list of what's still open. "Ask about the brakes." "Get the price down." "Book an inspection." When every car has an open list, you can see which ones are worth another trip.
Where Nave fits
The hardest part is writing things down while you still remember them. Standing next to the car, it's easier to talk than to type. Say the price, the miles and the one thing that bugged you, then go.
In Nave, each car becomes a short note with a title and summary, and the whole search sits in one thread. Things you said you'd do, like booking an inspection, show up as actions. The search below is made up and runs over one week.
