NCT Vs Full Inspection

jos_kel

Very close to buying a 2009 Ford Focus Zetec from a dealer across the road from my Estate. Imported from the UK with full service history. He said he's putting it through the NCT and changing the timing belt.
I'm wondering is this enough or should I get a mechanic to do a full inspection check.
I'm getting a 3 month warranty and I think he has a good reputation so doubt very much if there's anything lurking under the bonnet. Drives very solidly and smoothly. 9k is the asking price and there is 83.5k miles on the clock.

Alanstrainor

Get a mechanic to check it out always. NCt will only prove that its road worthy, it could still be a heap!

Toyotafanboi

personally i'd do a full motorcheck report on it and push for 6 months warranty. if he services it and belts it and it passes the NCT i'd be confident.

that said if you know sfa about cars, it certainly cant hurt to get a professional eye to look over it.

Anan1

I don't like the sound of the dealer doing the TB - there's too much of an incentive to skip tensioners/water pump. Before doing anything you need to call the dealers in the UK who stamped the book to verify that the work was actually done. You also need to run a full HPI check - there are plenty of damaged repaired cars coming in from the UK.

djimi

It never hurts to get a second opinion on a car, even from a dealer. If nothing else, gauging the dealers reaction when you mention getting it looked over by your mechanic might give you a clear indication of potential trouble (if they have nothing to hide/worry about then they wont have a problem with it).

biko

Spend a few hundred on a proper mechanic's inspection, you'll be happy for it if they find something and save you thousands.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

No comparison between an NCT and a full inspection tbh

bazz26

Also offering only a 3 months warranty on a less than 4 year old car seems to a bit short imo. I'd be expecting 6 months minimum on a car of that age.