# Good Test drive. Broken Car? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [December 30, 2019, 3:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/good-test-drive-broken-car/155542 "2019-12-30T03:24:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![calvagnav\_161457](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@calvagnav\_161457](https://community.cartalk.com/u/calvagnav_161457)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 3:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/good-test-drive-broken-car/155542/1 "2019-12-30T03:24:06Z")
So yesterday i was test driving a pre-owned 2015 DSG GTI. I fell in love with the car, 50k miles, aftermarket exhaust and an extremely good price point. While i was on the test drive a cloud of white smoke came out of the exhaust for about 5 seconds then did not reappear for the remainder of the test drive. This was after the engine had heated up but it also was not the hardest i pushed the engine. Being that i am potentially going to buy this car and do not necessarily trust the dealer to be honest on wether or not it passed their inspection, i just wanted to see if this could possibly not be a blown head gasket or cracked cylinder block. The car had sat for about a week before i drove it so idk if that had anything to do with it. if anyone has any idea on if this could be a fluke please lmk, i really did love that car… ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 3:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/good-test-drive-broken-car/155542/2 "2019-12-30T03:30:31Z")
AFAIK white smoke shouldn’t happen under any circumstances. I’d steer clear and keep looking. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 5:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/good-test-drive-broken-car/155542/3 "2019-12-30T05:30:18Z")
run away from this one It sounds like you could be in for some extremely expensive repairs ---
**Author:** ![ledhed75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@ledhed75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ledhed75)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/good-test-drive-broken-car/155542/4 "2019-12-30T16:13:41Z")
I’d be curious why a nice 2015 car with only 50K miles was on the used car lot. And for a “good price point”. You may have discovered the reason for the good price. Count yourself lucky. I’d walk away too. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/good-test-drive-broken-car/155542/5 "2019-12-30T16:37:30Z")
> [@calvagnav\_161457](#): > > aftermarket exhaust If that exhaust system is a “performance-oriented” one, that might give you a clue as to the reason for possible engine damage. People who modify a car in the interest of higher power output are typically not those who will drive in a conservative manner. Or, to be more blunt, the engine was likely flogged– a lot. I don’t buy used cars, but if I did, I would definitely avoid those with performance upgrades. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 5:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/good-test-drive-broken-car/155542/6 "2019-12-30T17:13:19Z")
If you are really interested in it, take it to a mechanic you trust for a prepurchase inspection. Maybe they can sort it out for you. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/good-test-drive-broken-car/155542/7 "2019-12-30T20:39:27Z")
2015 could be lease turn in. 50k miles is 3-4 yrs on avg and folks get bored. if the price is lower then any other you have seen, then it is probably low for a reason.