Pre-Purchase Inspection

[ADDLED]

Hi, I recently bought a car and paid for a pre-purchase inspection with an indy. They checked the car over and charged me for 2hrs labour and gave me a report of what needed doing. Thankfully there really wasnt anything majorly wrong but they picked up on some minor things which soon added up to a tidy amount to rectify. Based on their info i negociated the repairs as a condition of sale and was pretty happy that I was buying a sound car with all the little bits sorted and a years guarantee into the bargain.
Now, apologising for my ignorance as I have never previously owned a 993; I took the car for a run. I didnt want to seem a test pilot and so didnt really open the car up, but on the few miles we did it all seemed fine and handled ok, and i agreed to buy.
Since collecting the car and driving it at speed, I have noticed that it didnt handle very well at all; its really very skittish but also the steering was scarily vague. The previous owner fitted the Bilstein HD and H&R lowering springs and this is a popular suspension mod, so I though best to get it checked and took it to a local specialist. As soon as he saw the car he said that it had been lowered and the front was far too low and so the car was unbalanced, he also checked the alignment and it turns out that the car was setup terribly; the steering wasnt centred, it had very aggressive camber to RS spec, and it was toeing out.

I now have no option other than to have the car setup correctly. This is not vastly expensive, but as I have paid a reputable company to inspect the car for me, should they necessarily have noticed this problem and reported it? Should I insist that the original garage get it sorted, or is it down to me to notice?

What are your thoughts please?

[GG33]

I would not expect a pre-buy inspection to check the geometry. I think you should just get it done properly knowing that the car is now set up. - most are not.

GG

[gridgway]

It's a good question if you get an Indy to inspect and they miss something, is there any comeback? I guess not really, but in that case why do it?

Graham

[ADDLED]

I guess i will then... Any ideas on a company in/near London, Im in Lambeth but anywhere will do as I will have the chance of driving my perfectly setup car back home! Maybe theres a good one in the highlands of Scotland?

[7357]

Hmm...
I would think on a (GOOD) PPI it would be looked at !

I had a few PPI's done on MK1 GT3's I was looking at, and each time was told how the Geo was ! (at PARR and JZM)

[BERGS2]

ADDLED said:

Should I insist that the original garage get it sorted, or is it down to me to notice?

What are your thoughts please?

I'd have said it's probably down to you to sort.

Unless you have a contract for the PPI which specifies the scope of the inspection.

However, though it's difficult to 'see' bad geometry set up - i'd have thought that it would manifest itself in unusual tyre wear patterns, which the garage would likely pick up on.... ... I'd give them a call and at least ask them whether it is something they usually check.

[ADDLED]

Thanks for your feedback people. Ive had the car back at another garage that uses the correct 4 wheel kinematic jobbie. Theyve booked me in for the setup next week but looked the car over whilst I was there and they said that, on first impressions and without taking them off, they think the wishbones may be shot. They also do inspections and said that the wishbones should definitely be part of the overall check.
I think I might make a call to the original garage this morning and see what they say.

[BERGS2]

ADDLED said:

Thanks for your feedback people. Ive had the car back at another garage that uses the correct 4 wheel kinematic jobbie. Theyve booked me in for the setup next week but looked the car over whilst I was there and they said that, on first impressions and without taking them off, they think the wishbones may be shot. They also do inspections and said that the wishbones should definitely be part of the overall check.
I think I might make a call to the original garage this morning and see what they say.

Hmmm.. IIRC one of the side effects of lowering/stiffening and driving on crappy - (read most UK) roads - is that 964/993s start to eat wishbones/bushes like they are going out of fashion

- my old RS-alike 964 got through a set on wishbones under my tenue, and had been through one with the previous owner.....

Defo sounds like the garage skimped on the inspection if that wasn't picked up as its a very common issue.

good luck.

[ADDLED]

BERGS2 said:

mmm.. IIRC one of the side effects of lowering/stiffening and driving on crappy - (read most UK) roads - is that 964/993s start to eat wishbones/bushes like they are going out of fashion

- my old RS-alike 964 got through a set on wishbones under my tenue, and had been through one with the previous owner.....

Defo sounds like the garage skimped on the inspection if that wasn't picked up as its a very common issue.

good luck.

Tks for your reply there. It seems like I have a nice fat bill whatever I do, so could you tell me what sort of mileage did they last? I need to weigh up the odds on keeping the car that low if its gonna chew the bushes to bits as its probably not just wishbones ill need, prob all the other rubbers as well. So i need to know how often I can expect to replace them. What do you think? And how about my options;

1)Preferred Option; Moan to supplying dealer, have dealer pay for job done, enjoy car, sell it and exchange for 997tt in 2-3 yrs. 2)Realistic Option; Pay for job done, enjoy car, sell it and exchange for 997tt in 2-3 yrs 3) Boring Option; Grow bushy facial adornment, join CAMRA, holiday in the Peak District and revert car to original spec springs to save money on wear/tear, spend savings on home-brew equipment and caravan accessories. 4) "If in Doubt" Option: Delete option 3 and revert to options 1 or 2.

I think I'll pay... at least I know it will be set up correctly.
cheers

[wildoliver]

5)Just stick with the 993 and enjoy the better car