It is often said when answering questions about buying a used car, get a mechanic to look the candidate over for problems or signs of something becoming an issue. There is a shop I've established a relationship with, but they're open Monday through Thursday excluding holidays. I usually need to make an appointment a few days in advance when I need them to work on my car. I could make an appointment with them to inspect a car provided the owner of a car I'd like to purchase will let me take it there for an hour or two. However, I'm usually shopping for a car in my spare time when the shop is closed. What do I do then?
What do you recommend a person do to hire a good mechanic to inspect a used vehicle outside business hours or on a weekend?
What do you recommend a person do to hire a good mechanic to inspect a used vehicle outside business hours or on a weekend?
Buying a bad used vehicle can cost you thousands of dollars. (For example, see the recent post where a member here bought a used Toyota Tundra without a mechanic and then found out it has a blown head gasket.)
Take a day off if needed so your mechanic can inspect your prospective purchase during regular business hours.
Ask around for a good mechanic who works on Saturday. Ask co-workers, neighbors, friends, or ask the employees or customers at your local auto parts store for recommendations. You could even explain your situation to the mechanic who services your car now and perhaps he would recommend someone to perform a pre-purchase inspection during the hours his shop is closed.
