Getting A Car Checked Out Before Buying/geniune Ks?

[anomaly]

hey guys

just looking around at a few stockish 33 series2'

my main criteria is buying something clean and reliable that hopefully will not blow up and die - what is the best inspection to get done on the car? is it worth it?

lots of people say RACQ are good, anyone had this done? do they know imports? and everyone says to have it hoisted up and take a look at the bottom... problem is i have no idea wat to look for. do RACQ do this?

OR

is there a good local garage/guy in the brisbane area? just anyones opinions/experiences?

ALSO - apart from common sense stuff (ive read the guide to first time buying thread), any way to check that the Ks are genuine??? because i cant beleive that a 10year old car has only done 60k, even 100k seems unlikely??? thoughts opinions

thanks

[Keegs]

RACQ are pretty thorough, but they'll pick up stuff that isn't important and probably miss things that are, because imports aren't what they specialise in. If I was buying an import I wouldn't bother taking it to them. I'd take it to a trusted workshop. Which one is up to you, if you do a search in this forum (QLD) you'll get more than enough recommendations. As for km's, thats the risk you take when buying an import...so many have non genuine km's, but get the car checked over and you should be fine.

Good luck.

[Thunderbolt]

Couple of things you should do is a compression and leakdown test on the motor. This will tell you what sort of condition the engine is in. Any decent mechanic can do this. While you are there get them to check steering and suspension components. The body can be checked for any bubbles in the paint which could indicate rust, use small magnets to see if there are any rust repairs that have been done. Look for paint on panels that may not match the rest of the car perfectly, which is an indicator that there may have been some sort of repair done.

ps. I wouldn't worry about the kays, as cars are not always driven as far in Japan as they are in Australia.

Edited July 29, 2007 by Thunderbolt

[Col-GTSX]

Any other idea is a buy a car that everyone knows, ie mine

Everyone can tell you the service history and the $$$ put into it over the years.

PS> There is no such thing as low km's on and import, they all get shaved. You can have a rough guess tho from the condition of the interia and under carage.

[markimak]

RACQ checks are pretty shit imo.

sorry but i know alot of people who have had ther silvias and skylines done and they dont pick up the simplest problems.

eg oil leak from turbo. coolant leak. cracked manifolds. sump leaks. wheel bearings.

mostly they will only pick engine oil leaks, brake pads and tyres. they only do major bits...

i recommend take a trusted mechanic who understands the cars. jack her up go fully over it..

one way to check kms is to look at the door service sticker. or the dock kms reading. but most of them are ripped off prior to making it into the country. also check the interior condition handbrake condition/steering wheel/pedal/seats/carpet..

[markimak]

Any other idea is a buy a car that everyone knows, ie mine

Everyone can tell you the service history and the $$$ put into it over the years.

PS> There is no such thing as low km's on and import, they all get shaved. You can have a rough guess tho from the condition of the interia and under carage.

i wouldnt say all.. if u look hard and go to the right places u too can get a genuine kms GTR like i did lol..

[Keegs]

out of interest how do you know your gtr's km's were genuine Mark? There is nothing stopping people in Japan shaving the km's back and imo that's where the majority of it happens.

[WazR32GTSt]

if you see a 15 year old import with less than 100,000kms then you are seriously kidding yourself if you think they are genuine...

then you've got to say to yourself.. if they have changed the kms, then what else are they lying about?

[markimak]

out of interest how do you know your gtr's km's were genuine Mark? There is nothing stopping people in Japan shaving the km's back and imo that's where the majority of it happens.

if you see a 15 year old import with less than 100,000kms then you are seriously kidding yourself if you think they are genuine...

then you've got to say to yourself.. if they have changed the kms, then what else are they lying about?

ohh i love this bit.. like i said. door service sticker, nissan service sticker timing belt sticker. not to mention my GTR was clean as. no wear on anything even the original steering wheel with no marks..

hehe any more questions..?

jealous much. ???

[markimak]

also the osaka dock sticker is 1 month after with 300kms after the final service july 05..

but i did import this one myself and took me months to find. i was very happy

[Keegs]

the above still doesn't mean that someone in Japan didn't shave back the km's, service centers (even in Japan) only write down the km's they see...but hey...this isn't relevant to the thread. Like everyone's said be careful, get the car checked over and i'm sure you'll be happy. Alternatively, buy Col's car

[markimak]

yeah i get what ur saying but the majority of dodgy stuff happens between japan and brisbane on the boats and stuff. and alot of aussie dealers wind them back.. but i got proof with my unmarked interior.. just recommend that u look hard and be patient..

[WazR32GTSt]

i have no idea of your car, markimak, i was referring to the original poster who started the thread

if you see a car for sale here in australia, or at a dealer, then 99.9999% of the ones with less than 100,000kms are fake

denial is the only thing that will make you believe otherwise

of course there is the very odd exception with evidecne you seem to have markimak, but that is very mcuh out of hte ordinary for most buyers..

[markimak]

lol nah im talking to old mate keegs lol. no probs yo.

yeah i basically imported it myself.

anyway. i personally think RACQ are a waste of time. does anyone wanna argue with me and tell me of ther good experiences with ther inspections.?

[WazR32GTSt]

ha ha RACQ giving a good experience with an import?

you crack me up...

[Col-GTSX]

racq = tits on a bull

Nuf said

Edit: They are good for a jump start or to change a tyre if you wear high heals and blink heavily...

[markimak]

and unlock ur car if u leave keys in ther like someone i knw ...

they are good for towing too..

[mic_check_1_2]

i took a car for an inspection at repco (not the shop the mechanic part lol) i told them to be very thorough, he coudlnt staple the all the paper together afterwards because he found that much wrong with it, lol

[Green_s13]

always pays to get a car checked out

[so_tred]

When I was looking at buying my first car (Silvia) I had two inspected through RACQ and they certainly were thorough enough to make me not touch either of the cars..with the 3rd one checked out coming back pretty clean, had it for 2 years with no problems at all.