Making sure you don't get stung with a bad car

mada82

Hi all

I've found a car that I'm interested in and want to make sure I don't end up with a car with faults.

Is getting the car checked over by a local mechanic the best way to do this?

Will they be able to spot any potential problems or could a fault not be apparent after a check.

Spending close to 7 grand, most I've ever paid, so just want to make sure I'm not buying someone else's problem

Thanks!

PLUG71

Get a comprehensive check carried out by the AA.

Murt10

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

Money well spent.

Garages and dealers don't like them examining their cars and will try to discourage you from using this service. My opinion is that if they have nothing to hide, then that shouldn't be a problem.

I have found that they point out things that need to be fixed by the dealer and getting this done later yourself, after the guarantee has expired, will usually cost more than the AA fee.

mickdw

What kind of car?
People on here will have ideas of common faults on alot of models.
getting a mechanic will certainly help as they should spot things that you might not. Anyone used to looking at cars will pick up on areas that have been repaired etc.
Mechanic will know if it's good mechanically and the common things to look for on that model.
They cannot however predict the future so you are always liable to have unexpected issues.

Supergurrier

Inspection up on a ramp is vital tbh.

delly

You can never be 100% certain, but there are certain things you can do to reduce the risk. An AA check as mentioned above or bringing a mechanic along is one, another is paying for an online check of the cars history is another.

After the above, profiling the seller can also help. Do they have multiple cars for sale at the one time, will they allow you to view the car at their home, can they provide a verified service history, can they show you the previous NCT reports? These are questions which will help you determine the chances of buying a bad car, but don't actually wholly guarantee anything either.

johndaman66

I'd be inclined to go with the AA inspection when were talking an outlay of circa €7,000. You are most likely talking €300 or maybe even more for the AA inspection but could be money well spent. In my experience many mechanics tend to focus on just a few aspects of the car while ignoring certain other aspects or lack of knowledge about weak points in the particular make/ model in question.

There are exceptions. For example there is an independent BMW specialist garage close to me. No doubt in my mind these guys could examine a BMW and know exactly what potential faults to look for

fergiesfolly

On a tangent from the Ops question. We're thinking of selling my wife's car. It's the epitome of a cheap little run about(Yaris). But all the work( servicing etc) was done by my brother and friends and have no receipt for parts ( I know).
Would it be worth getting an AA check done as way of showing any potential buyer that the cars in good nick.

bazz26

fergiesfolly wrote: »

On a tangent from the Ops question. We're thinking of selling my wife's car. It's the epitome of a cheap little run about(Yaris). But all the work( servicing etc) was done by my brother and friends and have no receipt for parts ( I know).
Would it be worth getting an AA check done as way of showing any potential buyer that the cars in good nick.

No I wouldn't. If the car is as described and there is nothing to hide then I would tell any potential buyer that you have no objection to any independent mechanical inspection they may want. It is up to the buyer to do due diligence on the car before agreeing to buy.

mada82

Thanks for the replies. It's a 07 golf. 1.4 petrol.

coylemj

mada82 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. It's a 07 golf. 1.4 petrol.

Are there any service receipts, NCT reports etc.? That would be the first thing I'd be looking for. Service receipts are a good way to check that the mileage is genuine because the invoices will state the mileage on given dates, ditto the NCT reports.

No service invoices (best) or stamps in the service book (next best thing but could be fake) means the car hasn't been properly maintained so I wouldn't touch it. If you're buying from a dealer, expect to get the runaround on this as it's standard practice to advertise the car as having a 'full service history' but typically they fail spectacularly when you ask to see the paperwork.

mada82

just a further update, the dealers say they dont let mechanics take the cars off site for inspection due to insurance reasons, they said he has a ramp there if a mechanic wants to look at it there. So i think this rules out the AA inspection option

djimi

The AA come to you to do the check do they not?