26 A! A! CALM DOWN...

I found the perfect car for Carl last night.  It was the right colour, well below our guesstimated budget, had one owner from new, and had a decent service history, including confirmation that the water pump and timing belt had been replaced (this is really important).  It also had new brakes and a replaced clutch.  As I said, it looked perfect.  There was one nagging issue, though…

At the end of the advert, it said, "This car has come in part exchange.  No warranty.  Sold as seen."  Hmmm, what is that noise, slowly building to a crescendo?  Why it is the unmistakable sound of alarm bells going off!

Let's take it at face value.  The car has come in as part ex.  They just want rid of it from the forecourt, so they have priced it competitively and offered it for viewing and test driving.  Or…they are dodgy AF, lying through their teeth, and won't provide a warranty because the car is a dog that won't make the 98-mile journey home from Leicester to Liverpool, let alone an epic grand tour across Europe.

We are not grease monkeys, so what can we do?   How about getting some time served, top-of-the-line mechanics in to give our potential new steeds a thorough shakedown, complete with a detailed report covering both the oily bits inside and the shiny bits on the outside?  But where would we find such heroes?  The AA, that's where!!!

For around £200, they will give the car a complete assessment.  The inspection is carried out by a qualified engineer who creates a report for peace of mind to confirm the vehicle is roadworthy and safe and highlight details of any hidden problems found.  This report can be used to check the car isn't a pup and leverage repairs or money off before purchasing it.

So, what exactly do the inspections cover?  I'm glad you asked!

Body Exterior

Engine compartment

Electrical controls (interior and luggage compartments)

Front and rear suspension (front and rear under-frames)

Steering

Clutch

Transmission

Exhaust system

Fuel system

Brakes

Wheels and tyres

Road test of up to 5 or 10 miles

It's pretty comprehensive.  Certainly, it is a million times more detailed than I could identify by walking around and kicking the tyres.  They don't check a few things that would have been nice, like sources of oil leaks, air-conditioning function and efficiency, and vehicle electrics.  Still, as long as issues are flagged, they can be brought up with the seller.

£200 is a lot of money, but if they find something I would have ordinarily missed, it could save thousands in repair bills down the line, so it is actually a complete bargain.