RAC inspection for used car

[faringdon]

Hi,
I wish to buy a used petrol car. As cheap as possible but must be reliable, and not need thousands spending on repairs.
Can i be assured of getting a good car if i arrange an RAC inspection for it on the garage forecourt?

[Canon_Fodder]

in a word 'No'

See thread on here from 'TameRacingDriver' about his ex-Boxster and the things the inspection missed.

[Jamescrs]

"As cheap as possible" and "Reliable" rarely go together. That being said an independant inspection may give you some direction on the state of the car but it is never full proof or any guarantee of long term reliability.

[samoht]

Any cheap old car should be expected to need money spending on it - if it doesn't, that's a bonus.

Any inspection won't be able to detect every possible problem. The question is 'is the cost of the inspection worth what it does find?', not 'is this inspection a guarantee the car won't need money spending on it?', because it can't be - the inspector can't tear down the engine etc.

If you can find a trusted / well recommended garage nearby and ask them to inspect it, that's potentially better than AA/RAC, because the garage can put the car up on a ramp to check underneath more thoroughly. They might also be able to quote a cost for any repairs they find needed. IME a good independent garage was a better inspection.