Getting Mechanic to check on potential purchase

[whynot22]

Hello. After impulsively purchasing a used car that had a plethora of issues and spending thousands to get it up to health, I was advised by people that I should have gotten my mechanic to check the car beforehand.

Okay, here's my question:
What do you mean get my mechanic to check the car? I pay my mechanic to come for a ride with me to the dealership/private seller? I say to the seller "May I borrow the car for a couple days? I'm going to drive it to my mechanic so he can inspect it." I apologize if this is a mentally deficient question, but I don't exactly know what people mean when they say to get my mechanic to inspect potential purchases

[Supafly]

No...what you say would be something along the lines of....

" to complete the transaction of this purchase, the car must be inspected by a qualified inspector or mechanic chosen by me; if the car is in good mechanical/structure condition I will then sign the transfer papers."

[sexyaccord]

you just drive the sellers car to your mechanic's shop so he could check it out to see if there are problems

[eallon]

Originally Posted by Supafly

No...what you say would be something along the lines of....

" to complete the transaction of this purchase, the car must be inspected by a qualified inspector or mechanic chosen by me; if the car is in good mechanical/structure condition I will then sign the transfer papers."

transfer paper is for the title transfer right?

where does the contract comes in? before the transfer paper?

[eallon]

Originally Posted by sexyaccord

you just drive the sellers car to your mechanic's shop so he could check it out to see if there are problems

you can have the car inspect in other mechanic's shop?
i went 2 dealers last week, they told me if I want to have 3rd party inspector, I have to ask my mechanics to come to the dealership to inspect, is this reasonable??

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by eallon

you can have the car inspect in other mechanic's shop?
i went 2 dealers last week, they told me if I want to have 3rd party inspector, I have to ask my mechanics to come to the dealership to inspect, is this reasonable??

It's not UNreasonable... but if they're really considering the customer and the sale, they shouldn't have a problem letting you take it to your mechanic. From their perspective, it should be no different than letting you take it for an extended test drive (when we were shopping for our new Jeep, one dealer was INSISTENT that we take it for the long weekend).

They're probably hoping that your mechanic won't want to make the trip, or will want too much money from you to make the "house call"... or that being out his own shop, he won't have the facilities to find hidden problems. If they absolutely won't let you TAKE the car to your own mechanic, that should probably be your first warning sign. Just walk away - they'll either change their minds, or they'll just push it on the next sucker.