When to forego a pre-purchase inspection?

keethrax wrote: Ummm...what's the difference?

When you buy a house the inspector comes to the house. I expect the same for vehicles It's a question of convenience more then anything. I don't want to waste a day bringing a car to a mech and back for someone, nor am I going to let them take my car on their own. MY car.

littleturquoiseb wrote: I have a simple rule, (typically used when buying a Ba/be Rally car) ... $500 and under it must move under it's own power, shift and stop. $250 and under the vin must match the title and it can't be currently on fire.

This really needs to go into print!

Clem

I agree!

There is one other aspect to it that hasn't been mentioned. I currently have a 1975 Duster slant for sale. I went to the DMV and got the non-operational paperwork, dropped the insurance on it, so I'm not driving it out of the yard. A couple of folks have said to bring it by and let them look at it, but I'm not going to put an unregistered, uninsured car on the road, for obvious reasons. Come to the car, and check anything you want, but I'm not bringing it to you just so you can nit-pick it and low-ball me.

I don't use inspectors.

I wouldn't buy a car that the seller told me I could not use an inspector- looks suspicious.

However, my brother is not a car guy, and wouldn't know a rear end from a rear view mirror. He lives 3000 miles from me, so I can't lend a hand.

However, I suggested he hire an inspector. I found a GRMer local to him (Jerry from LA), and he gave him a FABULOUS service of pre-inspection. My brother helped him out with a bit of income, and he steered my brother through a used car purchase which he would have had NO IDEA what to buy.

It was money extremely well spent, for him.

GRM rocks! (and so does Jerry from LA).

To me, if I can't drive the car on at least back roads I'll probably walk. When I'm selling a car, I make sure it's registered and insured so that a potential buyer can test drive the car. Otherwise, it makes the job of selling the car that much tougher. When I'm selling something, I usually place a higher value on my time than wringing every last cent out of the car. I've seen too many people overprice their car and then end up selling it for far less than if they had just priced it right from the beginning.