WHY A VIN REPORT IS NOT ENOUGH
Because of all the car buying bruhaha on NL these last few days I decided to add to this thread.

VIN check is a very useful tool but does not mean you shouldn't do a proper pre-purchase inspection (PPI on NL). Why? Because a VIN REPORT is only as good as the sources reporting to it.

Unless an accident involved either the police or insurance, it is not going to be reported on a VIN check. So that person who hit someone and agreed to pay without calling the police? Accident never happened on VIN REPORT. Car that got flooded and the owner didn't have insurance? NEVER HAPPENED. Replaced motor and/or transmission? Not according to VIN REPORT So while the report is good, NEVER FORGET TO DO AN INSPECTION.

For more details,

https://www.google.com/amp/s/oppositelock.kinja.com/how-carfax-works-and-why-you-should-take-it-with-a-gra-1639660981/amp


https://www.carfax.com/company/vhr-data-sources

http://www.city-data.com/forum/automotive/1424820-major-accident-not-appearing-carfax-report.html

With the increase in ordering used cars overseas, someone might find this information useful

https://news.yahoo.com/cars-most-likely-engine-rebuild-100013746.html

The common concern with cars as they age is dependability—not only that they may not get you to work one day but also that a catastrophic failure could cost thousands of dollars. Major problems are rare in general, but they do happen.

To understand how often such problems occurred, we analyzed data on older models from our Annual Autos Surveys to see which have the highest problem rates for major systems that often require expensive repairs.

Three problems areas stood out: engine, head gasket, and transmission. With some models, these problems occur with surprising frequency at a certain age and mileage.

Engine problems are among the greatest mechanical nightmares for their inconvenience, expense, and time to repair. We found that there are more than a dozen older models with problems serious enough to require engine rebuilds.

“Engine failure can be caused by many things,” says John Ibbotson, Consumer Reports’ chief mechanic. “Some engine rebuilds are needed due to low compression from worn piston rings, resulting in lack of power, misfiring, or excessive oil consumption, while others suffer from crankshaft or connecting rod bearing failure, signaled by a knocking sound.” Due to the difficulty and time required to rebuild an engine, often shops will replace the original engine with one that has been remanufactured.

An Audi A4 owner reported, “We have put over $12,000 into this car. Something breaks, we fix it. Something else breaks, we have to fix it. We are retirement age and cannot buy a new car.”

It can be a challenge finding the right shop to take on a major repair, which requires talent, time, and parts. A Mini Cooper owner wrote, “Cylinder number three failed while on the highway, at cruising speed. Not only is a replacement motor very expensive, but no local shop wants to do the job, because of the complexity.”

To help warn both current owners and used-car shoppers, we compiled a list of 10 models that stood out as having the most severe problems, as determined by frequency and cost.

They are presented below in rank order, starting with the one with the highest problem rate. We include the model year with the greatest problems (and when applicable, a range of years affected by this problem), the typical mileage range when the problem occurs, and where possible, we recommend similar alternative vehicles without this concern. If no alternatives are presented, that means similar cars had the same issue or another significant problem.

The journey to 200,000 miles can be a bumpy one, but it doesn't have to be if you start with a good, reliable car and properly maintain it, per the directions in the owner’s manual. Consumer Reports always recommends shoppers consult the reliability ratings, based on our large-scale member surveys, to predict the models that have better odds of being trouble-free. This detailed data can be found on our car model pages.

2010 Audi A4 2.0T
Model years affected: 2009-2010
Typical mileage: 107,000-153,000
Alternatives without this problem: 2008-2010 Lexus ES, 2008-2010 Infiniti G, 2009-2010 Acura TL

2008 Ford F-350 6.4L diesel
Typical mileage: 65,000-119,000
Alternatives: None

2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
Typical mileage: 102,500-133,000
Alternatives without this problem: 2003-2004 Toyota Matrix

2008 Mini Cooper/Clubman
Model years affected: 2008-2009
Typical mileage: 122,000-129,500
Alternatives without this problem: 2008 Mazda3

2010 Chevrolet Equinox/GMC Terrain
Typical mileage: 84,500-108,500
Alternatives without this problem: 2008-2010 Honda CR-V, 2008-2010 Toyota RAV4

