Rent a wrench!

thegreatiam

possible to rent a mechanic (or experienced buyer of reliable cars) for a day, with his own car?

I am looking to buy my first car, with a budget of about €1000, so I need a reliable, knowledgeable (and cheap) person willing to lend a hand possibly to drive to a few places to look at some cars with me and help recommend one.

Would this be a done thing? is there a going rate? if so how much?
I would like to schedule looking at about 4/5 cars in the one day, if I can, maybe visit a garage so it would probably take a few hours.
I have a number of a guy but he has not got back to me, so I need to ask a wider group.

If you know anyone, or are willing your self then please PM with costs etc
Thanks

nelly17

http://www.aaireland.ie/AA/Vehicle-checks/Vehicle-Inspections.aspxhttp://www.aaireland.ie/AA/Vehicle-checks/Vehicle-Inspections.aspx

Alanstrainor

Can't see a mechanic going around with you for hours, without it costing you a lot, it's a business they're running after all.

Do you have any friends or family that would be knowledgeable in anyway with cars? For that kind of budget that's the way to do it tbh. No harm in going around yourself either, read the sticky at the top of the forum and you should have plenty of info to go on.

A mechanic came to look at the Polo I was selling there a couple of months back, and to say it was a complete joke of an inspection was an understatement. Asked barely any questions, looked at the car for about 20 seconds. Drove it around the block and hey presto it got a massive thumbs up. The guy didn't even open the bonnet, check oil or any of the basics.

S28382

When i seen the title of your post i thought some one was renting out my wife :eek: then i read the rest and realised im not that lucky :pac:





sorry for jumping on your post i just couldnt resist.

Stheno

nelly17 wrote: »

http://www.aaireland.ie/AA/Vehicle-checks/Vehicle-Inspections.aspxhttp://www.aaireland.ie/AA/Vehicle-checks/Vehicle-Inspections.aspx

That'd be expensive on four or five cars though!

nelly17

It sure would

ThreeLineWhip

nelly17 wrote: »

http://www.aaireland.ie/AA/Vehicle-checks/Vehicle-Inspections.aspxhttp://www.aaireland.ie/AA/Vehicle-checks/Vehicle-Inspections.aspx

Not worth the money imho.

thegreatiam

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Do you have any friends or family that would be knowledgeable in anyway with cars?

Sadly I don't.
paying a stranger wouldn't be my first choice.
My father is coming to Dublin in a few months but that's too far away, i need the car this month if i can. Plus he has a notorious history of buying junk. don't remember one single decent car on our drive growing up.

I may have to take the risk and trust my gut, limerick mans thread in the stickies has been a pretty good read so far and I'm subscribed to the bangernomics for a good few months, might catch something there.

Stheno

thegreatiam wrote: »

Sadly I don't.
paying a stranger wouldn't be my first choice.
My father is coming to Dublin in a few months but that's too far away, i need the car this month if i can. Plus he has a notorious history of buying junk. don't remember one single decent car on our drive growing up.

I may have to take the risk and trust my gut, limerick mans thread in the stickies has been a pretty good read so far and I'm subscribed to the bangernomics for a good few months, might catch something there.

If I were you I'd keep an eye on bangernomics, and try and get down to 2-3 cars you like, then ask here for some info/opinions on them.

Then you can test drive them and when you've narrowed it down to one you could get someone to look it over.

Where are you based?

thegreatiam

Stheno wrote: »

Where are you based?

D12 near the naas road

bazz26

Stheno wrote: »

That'd be expensive on four or five cars though!

Especially when the OP is only spending €1k on a car. Sounds like the OP needs a mechanic for a nixer.

OP, no harm in going looking at 4 or 5 cars by yourself but you would need to settle that list down to about two before getting a mechanic to look them over otherwise it could end up expensive. Anyone like a family member or friend who have any experience of buying cars that could help you narrow your search down?

thegreatiam

Looks like ill be getting my fingers greasy then. and not in a good way.

Blut2

Doesnt the AA inspection cost in the region of €200?

If you could narrow your list down to 2 cars I'm sure plenty of indie mechanics would take 2 hours off some afternoon for €100 to check them out. Or I would have assumed so anyway, would it not be fairly easy money for them?

ThreeLineWhip

€100 should get you a decent mechanics opinion.

deandean

OP with a budget of €1000 you should find yourself a good mechanic allright to stay with you for the day.

Realistically: Don't buy a car with a budget of €1000 if you are not handy yourself with the spanners.