Pre purchase inspection

[TrevS]

Hi all

I am actively looking for an Evora and I've been speaking to a few people selling cars and hoping to start doing some viewings over the next few weeks. I've yet to encounter a perfect car, and the couple of owners I've spoken to have pointed out a few jobs that need doing or areas where the car would benefit some attention. As these are quite specialist are there any recommended specialists/dealers that will carry out a pre purchase inspection on any potential car I find?

Also most cars I've looked at have come from or been serviced at Bell and Colvill. Would they be able to carry out an inspection and share any info they have on the car as if they supplied and serviced the car then I'm guessing they would be able to give a good overview on the car, it's life and current condition?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Trev

[Bravo73]

Hello Trev,

Nice Jaaaaag! 😉

Have you tried calling B&C to discuss your thoughts?

Pre-purchase inspections can be tricky things. Some companies would expect you to take the car to their workshop, others might only be willing to do an ‘inspection’ as part of a service. Most probably wouldn’t want to be liable for what they might (or might not) find. 

How mechanically minded are you? Although they are pretty rare, Evoras are just cars, really. Spending a bit of time with the search function on here will give you a very good idea of the recurring issues. Otherwise, where abouts in the country are you? Maybe a nearby TLFer could come with you when you go to look at a car?

[TrevS]

Thanks Jonny

Based in the midlands near Rugby. I'd say I'm fairly mechanically knowledgeable but I wanted to have car checked over for things like any slack in gearbox, clutch wear and really any bodywork issues such as water ingress, micro blistering etc that might cause me some bigger headaches. I've actually been offered a car and I love the spec. The owner has been transparent that it needs a few jobs doing including a service. As I haven't seen any to compare with I'm worried I might go and buy with my heart than my head. This particular car also had a substantial amount of work carried out by Bell & Colvill hence why I want some reassurances on the history/work and I thought they might be able to advise via an inspection which could possibly be done as part of a service if the seller was to agree.

I'd feel better it having some kind of health check and maybe a maintenance report on anything immediate, short or long term to look out for. When I had my jag I took it to a specialist in coventry that went through the car front to back and issued my 5 pages of things wrong with the car. It was a pretty eye opening experience as the car was sound but there were so many little details that needed addressing. It certainly gave me something to do at weekends

Do you think it's OK to ask Bell & Colevill about the car I am looking at and see if they would be able to disclose any knowledge about the car or provide any advice?

Trev

[thealastair34]

I can see the need with older classic cars that can be hiding rust & other rather expensive issues but on a more modern car i dont really see what a specialist is going to be able to do more than you and a jack on a drive?

When i went to see mine took a jack and made sure i was happy with the suspension & pick up points & that everything worked inside as it should.

Might just be me though!

 

Good look with the search cars are few and far between so i found when something popped up i like i just bought it, i have no regrets 

[TdM]

The other issue with the Evora is to get a good look you need to start taking panels off which is a bit time consuming so you'll need to give them a few quid for the inspection.

B&C should be happy to give you an idea as to if it's a goodun if they know the car already. From what I've seen, most Evoras are well looked after and if it's not been looked after it shows immediately.

It's not the kind of car that gets bought and neglected.

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

1 hour ago, Bravo73 said:

Otherwise, where abouts in the country are you? Maybe a nearby TLFer could come with you when you go to look at a car?

Good idea. Pick them up in your E-Type and take them to see the potential new car. In which case, whereabouts is the Evora located? That will help figure out who could assist you locally.

[Bravo73]

2 hours ago, TrevS said:

Do you think it's OK to ask Bell & Colevill about the car I am looking at and see if they would be able to disclose any knowledge about the car or provide any advice?

Absolutely ask them. However, in this age of GDPR, I don’t know how much they will be able to tell you anymore. 

You might be just well served by going through the various B&C (and other) invoices with as much patience & detail as possible. I’m pretty sure that somewhere on TLF there is a ‘what to look for when buying an Evora’ list. By comparing that list with the work that has already been done, you should get a pretty good idea of what future issues might arise. Is the seller on TLF?

49 minutes ago, LotusLeftLotusRight said:

Good idea. Pick them up in your E-Type and take them to see the potential new car.

However, arriving to view a car in an E-Type might restrict your ‘price negotiation’ options slightly. 😉

[TrevS]

Thanks guys. I sent an email to B&C and they rang me straight away. Guy that called was so helpful. Told me they knew the car really well and gave me a good overview of the cars history and the fact they had sold it and have been servicing it annually. He's said as far as he knows it's a good one so I am much more reassured now. Not sure if current owner on here but seems really nice and he's looked appears he's loved the car so I think I'm ready to do a viewing. Will keep you posted, fingers crossed.

Trev

22 minutes ago, Bravo73 said:

Absolutely ask them. However, in this age of GDPR, I don’t know how much they will be able to tell you anymore. 

You might be just well served by going through the various B&C (and other) invoices with as much patience & detail as possible. I’m pretty sure that somewhere on TLF there is a ‘what to look for when buying an Evora’ list. By comparing that list with the work that has already been done, you should get a pretty good idea of what future issues might arise. Is the seller on TLF?

However, arriving to view a car in an E-Type might restrict your ‘price negotiation’ options slightly. 😉

Ha, I don't have the E-type anymore, but I'll be taking the family Renault