Independent Inspection

[Transporter]

I've had a few discussions with friends and colleagues, and they said it wasn't worth getting the inspection. Reasons cited were that the car is near new, it's a reputable dealer, and that there's still warranty left. What they say makes sense, but I don't know..

Take that advice, you will have long enough time to get any fault (if any) repaired, before the warranty expires.
Enjoy your new Octy.

[GaryC]

Your logic is logical. I'll cancel the inspection tomorrow!

[brad]

I had a pre-purchase inspection done by the NRMA (when they used to do inspections) on a 2yr old U13 Bluebird with 40,000km on it. The inspection picked up a few minor issues (cracked blinker lenses & missing caps off the A/C) but failed to notice the headlight glass sitting on the chassis rail & the lower control arm that was bent 40mm backward.

These were picked up when i went to do a wheel alignment 6 months later (new tyres). Both the NRMA & the dealership didn't want to know so I had to pay for the replacement myself (~$400). They claimed that me / my wife must have caused the damage but the LCA had been re-painted where it was bent & the toe was still set to specification (should have been way out).

[GaryC]

Wow, 40mm is a lot!

[brad]

The tyre missed the back of the mudguard by about 3mm when turning.

I didn't pay much attention to the vehicle as it drove quite well & I assumed the pre-purchase Inspection had looked at this type of thing & also had a dealership service done about 3 months after purchase (which included "inspect undercar & suspension components).

Wife had just had first baby & was using the car all the time; I was riding a motorbike as my primary transport & working 50-55hr weeks trying to make up the income shortfall from her not working anymore. Double checking other peoples workmanship was the last thing on my mind.

All history now but I'd be inclined to get an inspection by an independant specialist these days.

OTOH, a work colleague was buying an Avensis Verso & State Roads steered him clear of two heaps of rubbish that had been bodgied. Well worth the $260 each he paid but it gets expensive if you keep getting rubbish inspected.

[GaryC]

Darn, now you're making me wonder if it was right to cancel my pre-purchase inspection..

[brad]

Darn, now you're making me wonder if it was right to cancel my pre-purchase inspection..

Just book it in with Transporter for a look-over when you get it. You'll be fine.

We had the U13 until about 140,000km and the bent LCA was the worst thing that happened. IIRC, an idler pulling bearing became noisy & the fan speed circuit board burnt out. It crapped all over the Subaru Liberty that replaced it (in every respect).

[GaryC]

Now that I'm not getting the independent inspection there, what's some dealer tricks that they might pull to cut corners? And what should I watch out for? I've read that for one person, the dealer tried to swap the wheels to a smaller size...

It's these things that scare me.

[gRaQ5]

Get an inspection done. I once bought a Mazda MPS from a BMW dealer. Being a reputable dealership, I didn't bother with an inspection. Took it into Mazda for a service not long afterwards (with creaking noise under the gearstick region) found the car had been in a major accident before, with clear marks on the chassis that indicated it was stretched back into shape. Got it fixed by a chassis mechanic in the end, after a lot of heartache...


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