Part 5 : The Interior
The primary aim of inspecting the interior of a car is to decide if the odometer reading has been tampered with to reduce the indicated mileage, known in the auto trade as “clocking.” Of course while checking the interior for signs of high mileage, you will also discover the general condition of the car and the care given by the previous owner(s).
The first place to look is the driver’s seat bolster. This side of the seat – nearest the driver’s door – gets the most abuse due to the rubbing action of the driver’s clothes and the seat while getting in and out of the car.
Fabric
Typically the fabric seat bolster of a car with 120,000–150,000 miles will begin to break down. Initially this is internal, with the seat foam beginning to disintegrate leaving the side or base of the seat (next to the driver’s door) looking decidedly flat, twisted, or bulging. The seat fabric will become wrinkly, then begin to fray, and will finally produce a gaping hole exposing the foam beneath.
Bear in mind the light driver wearing smooth-fabric clothes with cause significantly less damage than a heavy driver wearing studded jeans. Estimating the mileage of a car is only that, an estimate.
Leather
The leather seat can generally weather the test of time and high miles better than a fabric seat, which makes it much harder to estimate the correct mileage. Extremely hot climates will also prematurely age a leather interior.
Steering Wheel and Gear Lever
The steering wheel should be checked for signs of wear. The plastic variety are manufactured with a grain or dimpling effect to aid grip while driving. Look at this texture on a part of the steering wheel that isn’t normally held during driving. Now compare this “untouched” area with the outside of the steering wheel at the 1:50 mark (i.e., on an analogue clock face; the left hand would be resting at‘10’ and the right hand would be resting at ‘2’), which is normally the most commonly grasped area of the steering wheel. Wear can begin to show at around 70–80K miles, although German-built cars tend to fare better and can easily cover 100-120K miles without any sign of wear. In general, any wear on the steering wheel will indicate a car has at least 70K miles, and in some cases wear will start only at 120K miles.
The plastic gear lever of a stick shift (manual gearbox) can begin to wear at the 50K mark, with the automatic transmission shifter beginning to wear towards 70K-80K, as it’s not moved as often while driving. Leather steering wheels and gear levers, just like the leather seats, tend to be more difficult to read. Rings and other jewelry can quickly destroy a leather steering wheel in a short period of time.
Foot Pedals
Over time the treaded pattern on the brake, clutch, and gas pedals will disappear. Foot pedals on cars with high mileage will slowly fade, most commonly on a corner of the pedal only. Again, estimating mileage based on wear is an estimate – people have different driving styles, and some push hard on the brake pedal while others will anticipate the road and use engine braking to slow down. As a result, the pedals will suffer less wear and tear.
Door Panel, Light switches, Key and Keyhole
The driver’s door panel is next for inspection. Power window switches and door handles should be looked at closely. Note that switches with white writing on a black surface can look worn, but are in reality only extremely dirty – take a closer look to confirm. Have a good look too at the keyhole. Does the area look worn? In cars with under 70K miles, this area should not be worn. Have a look at the key too, as the key of a car with under 50K miles should look new.
Interior Summary
*Deal Breaker colums A, B & C refer to the following 3 cars: A – 10 Year Old Family Car E.g Toyota Corolla, B – 6 Year Old Mid Size, E.g Audi A6, C – 2 Year Old 4×4, E.g Honda CRV visit here for more details
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Part 5 : The Engine
Index
