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Pre Purchase Inspections?

  • 29-09-2012 9:29pm
    #1
    Zascar
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 12,781 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I've decided I'm never going to buy a car ever again without getting a proper Pre Purchase Inspection. I'm wondering are there any reasonably priced PPI services that anyone knows? I usually know exactly what car & spec I'm after, so I'd probably send the mechanic in first, then if it get the a-ok, I'd go down with cash and take it away hopefully.

    I know the AA do one but its pretty expensive. I'm thinking more like €100 or so for someone to check out the car and then give me a quick rundown on issues etc. Hopefully give me something to bargain with.

    Has anyone done this themselves?


Comments

  • #2
    terrydel
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,881 ✭✭✭terrydel


    I had http://www.inspectacarorvan.com/ look at a car for me, at the owners home. He can do car location or garage.
    Larry is his name, seems a good guy. He will do it for €100 in Dublin, a little more if its a bit outside Dublin.
    He recommended I avoid buying a car and I was happy with that.
    Give him a call.


  • #3
    born2bwild
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,419 ✭✭✭born2bwild


    I got the AA to check out a car I bought (prior to purchase) last month. 307eu. Pretty steep but the car is fine (as the AA said)-
    I've driven it for 1, 200 km and no problems yet.
    I can't really say if the cash was well spent..I'd rather not spend that kind of cash but I know sfa about cars, really.


  • #4
    colm_c
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,032 ✭✭✭colm_c


    Depends on the car, I'd try to get a specialist to check it out rather than a generic mechanic to be honest.

    From my recent experience, most specialist indy garages -- BMW, Audi etc. are happy to do a pre-inspection and give you the verdict.

    I got two done both 50 each, one was a bit of a lemon, and the other checked out. I also got quotes for the same job in a number of specialists and it ranged from 50 to 150.

    Most sellers are happy to drop it into a garage for an hour if it means they get it shifted!


  • #5
    terrydel
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,881 ✭✭✭terrydel


    born2bwild wrote: »
    I got the AA to check out a car I bought (prior to purchase) last month. 307eu. Pretty steep but the car is fine (as the AA said)-
    I've driven it for 1, 200 km and no problems yet.
    I can't really say if the cash was well spent..I'd rather not spend that kind of cash but I know sfa about cars, really.

    That seems ridiculously expensive and a total ripoff.
    Depends on how much youre paying for the car really, but I'd not pay more than 150 myself, no matter what.


  • #6
    Zascar
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 12,781 Mod ✭✭✭✭Zascar


    I think that AA one includes some type of guarantee or warranty or something... 100-150 is fine, and totally worth it to make sure you don't buy a lemon. I did once and it cost me thousands. Could have been avoided. The other thing, is that if the mechanic find somethnig wrong - or just not perfect etc, you can use it as bargaining tool to get more money off - so I'll get the €100 back if you try...


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  • #7
    CiniO
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,069 ✭✭✭✭CiniO


    Zascar wrote: »
    I think that AA one includes some type of guarantee or warranty or something... 100-150 is fine, and totally worth it to make sure you don't buy a lemon. I did once and it cost me thousands. Could have been avoided. The other thing, is that if the mechanic find somethnig wrong - or just not perfect etc, you can use it as bargaining tool to get more money off - so I'll get the €100 back if you try...

    What exactly did you buy and what was the problem that cost you thousands?


  • #8
    bmstuff
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,363 ✭✭✭bmstuff


    If you want to buy a BMW, I can tell you if the airbags ever deployed, all the faults stored etc, anything related to electronics really. Still I would advise you to get it inspected by a mechanic (which I am not), I am just the guy than can see things hidden behind those dusty electronic modules, that the mechanic can't see.


  • #9
    Del2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,102 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    bmstuff wrote: »
    If you want to buy a BMW, I can tell you if the airbags ever deployed, all the faults stored etc, anything related to electronics really. Still I would advise you to get it inspected by a mechanic (which I am not), I am just the guy than can see things hidden behind those dusty electronic modules, that the mechanic can't see.

    Any mechanic worth their salt would should spot the damage that lead to the air bags being deployed. There's not much that can be hidden once a car goes onto a ramp, any seller not willing to let their car onto a ramp should be avoided.


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