WWBD? Guy wants inspection on my car for sale.

[03ozwhip]

Just wondering. This guy wants to take the Mercedes, that is for sale for under 7k with 360k on it to his "buddy" that is a mechanic for an inspection.

I told him no, said it's wierd to do an inspection on this car, but he can get it inspected at a non bias place in strathmore.

More than fair I would think, no? Or am I being wierd lol

[ExtraSlow]

Well he's going 100 percent use something from the inspection to haggle down. But he probably does actually want to purchase it at some price. How much hassle is it worth to you right now to potentially say goodbye to the car?

[killramos]

my bias is to say no to taking it to his "buddy" to inspect

his "buddy" is welcome to come take a look at your place while you have a beer and watch, if you have time for that.

[SKR]

Tell him to get it inspected, and that the price is asking price, take it or leave it. That's what I'd like to say. In reality I'd probably tell him no to any inspection and then stop talking to him.

I'll say your spelling of weird is weird.

[corsvette]

His “buddy” looking over the car is the same as you having your “buddy” inspect it. I’d 100% offer the non biased option. That’s fair for both buyer and seller.

[ThePenIsMightier]

Inspections on old cars tell you they're old. I think it's horse shit. Back when I was flipping cars, 100% of the inspections ruined deals.
This just in: cars 20+ years old and under $8k are not the same as new vehicles! Quelle surprise!!

[firebane]

For me its like.. what do you think an inspection is truly going to tell you? Its a glorified tire kicker test that will point out the obvious flaws that everyone should practically be aware of when buying a vehicle.

A vehicle like this if someone is buying it should already be aware of what common issues and problems are and if not noticeable upon looking it.. make an offer or buy it and move on.

[Flexray]

These are the types of vehicles that need a pre purchase inspection the most. I want to make sure that I'm buying a $7000 car, not a $200 car for $7000. It is an old machine, it is going to need repairs. I want to know exactly what I'm buying and what it needs.
If a seller denies me an inspection, I will thank him for his time and walk away. He is hiding something and is not to be trusted.
If his buddy wants to take it to his house and do the inspection, he can suck a bag of dicks. He has no garage keepers insurance and I have no recourse if he hamfists my car. Take it to a shop, and have a RO for the inspection, sure.

[03ozwhip]

I figured these would be the responses, didn't think I was the weird one lol well see how it goes.

[killramos]

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If his buddy wants to take it to his house and do the inspection, he can suck a bag of dicks. He has no garage keepers insurance and I have no recourse if he hamfists my car. Take it to a shop, and have a RO for the inspection, sure.

This sums up my hesitation

Dont have a issue with inspection, do have an issue with it being done by someone who might wreck something

[ragu]

I’ve dealt with this where buyer likes the car but just isn’t mechanical inclined enough to get over the hump. Or, they need someone they trust to say “yes”. It’s less about mechanical check but more sentimental. I get that because that sum of money can be big for someone.

But, I got to be careful with my time too.

Here’s what I would do:

Agree with buyer that: he places a deposit, and then you’d take it to a garage for 1hr labour where they will confirm engine/ trans is healthy.

If it’s not healthy - you refund his deposit. If it’s good to go, he buys the car.

Up to you how you want to handle the 1hr labor. You can pay, he can pay or split in half…

[SJW]

Tell him to pound sand.

[killramos]

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I’ve dealt with this where buyer likes the car but just isn’t mechanical inclined enough to get over the hump. Or, they need someone they trust to say “yes”. It’s less about mechanical check but more sentimental. I get that because that sum of money can be big for someone.

But, I got to be careful with my time too.

Here’s what I would do:

Agree with buyer that: he places a deposit, and then you’d take it to a garage for 1hr labour where they will confirm engine/ trans is healthy.

If it’s not healthy - you refund his deposit. If it’s good to go, he buys the car.

Up to you how you want to handle the 1hr labor. You can pay, he can pay or split in half…

under no circumstance would I pay for the labour on a car I am selling, that's 100% his cost

[SJW]

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under no circumstance would I pay for the labour on a car I am selling, that's 100% his cost

It's an old car. Whoever does buy it knows exactly what they are getting into. I would not sell to this inspection asking person whatsoever.

[Tik-Tok]

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Dont have a issue with inspection, do have an issue with it being done by someone who might wreck something

Or steal something, because a transmission can get easily swapped in a day.

[Rocket1k78]

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Or steal something, because a transmission can get easily swapped in a day.

This 100% especially on something that could be hard to find parts for. If you got a decent vibe about them and theyre not far I would take it and watch but no way I would leave it.

[Gman.45]

Glad you said no.

IMO in a similar situation I "may" consent to an inspection, but it'd be happening with me being on hand while it occurred. WAY to easy for this "friend" mechanic to fuck something up, either intentionally or accidentally with a car of this age and KM. I'd only do that if I was certain that the buyer was extremely interested and not just screwing around. Your solution of a neutral ground place is more than fair.

Good call OP.

[Proyecto2000]

I went through this with an idiot kijiji buyer during covid. I was selling a car fully serviced by Lexus of Calgary since day one and I showed him a pile of service records including the 40 or whatever point inspection form that they had filled out a month earlier during an oil change. He looks at it and tells me its BS and that he needs his "buddy" the mechanic to look at it. I told him that I would only take it to Lexus for the inspection and on his dime as I could care less about his buddy being a good mechanic.

he argued with me for a minute and I told him to screw off. Sold it to the next guy who showed up an hour later without any BS.

[Shlade]

Have his Buddy come to your house and inspect it there. Or like you said take it to shop of your choosing in Strathmore.

Its an old car. Govern yourself accordingly buying one

[g-m]

I've agreed with a seller before that I would pay for an inspection (I was keen on compression test, it was a Subaru) at the dealership. Seller would bring it and pick it up and I just paid them.

Motor had no compression one time and I ended up buying the next one that had good compression. Nobody is going to let me do a full compression test at their house and I didn't want to buy a used sti with no compression test. So that's an example of where a buyer, even mechanically inclined, would want an inspection.

I did offer the first guy substantially less and would've just rebuilt or replaced the short block but he turned around and sold it to someone else. Blown.