Checking cars out at auctions

goochy

It seems merlin and wilsons are the two main players in auctions know u can't go on test drives and that but just wondered are auction cars left unlocked b4 they go through the ring ? Do you get much time to check under the bonnet and see / hear the engine running ?

Diairist

A good question.

Red Crow

You can but there is a small window. I'm not sure about Test driving but you can check over the car.

I know Merlin have the viewing times listed on their site

YbFocus

The cars are unlocked, and can usually start it because the keys are in it. You can't test drive it but you can do basically everything else

dgt

Check them in the afternoon before the auction. Can't test drive, I got caught out before with a car with a dodgy clutch. Tread carefully

oodles19

As the previous posters said they'll let you run it but not drive it, that said you can give it a cheeky roll back and forward a bit to at least try and see if there's anything horrendous with the clutch/brakes, that said if its slipping in a higher gear or something you'd be scoobied. The main thing is to make sure the instrumentation lights (check engine lights, that sort of thing) come on and then off again (to make sure someone hasn't pulled the bulbs), its no guarantee but it's worth doing. They seem to do cartell checks on their lots as well, at least some of the cars I saw yesterday were listed as having incorrect mileage...

laois hibby

I have seen lads plugging fault readers in to check for faults

oodles19

laois hibby wrote: »

I have seen lads plugging fault readers in to check for faults

Yeah, if you know what car you're going for that's a great idea, a lot of those cables and software are only €30-€40, plug it into the laptop and away you go. Some of them even work on multiple makes/models