Getting a car checked by mechanic

notsobusy

I am looking at buying a 2nd hand kia sorento. I've narrowed the search down to about 3/4 of them that I want to see....

The problem is the distance, I don't mind driving down and taking a test drive etc but I would definitely want my mechanic to check it out. The problem is my mechanic wouldn't be able to come for the drive down plus I'd prefer the car to be checked out by mechanic in his garage so how do I get around this?

Do I ask the owner to drive up to me to my garage? About a 2-3 hour drive!!?? Or give him/her a deposit and drive the car back up myself? Then pay the rest when it passes? I can't imagine anyone agreeing to this to be honest!

biko

Perhaps there is a mechanic you can use in the area where you're looking at the car?

notsobusy

Perhaps but to be honest I would want my own mechanic to look at it.

Anan1

notsobusy wrote: »

Perhaps but to be honest I would want my own mechanic to look at it.

Short of paying your own mechanic for the day I don't see how it could happen?

dahamsta

There's no magical solution. Either pay your mechanic to visit the car, which will be expensive; pay the seller to bring it to your mechanic; or more logically, ask your mechanic to recommend or find one close to the seller.

notsobusy

notsobusy wrote: »

...........

Do I ask the owner to drive up to me to my garage? About a 2-3 hour drive!!?? Or give him/her a deposit and drive the car back up myself? Then pay the rest when it passes? I can't imagine anyone agreeing to this to be honest!

As you suspect both of those options are fairly looney to say the least. As money seems to be no object for you I'd tend to go for an AA inspection, not cheap but might suit you. Once you are fairly sure you have settled on one of them, I am not suggesting you get 3 or 4 of them AA checked.

notsobusy

Roverjames it's not that money is not object in fact this is very precious money!!! I got done on the last car I bought so I don't want to get done again. I am only trying to be sensible. But that's a great idea about the AA. I plan on keeping this new car whenever I get it for the next good while so want to make sure that it's not going to be in the garage every five minutes!

bazz26

I just cannot see a seller agreeing to take time off work, drive 2 to 3 hours to your mechanic on the chance that you may or may not buy the car.

Anan1

notsobusy wrote: »

Roverjames it's not that money is not object in fact this is very precious money!!! I got done on the last car I bought so I don't want to get done again. I am only trying to be sensible. But that's a great idea about the AA. I plan on keeping this new car whenever I get it for the next good while so want to make sure that it's not going to be in the garage every five minutes!

A mechanical inspection is by no means foolproof, and should only be one factor in buying a car. If I found a car in excellent condition with FSH and evidence of having money spent on it and an owner I trusted then i'd probably buy it without inspection.

notsobusy

bazz26 wrote: »

I just cannot see a seller agreeing to take time off work, drive 2 to 3 hours to your mechanic on the chance that you may or may not buy the car.

That's an absolutely fair enough point! But no harm in asking. I think I may have to find a mechanic down that area!!

notsobusy

Anan1 wrote: »

A mechanical inspection is by no means foolproof, and should only be one factor in buying a car. If I found a car in excellent condition with FSH and evidence of having money spent on it and an owner I trusted then i'd probably buy it without inspection.

Oh I realise it's not foolproof but it's just an extra caution I am willing to pay for. But yes you are right about the full service history etc.

dahamsta

Just be aware that an AA inspection will set you back around €400, and it could be a lot higher depending on where the car is. We're robbed with them over here.

notsobusy

Oh be jaysus that's too expensive!!

MidlandsM

where is the kia op?

notsobusy

I'd be looking at an 06 model, there's a couple I am interested in on DD. One in Waterford and one in Tipp.

MidlandsM

pm sent