Aa Or Rac Inspection When Buying An Avensis.

[Adam Zapple]

I've seen an Avensis for sale that's quite a long way from me. It looks good (but don't they all?) - full service history, low mileage, last owner 7 years but getting to look at it is problematic. If it's a good, honest car, I'd be willing to buy and collect so I'm just wondering whether an AA or RAC inspection is a good option. Has anyone used this service? To be honest, they'd know more about cars than me as I only know the basics. So would anyone be happy to buy a car without seeing it if you had an inspection carried out? I've seen the photographs of course but I haven't seen it in the flesh, as it were.

Thanks.

[saxo265]

I think a pro inspection with written report would be a good idea if you cannot view first. I would never buy a car without seeing it first.

4 yrs ago I went to look at a Honda accord estate that was described as immaculate n one owner,yer, a concrete company! (some of it still in it!) I walked away within 10mins after a 45mile drive ea way but it was worth it.

Yes it would cost you £300ish? but at least you could buy with confidence if you wanted it. Good luck if you go for it :-)

[tonino]

I will never use or trust those kind of service unless the man who make them is a friend of mine. These people understand of some basics but that's doesn't mean they are super capable of giving a word of trust when is time to buy. They just do their procedures to get their money and no one cares of what is going to be your next investment, simple business rules. Same story when you buy an approved car from main dealers or big names like car giant and the rest. All is business and this so called approved cars are not always better then a non approved vehicle. A nice used car can be sourced from anywhere but is very difficult to get it from the first attempt because non two used cars are identical. My advice is , if the car fulfills all your criteria just find a friend of you who knows about cars and travel together. Also when you see the car if it's your car you will feel it, if you don't get that feeling even after all checks are correct just don't buy and walk away. Buying a used car is very tricky and only a real friend can help and a big dose of luck of course, the rest is just a business.

Good luck .

[Adam Zapple]

This is the car in question. I can't find any reviews about the garage -good or bad - on the internet. I've found absolutely diabolical reviews of a car seller in that town called Loughborough Car Sales. They also used another similar name. Seeing as Loughborough is only a small place, I'm nervous that this seller could be one and the same. The car looks great but the lack of information about the seller worries me. Does anyone know anything about this seller or the car? Has anyone here owned it?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201512179528925?postcode=s752tp&radius=1500&maximum-age=up_to_9_years_old&sort=locasc&transmission=manual&page=2&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&model=avensis&price-to=5000&fuel-type=petrol&make=toyota&search-target=usedcars&logcode=p

[FROSTYBALLS]

Loughborough Car Sales were renamed Loughborough Car Centre, and the company was later dissolved. Poor reviews seem to be dated late 2011.

Found the following on UKBizcheck re Auto-line -

Auto-Line of Loughborough Ltd is a Private Limited Company registered in England and Wales under registration number 07316029. The company's registered office is at 18 Vale Close, Loughborough, Loughborough. You can find this address on the map. The corporation was formed on July 15th 2010, so it has been on the market for 5 years 5 months, and its current status is active.

As Auto-line was formed in 2010, before Loughborough Car Centre was dissolved, it may not be the same company.

Admittedly there is not much info available on either of these two companies.

[FROSTYBALLS]

The AA sub-contracts their inspection service to Dekra, who also market their own service - https://www.dekra-expert.co.uk/vehicle.inspections

[Adam Zapple]

The AA sub-contracts their inspection service to Dekra, who also market their own service - https://www.dekra-expert.co.uk/vehicle.inspections

Wow! That is EXCELLENT advice. It'll save me a few bob should I go ahead with an inspection. Thank you.

[Adam Zapple]

Loughborough Car Sales were renamed Loughborough Car Centre, and the company was later dissolved. Poor reviews seem to be dated late 2011.

Found the following on UKBizcheck re Auto-line -

Auto-Line of Loughborough Ltd is a Private Limited Company registered in England and Wales under registration number 07316029. The company's registered office is at 18 Vale Close, Loughborough, Loughborough. You can find this address on the map. The corporation was formed on July 15th 2010, so it has been on the market for 5 years 5 months, and its current status is active.

As Auto-line was formed in 2010, before Loughborough Car Centre was dissolved, it may not be the same company.

Admittedly there is not much info available on either of these two companies.

The lack of information is making me wary. I'm really tempted by the car, as it's exactly what I'm looking for, but what appears to be a farmyard location, a very basic website with little information and a lack of information available from outside sources means I'm getting the heebie-jeebies about it. Having said that, I'm one of life's natural born worriers.

[saxo265]

You are right to be wary. It looks to be a guy/guys running a business from a private home,nothing wrong with that,I did,and using someones land to keep,show cars. Hence 'viewing by appointment' This in itself is not necessarily dodgy,it might be that the owners have other employment and sell cars as a sideline legit,hence the ltd company. However, should you buy this car (which does look nice) if there were a problem,even a small one, getting it back to them could be a costly and time consuming for you. If you did get a 'pro' written report it could set your mind at rest as to condition and your decision to buy or not. Yes, you could lose £300? but save 3K if the report came back 'don't touch with a barge pole' and if it is a sound,straight car you have found a cracker! Either way it will be your choice,report or not. Good luck with whatever you decide,keep us posted tho' :)

PS. just to make it clear,I ran a business from home but not selling cars!!!

[Adam Zapple]

I've just noticed they're a limited company. Any views on this? If they're just doing it as a part-time venture, would they register as a limited company?

[FROSTYBALLS]

Could contact your local trading standards and ask whether they have had any adverse reports re this company. If yes, that may mean cause for concern.

[saxo265]

Yes they could as there are benefits to having a ltd co. VAT, tax and of course annual turnover,and others. They might also have other incomes/interests under that one company, they might own a repair business/body shop or even own the farm,if that's where the cars are stored. I would not worry too much about how they run their business and just concentrate on the one car you are looking at.

If you decide to take it further & get a pro report, wait till you have all the facts n' then make your decision, but if after that or even now you still have that feeling in your gut that things are not right,walk away and find another nearer to you. But either way, do not buy a car without seeing it and getting an experienced person to check it over for you. I hope we Toyota owners have given you some tips & info to help with your decision,again,good luck n' keep us posted on how you get on. Nick

[saxo265]

Could contact your local trading standards and ask whether they have had any adverse reports re this company. If yes, that may mean cause for concern.

Good idea! :-) the more info the better.

[tonino]

Hi guys, with respect but I don't see the point of interest about the seller itself. Probably they are two or more guys running a business, there is nothing wrong with that. The best way to get info about a seller is to talk to them directly over the phone, if you ask them a lot of questions, about the car, some questions about them as business then you can have some idea with who you are dealing. Ask directly for accident repairs that they are aware, ask where they source the car from and some more basics stuff and you will see how it goes. If they are nice people will be happy to answer all your questions and will be polite, also if they take care of their stock they will know a lot for the car. If they are rude, and gets ****** of quickly because of your "too many questions" it's another sign not to buy. As I said before a good quality car can be found from anywhere: privately , small or large dealers, car auctions, even from the street from a stranger, all depends of the car previous owners and how they had been taking care of. I personally don't like buying from farms for two main reasons:

Farmers got a lot of land and most of the times they have body shops on the back and are located next to car salvage yards,(auctions) so here they come how they source their cars.

Secondly, cars coming from farms are prone to have very badly spoiled interiors plus a bad smell of wet dog, due to the facts how and where the car been used before. If it's too far and if seller sounds suspicious just turn the list to the other side and move to the next favourite car. Good luck