NCT failed on suspension query

aunt aggie

Test drove a car today. Issue is the owner put it through NCT a month early this weekend and it failed. I'm given the choice of paying full price and the owner will retest or taking a cut on the price and putting it through myself.

I tried to get some quotes for the work off garages but they wont give me a straight answer without seeing the car, which is fair. From looking at the NCT the rear axle and wishbone bushes are worn on both sides, and one of the front bushes is gone as well. Also it failed the alignment test so probably needs tracking done. Can anyone give me a rough estimate on what it would cost to replace or fix these?

I'm very tempted to just walk away and find something else...

challengemaster

For a start - what car is it?

bazz26

So what's the difference in price between getting the owner to retest it and buying it as is?

aunt aggie

05 Ford Focus and 400 euro

bazz26

What did your mechanic say?

aunt aggie

Wouldn't give me any quote without seeing the car

bazz26

It is always prudent and advisable to have a mechanic look over any car you are serious about buying before committing to buying. The NCT is a test of road worthiness at that time, it does not mean the car is mechanically sound however.

Does the seller have an issue bringing the car to your mechanic for an inspection?

aunt aggie

Honestly I don't want to bring in a mechanic if its very expensive. That's why I'm just looking for a rough estimate.

If the cost was within 300 or 400 euro I would probably consider buying it. Then I'd get a mechanic to give it a once over to be sure there's no other issues and get a more accurate quote.

Special Circumstances

What Bazz is saying is that the nct isn't the be all and end all of car condition - it's worth getting a mechanic to look over it anyway.

Tbh that car must have been a bit sloppy on the road for a while with those items worn - suggesting the owner is oblivious to faults or required maintenance or just doesn't care. What else was neglected?

billy few mates

If I was the seller I'd be getting the work done and selling it with a fresh NCT unless it was very expensive to fix, in which case i'd probably do what she is doing and 'knock a few quid' off and sell it without the NCT....

BlazingSaddler

I just had the rear suspension done on an 07 Focus to get it through the NCT, I paid an independent Mechanic €300, Lillis O'Donnel (Ford dealer) quoted about €400. It failed the NCT because he didn't align the rear wheels after doing the work so ended up paying €40 for the alignment and €28 for the retest! and a whole load of hassle!

aunt aggie

billy few mates wrote: »

If I was the seller I'd be getting the work done and selling it with a fresh NCT unless it was very expensive to fix, in which case i'd probably do what she is doing and 'knock a few quid' off and sell it without the NCT....

Yes I think that is exactly what HE is doing. Never said I was buying off a woman.

billy few mates

aunt aggie wrote: »

Yes I think that is exactly what HE is doing. Never said I was buying off a woman.

Apologies for that, I don't know how I came to that conclusion...
Maybe it's because women can sometimes be more devious in situations like this...?



Helmet on, incoming fire.....

aunt aggie

As a woman I've found the opposite.

Slightly unrelated. I was vewing a car last week a lovely man said if I got the right colour paint and my eyeshadow brush I could fix the paintwork up myself.