cheshire_carper

Yeah it is, oh, btw, that car is a bag of spanners

Nick Graves

I wouldn't bother with something that's a known quantity & reliable. Like a Honda. But I tend to know what I'm looking for.

But with an M5 or Ferrari or something, it's a different kettle of chips cost-wise. Worth the insurance of a dealer inspection.

Mattyboyz

Am considering a second hand in the warranty period. Do you thinks its still worth getting an independent to look at it?

Also will HPI tell me if the owner has had any crashes?

cheers

952man

HPI will simply tell you if its been written off, i.e. a serious prang, but not if its been crashed and repaired without any great drama - though this could still be thousands of pounds worth of work. The only way to find out is to get it checked, as a specialist with knowledge of that car will know what to look for, and if he finds one thing, will know what else is likely to have happened. Usually best to avoid a repaired car unless its priced accordingly as you must consider your exit and the possibly nervous punters who might consider buying it off you.

Main dealers aren't really the best people to do this as they have a vested interest in getting you to buy one of their cars, and again aren't looking necessarily at the car from a point of view 'is it a good car for the money, what is likely to cost in the near future, has it had a hard life, and how much will the repairs cost'. They usually just give you a list of faults, but are too scared due to liability worries to give an opinion.

IMHO its always worthwhile working from the basis that any car seller, private or dealer, is either naive ( many don't understand their cars well enough to know whats wrong with it anyway)or a crook (various shades of). If you assume both, are not in love with that car, and get a specialist inspection company like DEKRA to check it for you, you'll not go far wrong. View the price of the inspection as an investment in teh car, not a cost. After all, at labour rates of