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What "major issues?" Major issues are almost always evident. Engine knock, transmission slip, gear whine, unusual noises, etc, steering and alignment etc. What I do like to have is safety inspection that's good for at least 9 months. You take in any used car for inspection and you could easily run into thousands on shocks and brakes.
Safety inspections like lights, horn, blinkers ??
That doesn't really get in to mechanical things
Safety inspections like lights, horn, blinkers ??
That doesn't really get in to mechanical things
I take ot you don't live in NY State, so you've never had a NYS inspection done. There isn't too much they DON'T look at. I posted a link upthread that has the full list. Plus they do an emissions test on newer cars.
There is something I wonder when I hear the advice "have a mechanic of your choice inspect a used car you're considering purchasing", which is good advice.
If the mechanic inspects the car, but then something the mechanic doesn't see turns out to be an expensive repair or even safety issue, what liability does the mechanic have in certifying that the car is in good condition?
I wonder if this would make some shops reluctant to do this kind of inspection because they're concerned it could come back and haunt them if the car ends up being a dud a month or a year later.
We have done a LOT of buyer's checks and never had this problem. FWIW, there is a statement on the on the invoice that the buyer's check carries no warranty whatsoever,
We try to deal only with reasonable buyers and sellers.
Honestly I'd take history of maintenance vs a "visual" inspection any day.
How much can a mechanic discover with a quick visual over top of engine (especially the mobile ones). They don't know if major components are going to fail or been abused (transmission, head gasket, engine failure) from a quick top engine inspection. It's mostly a waste of money and ways for mechanic to find ways to fix unnecessary repairs.
There is a lot that you can see. But of course, you need for than a quick inspection of the top of the engine. That is why the car should go on a lift. Sometimes that reveals things that are really horrible, like severe undercarriage rust, poorly performed collision repair, leaks.... From above, you look for sludge around the oil cap, evidence of water in the oil, and sometimes this WILL tell you of major components that are failing. History of maintenance is good, but more is needed.
Three scenarios: seller takes it to the mechanic of their choice. Mechanic makes a sweet commission from white lying some of the flaws.
Scenario two: buyer test drives it,swings into a local shop. They do a half hour once over..And most items of concern are listed.
Scenario three: buyer has simple contract,warranty that both agree are fair to the deal. Most upstanding sellers have no problem being transparent .
When we bought a used escort the seller gave a three day condition of the car's performance and engine wear. Exclusion of tires and inside amenities. Such as radio speakers . He did chip in to get the a/c recharged.
Few sellers would do this deal,but our seller wanted more business and we gladly recommended him to others. He dabbles in car restoration so when he sells a car he pretty much knows it's value.
Buyer be "aware".
Used (as is) seems a given. I go above that and ask for warranty and known concerns. It's a business deal, so most things can be negotiated.
I drive my cars into the ground but even if I didn't there is no way I would offer a warranty on a used car. Even if the car is perfectly fine there is always the chance that the transmission can go days after the sale.
There is a lot that you can see. But of course, you need for than a quick inspection of the top of the engine. That is why the car should go on a lift. Sometimes that reveals things that are really horrible, like severe undercarriage rust, poorly performed collision repair, leaks.... From above, you look for sludge around the oil cap, evidence of water in the oil, and sometimes this WILL tell you of major components that are failing. History of maintenance is good, but more is needed.
I take ot you don't live in NY State, so you've never had a NYS inspection done. There isn't too much they DON'T look at. I posted a link upthread that has the full list. Plus they do an emissions test on newer cars.
Not sure how the laws are in NY but here in CO we have emissions (no inspections). Before a car ownership can be transferred the seller has to get a clean emissions report to go along side the bill of sale, this is done to protect the buyer.
One would think in states that require inspections they would have the same regulations.
I'm looking for a reliable 5 year old Toyota van at a fair price. Not trying to pay less for more, just want to pay fair price for something reliable (as Toyotas are supposed to be).
What is the best approach to buying an used car? I often read the advice to "take it to a mechanic for examination before buying"; but how is that done? Do sellers really allow me to take the vehicle away to a mechanic? Or does the seller accompany me to do that? That can take hours; will seller put up with that?
I did when I bought a car last. And it's not about "will the seller let me take it to the mechanic?" I insist that they let me take it to the mechanic. If they refuse, I assume they are hiding something and I refuse to buy it. They are welcome to come with me to the mechanic or they can let me go alone; it's their option. I bought a 2006 Toyota RAV4 in 2014. I took two other cars to the mechanic before I selected this one and both cars failed his inspection. I saved over $10,000 buying a lemon by spending the $150 getting them inspected and my Toyota is doing great.
Last edited by Scooby Snacks; 06-06-2017 at 08:42 AM..
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