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How to inspect a used car


Jeh

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It’s just a quick check of the basics. Meh. 

To check a car properly you really need access to a lift and a diagnostic computer. 20 minutes with a lift and computer can help you knock a huge chunk off the price. I have seen people saving 10k on the price of a car after bringing it to me for a check. If something isn’t perfect a proper mechanic is going to spot it. Some people think spending 500 on a pre purchase check is expensive, but if you even save 1,000 you’re already ahead. 

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33 minutes ago, Barry said:

It’s just a quick check of the basics. Meh. 

To check a car properly you really need access to a lift and a diagnostic computer. 20 minutes with a lift and computer can help you knock a huge chunk off the price. I have seen people saving 10k on the price of a car after bringing it to me for a check. If something isn’t perfect a proper mechanic is going to spot it. Some people think spending 500 on a pre purchase check is expensive, but if you even save 1,000 you’re already ahead. 

When i was selling my Cherokee, buyer tried to do that. I told him one thing the price i am giving you is the price of this car, i didint show you a perfect car and now i am trying to sell you this one. This is the car and this is the price for it, if you want to buy, buy it. If you dont want i dont care. 

After one week he come back and bought it. 

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2 hours ago, Barry said:

It’s just a quick check of the basics. Meh. 

To check a car properly you really need access to a lift and a diagnostic computer. 20 minutes with a lift and computer can help you knock a huge chunk off the price. I have seen people saving 10k on the price of a car after bringing it to me for a check. If something isn’t perfect a proper mechanic is going to spot it. Some people think spending 500 on a pre purchase check is expensive, but if you even save 1,000 you’re already ahead. 

That's the thing an avg joe doesn't know. I think t was Gaurav who once wanted to buy a luxury SUV. So we called a well known so called specialist garage fpr that car, they said yeah they will check it for 300 DHs and what about a diagnostic scan. They said no they don't that on ore purchase inspection. So what exactly is it that you'll do. We'll drive it around amd let you know of its ok.

Same place sold another guy I know a luxury 4x4. Turns out it had major frame damage and a shitty botch cove up job which I spotted just from pics. And they said it was a perfect car.

Garage is run by people from your part of the world and they are still in business..

Oh and the other 500 comprehensive test is also useless, they won't guarantee their own work. You can't use their own test to register the car. So what exactly are they checking ?

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49 minutes ago, desertdude said:

That's the thing an avg joe doesn't know. I think t was Gaurav who once wanted to buy a luxury SUV. So we called a well known so called specialist garage fpr that car, they said yeah they will check it for 300 DHs and what about a diagnostic scan. They said no they don't that on ore purchase inspection. So what exactly is it that you'll do. We'll drive it around amd let you know of its ok.

Same place sold another guy I know a luxury 4x4. Turns out it had major frame damage and a shitty botch cove up job which I spotted just from pics. And they said it was a perfect car.

Garage is run by people from your part of the world and they are still in business..

Oh and the other 500 comprehensive test is also useless, they won't guarantee their own work. You can't use their own test to register the car. So what exactly are they checking ?

There are good garages and bad garages out there, we all know that. 

I charge a lot for my work. 250 Dhs per hour. With good reason  

Some people who are chasing the smallest price think that’s expensive but they don’t see what I do. 16 years experience, the latest most up to date computers, investing in new tools every month, but hey, experience means nothing here, go get a car check for 50 Dhs and tell everyone you got a cheap checkup. When your ball joints fall out 3 months later, that’s what you paid for

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Recently I went for few car checks some cars really shine there if it's clean car you might not even need to drive it but some cars you need to look at every nooks and corner they hide sloppy body works where the paint is cracked and good knows with what they stick together the frame .have seen car only being serviced by Al futaim but had lower cover and fender liners tied by metal string's as per the seller....it's a tricky thing... The seller is singing the song that he has the best thing in  the market but as you get a closer look and confront the seller all of sudden he becomes a surprised cat cought up in the lights or the second owner or he is just selling it for a friend who left the country or straight away leaves without a word..it takes much time and patience to get your hands on something worth it...

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2 hours ago, Barry said:

There are good garages and bad garages out there, we all know that. 

I charge a lot for my work. 250 Dhs per hour. With good reason  

Some people who are chasing the smallest price think that’s expensive but they don’t see what I do. 16 years experience, the latest most up to date computers, investing in new tools every month, but hey, experience means nothing here, go get a car check for 50 Dhs and tell everyone you got a cheap checkup. When your ball joints fall out 3 months later, that’s what you paid for

Oh don get me wrong they charge throught the roof and have been here for at least 30 yrs and I know people who swear by them but that's only because they don't know better.

People just assume gora bhais running a shop with expensive eq and tools must be good and honest.

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Car checks get as tricky as compared to a innocent person who has a very simple face and look but the mind is a devils workshop. Most of used car dealers keep the cars perfect from the exterior body line is clean and looks as good as new but the main things to check out is the engine and the wiring as I have come across some cars in uae with chassis being cut and welded from centre. That's 1/2 car body attachment. Also we see a lot of vehicles who's engine has been changed or even gear box so when you take this vehicle for passing the rta guys will ask you to go back to the showroom or service centre of the particular brand and get that verified and need a company stamp on documentation.

I suggest it makes sense in paying 500dhs or whatever charges and get the vehicle checked before buying it. Cause once you have purchased it then you are forced to use it is the same way it is.

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I guess we all have bought a few lemons in our lifetime and every time life throws a lesson at you. I'm still stuck with the issue that i sometimes tend to completely fall in love with a car and overlook all the technicalities and pros and cons.  

I've also bought quite some cars that i knew had some issues and fixing to do, but that helped me in knocking down the price and then get a reliable mechanic to do a decent repair and do some other fixes myself too. Many junkyard worthy cars i bought ended up looking 10x better after a year and always sold them at a decent price. 

If i can choose between losing money on depreciation, or buying an old car and putting some money down to restore it to its former glory, i'd go for the second option as i gives me more satisfaction.

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"Go as far as you can see; once you get there, you'll be able to see further."

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I would just take it to a shop to be checked, in the long run it saves you so much headaches. There is no price for my peace of mind. 

Before I buy a used car I like to look at the statistics of failure rate of important components like the transmission, engine or electricals. I like to use sites like carcompliants.com where I can see the complains for each model and helps me determine the clunkers.  

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