Paying a mechanic to look at a car for sale?

FrankC21

Hi, my mate at work paid €150 to a mechanic to check out a car tha his interested in, 2011 Hyundai ix35 1.7, is that even right?

I told him its a bit too much, I remember paying €150 to change oil + filter and air filter but to check a car I wont be paying that much.

Del2005

Depends on how far the mechanic had to travel and how detailed the report. If it was in his garage and he said its fine it's too much, if he had to drive 2 hours to see it and/or gave a detailed breakdown of any issues it's good value.

Bit late asking after the event.

User1998

€100 to €150 for a pre purchase inspection is about right assuming the mechanic had to travel to view the car as apposed to the car being brought to his garage

BlakeS94

That's insane, whenever I've been looking at a car I bring it to my local mechanic in limerick for a pre-purchase inspection, up on the lift, 20 minutes to have a look, haven't paid more than €30.

KevRossi

BlakeS94 wrote: »

That's insane, whenever I've been looking at a car I bring it to my local mechanic in limerick for a pre-purchase inspection, up on the lift, 20 minutes to have a look, haven't paid more than €30.

We don't know the circumstances here, if the car was bought to him, or did the mechanic travel.

I've paid €100 for a good mechanic to travel about 20 mins and run a diagnostic check on a car that I was interested in. Probably took just over an hour of his time all in. On the basis of that I left it as the car had been clocked and a few warnings had been switched off. I know the garage well and have often had cars serviced and repaired there as well as bringing him a few new clients over the years.

Money well spent IMO.

BlakeS94

KevRossi wrote: »

We don't know the circumstances here, if the car was bought to him, or did the mechanic travel.

I've paid €100 for a good mechanic to travel about 20 mins and run a diagnostic check on a car that I was interested in. Probably took just over an hour of his time all in. On the basis of that I left it as the car had been clocked and a few warnings had been switched off. I know the garage well and have often had cars serviced and repaired there as well as bringing him a few new clients over the years.

Money well spent IMO.

Yeah I agree if the mechanic had to travel to see the car that would warrant a higher fee. On the scale of things even if it was €150 or €100 or €50 it's a small price to pay for piece of mind instead of buying a car with issues that were going to cost you a lot more to fix. The first car I ever looked at I brought my friend's dad with me because he was the only person i knew that had knowledge of cars, I knew nothing at the time, I liked the car but he advised me not to go for it because he saw symptoms of a blown head gasket, I'd have been none the wiser at the time.

Dirty Nails

FrankC21 wrote: »

Hi, my mate at work paid €150 to a mechanic to check out a car tha his interested in, 2011 Hyundai ix35 1.7, is that even right?

I told him its a bit too much, I remember paying €150 to change oil + filter and air filter but to check a car I wont be paying that much.

I suppose mechanics should really work for nothing. Especially when all ye google mechanics know everything....... :P)

kippy

I've never done this but would question a couple of things.
1. What type of report does the mechanic provide to the potential purchaser? Written, verbal, extensive, yes/no?
2. What, if any, protection has the potential buyer got if they go ahead and buy the car, if there are issues with the car down the line?
3. Does the mechanic have professional insurance to cover themselves if there are issues?

150 bucks is a fair wedge when you compare it to similiar professions doing similiar jobs for far more expensive purchases but I suppose if they spot something you wouldn't have or can give you some good advice it's probably not a bad outlay.

Dirty Nails

kippy wrote: »

I've never done this but would question a couple of things.
1. What type of report does the mechanic provide to the potential purchaser? Written, verbal, extensive, yes/no?
2. What, if any, protection has the potential buyer got if they go ahead and buy the car, if there are issues with the car down the line?
3. Does the mechanic have professional insurance to cover themselves if there are issues?

150 bucks is a fair wedge when you compare it to similiar professions doing similiar jobs for far more expensive purchases but I suppose if they spot something you wouldn't have or can give you some good advice it's probably not a bad outlay.

I'd guess alsolutely nil to all of the above,motor assessor or something like AA technical division would be the proper way to go.

FrankC21

Del2005 wrote: »

Bit late asking after the event.

I'm just curious to know the cost coming from here.

skooterblue2

Better question, if you bought a dodgy car, (my mate who knows loads about cars did), how much would you pay to reverse the decision? My friend got properly stung on a bargain car. Advice from a mechanic could be very cheap in the long run if you are paying €20k+ for a car?

kippy

FrankC21 wrote: »

I'm just curious to know the cost coming from here.

As I said, never paid anyone to look at a second hand car but I don't think you've actually provided any insight as to what was got for the 150.

greasepalm

We always past on this as too many things can be missed and told to go for specialist for a detailed report for safety sake.
Buying a car as seen what issues maybe hiding underneath?

kippy

skooterblue2 wrote: »

Better question, if you bought a dodgy car, (my mate who knows loads about cars did), how much would you pay to reverse the decision? My friend got properly stung on a bargain car. Advice from a mechanic could be very cheap in the long run if you are paying €20k+ for a car?

No more than a house surveyor (and look at my earlier questions above) can a mechanic spot everything that could be wrong with a second hand car and if they don't what, if any, comeback to you have with them?

skooterblue2

kippy wrote: »

No more than a house surveyor (and look at my earlier questions above) can a mechanic spot everything that could be wrong with a second hand car and if they don't what, if any, comeback to you have with them?

You can sue a structural engineer for a dodgy report but not a mechanic. I will be honest I dont know about cars hence any eye would be better than mine for spotting problems.

dax121

You could prob get in into a main dealer for a full detailed check over for that kind of money. You would get a video e mail with any issues they find.. Defo pick main dealer over a indie

spiggotpaddy

The mechanic is on a lose lose with this job. If all goes well and the car gives no trouble well then it was a waste of money, rip off. If the car develops a problem then the mechanic is a charlatan = chancer= rip off.

FrankC21

He said the garage(sandyford) brought the car to the mechanic(dont know where) to do the check did full inspection of the car(do not know how detailed the inspection was) anyway mechanic said car's fine except for the air condition isn't working. My mate bought the car for 8k.

garv123

FrankC21 wrote: »

He said the garage(sandyford) brought the car to the mechanic(dont know where) to do the check did full inspection of the car(do not know how detailed the inspection was) anyway mechanic said car's fine except for the air condition isn't working. My mate bought the car for 8k.

Jesus, I would have sold him our 2014 one for 8k :pac::pac: did he at least bring some lube?

Stihl waters

If the car is good and he buys is it money well spent?
If the car is a heap of shìt and mechanic says walk away is it money well spent?

The answer to both is yes in case anyone is wondering

Dakota Dan

Dirty Nails wrote: »

I suppose mechanics should really work for nothing. Especially when all ye google mechanics know everything....... :P)

They don’t get their nails dirty for nothing.

Dakota Dan

garv123 wrote: »

Jesus, I would have sold him our 2014 one for 8k :pac::pac: did he at least bring some lube?

€8k for a 2011 sounds steep for a private sale.

Dirty Nails

Dakota Dan wrote: »

They don’t get their nails dirty for nothing.

Very true. Vincent de Paul is the place for the free stuff.