Vehicle inspections

[markjc]

As I mention on my earlier thread I am moving towards buying a 4200. Following from the advice on here I intend to have an inspection carried out but the potential cars are all over the country and it doesn't seem easy to locate a good specialist (particularly as some don't seem as expert as they suggest judging by some of the comments on here).

So I was thinking of using RAC for the inspection - does anyone have any experience or views on the rac?

 

[safrane]

Mark. They will do a decent job on the standard items...but.

Without a SD3 They will not be able to measure the clutch wear and may not know the brake disc tolerances etc.

 

[c4sman]

Personally I do not value a RAC inspection for this type of car. It is certainly better than nothing if you are not mechanically minded and know about the cars, but based on some of the inspections I have witnessed on cars that I have sold, it is a very basis analysis, paperwork check and test drive. Even more so on modern cars that have undertrays and plastic covers, the RAC will not remove anything to have a good look or jack the car up to look at wheel bearing play for example. Really worth paying a little extra and finding the right specialist inspection or getting one of them to source the car for you, and give you a warranty etc.

 

[markjc]

Thanks both of you

That's about what I thought. As I said it is just difficult as someone new to this marque to know who to use and trust - I suppose I will be back to pick the collective forums brains when I narrow it down probably Chester and Leicester areas on current thinking

 

[GTMalc]

Just to reiterate what the two folks above have said. On this type of a car you really need to be looking at a specialist to do the inspection

 

[dickygrace]

Thanks both of you

That's about what I thought. As I said it is just difficult as someone new to this marque to know who to use and trust - I suppose I will be back to pick the collective forums brains when I narrow it down probably Chester and Leicester areas on current thinking

If you're looking at a car in Chester that is one of mine, it already has an inspection report from Autoshield. If it's not one of mine, I will happily go and look at it for you for a visual inspection, or Autoshield Maserati would do for a full report.

 

[mjheathcote]

As well as independents the main dealers can also do a report.
Mine went to Greypaul Birmingham being near the seller, and cost me £300.
The report was very detailed with all actual, max and min thickness, clutch wear etc.
The report resulted in the seller (garage) fitting a new track rod end and camshaft cover gasket...and adjusting one of the windscreen wiper jets that was reported out of aim!

 

[bigbob]

If you're looking at a car in Chester that is one of mine, it already has an inspection report from Autoshield. If it's not one of mine, I will happily go and look at it for you for a visual inspection, or Autoshield Maserati would do for a full report.

Can't say better than that.

I was in Cheshire recently, Dicky, and only saw a Ghibli on the M6 and a GranTurismo in Macclesfield. What's going on?

 

[markjc]

Dicky/ Richard one of them is yours - only just made the connection who you are (in the worst of the immortal Homer Simpson - DOH!)
Is it better if I pm you or email you from. Your website for some further info

 

[dickygrace]

Can't say better than that.

I was in Cheshire recently, Dicky, and only saw a Ghibli on the M6 and a GranTurismo in Macclesfield. What's going on?

They're all driving Range Rovers and Porsches There's about 12 Masers in Chester that I know of.

 

[dickygrace]

Dicky/ Richard one of them is yours - only just made the connection who you are (in the worst of the immortal Homer Simpson - DOH!)
Is it better if I pm you or email you from. Your website for some further info

Mark, email is better if you don't mind or feel free to call; I'm free this evening.