Thoughts: Pre Purchase and Safety Inspections                                                                                                                                                        

Over the last year I have put out information that is both useful and infused with money saving tips. I’ve written about Pre Purchase Inspections in the past however another situation has popped up. A customer recently purchased a used car without getting a pre purchase inspection and then brought the car in for a safety inspection. This was an absolutely beautiful vehicle inside and out until we put it up on a lift and looked underneath. OUCH !!! This car came from up north and apparently the years of road salt had totally damaged the underside of the car. (see pictures below) Telling you about the amount of rust on this vehicle cannot be overstated. The whole underside of the vehicle is so incredibly damaged we’re not sure how long this car will be driveable. If your are purchasing a used vehicle PLEASE have us inspect it first. It is a slight inconvenience and will take about 30 - 45 minutes however it could save you thousands of dollars and a lot of heartache.

I also put a lot of information out about having a safety inspection on your vehicle at least twice a year, more often if you drive a lot.  During this inspection we inspect tires, hoses, belts, brakes, all fluids, the cooling system and suspension. More often than not the safety inspection is performed during your regular oil change. However we always do a safety check when you come in for any service. I cannot tell you how often we find coolant leaks, oil leaks, worn belts, brakes and other problems during this check. That's the bad news. The good news is how often these problems are caught in the nick of time so that you don’t end up with a blown engine or stuck on the side of the road. Yes the found repairs cost money however it’s always better to catch the problem now instead of later.

The idea I am trying to present to you it’s always better to take a little time and money now than a lot of time and money later. We will fix your vehicle when you have a major repair however we would like to see you avoid the time and expense of these problems if possible.

As I have said before, we are here to serve you and help keep you safe from the villains in the car sales business.