2006 Jeep Wrangler 2.4L
Typical mileage: Approximately 150,000
Alternatives without this problem: 2004-2008 Toyota 4Runner

2010 Cadillac SRX
Typical mileage: Approximately 130,000
Alternatives without this problem: 2008-2010 Lexus RX, 2010 Acura MDX

2003 Acura MDX
Typical mileage: Approximately 190,000
Alternatives without this problem: 2003-2005 Lexus RX

2006 Buick Lucerne
Typical mileage: 116,000-143,000
Alternatives without this problem: 2006 Lexus GS, 2004-2008 Toyota Avalon

2010 GMC Acadia
Typical mileage: 106,000-129,000
Alternatives without this problem: 2008-2010 Toyota Highlander

You don’t have any WhatsApp contact line how much do you do inspections?

radautoworks:
https://milexcompleteautocare.com/blog/buying-a-used-car--six-things-to-look-at-first

"Please tech guru's, just bought a 2045 owambe v6 and the whoozit is not behaving properly. What could be the problem?"

Or

"Just bought the 1988 haaaa wetinbedis. The OWNER said it had new leg and diamond encrusted streering wheel. They also said it has 50,000km original on it and no one ever sat in the passenger and/or back seat so suspension is brand new. What should I do for future maintenance?"

PAY N5,000-25,000 DEPENDING ON THE CAR TO HAVE A USED CAR INSPECTION DONE [b]BEFORE[/b] YOU BUY THE CAR! STOP LOOKING FOR FREE DIAGNOSIS AND LAMENTING REPAIR COSTS AFTER YOU BUY THE CAR WITHOUT AN INSPECTION! IF THE CAR IS GOOD, THE SELLER SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM REFUNDING THE COST OF THE INSPECTION TO YOU TO MAKE THE SALE!


If that was too harsh, the hormones made me do it

Cc the usual suspects:
sultaan, egunmogaji, piyke, GAZZUZZ, Obekediamondfuto, thebigkendo, thecar, sooperrescue, Banky3w, LeJeun3, Mayor2013, autologic, Autoelectng, Kingreign, chukel, opsudei1, oblo, weyreypeye, razaqmb, nurey, nwanneni, Princetom1, cosplay, johnabraham, evilspirit,deedee44, carshopper, protocol, taxiappguy, ifyeez,gentlelife50, jayooh, jergermeister, lacomb, chillex8, fogman, Enyinne krisrock. akanniade10 Kashif chucsmoore and all the others I cannot remember.......

BarrSly:
You don’t have any WhatsApp contact line how much do you do inspections?

Hello, 10k which includes a diagnostic scan, visual lift suspension check, fluids check and test drive.

Per each car check ?

radautoworks:


Hello, 10k which includes a diagnostic scan, visual lift suspension check, fluids check and test drive.

radautoworks:


Hello, 10k which includes a diagnostic scan, visual lift suspension check, fluids check and test drive.

Does the car have to be brought to your shop?

BarrSly:
Per each car check ?

Yes. However if you are getting any kind of service, diagnosis is free with repair.

ivoryhouse:

Does the car have to be brought to your shop?

Yes

What kinda service?

radautoworks:


Yes. However if you are getting any kind of service, diagnosis is free with repair.

BarrSly:

What kinda service?

Anything from oil change on up.

BarrSly:

What kinda service?

I can see you're interested in a 2010 Camry. I have an extremely clean one available

Looking for cars that LAST?

Forbes compiled a list of cars that regularly clock over 200,000 miles. Unsurprisingly, Toyota makes half of them

Click below for the rundown

15 Vehicles That Can Run for 200,000 Miles or More https://www.forbes.com/stories/15-vehicles-that-can-run-for-200000-miles-or-more/

POV: You're about to spend millions on a car purchase but won't PROTECT YOUR EXPENDITURE WITH A SIMPLE N30k COMPREHENSIVE CHECK

Let us check out that car complete with uploaded pictures of our findings before you purchase it. You have no idea how many times customers thought they bought "unaccidented cars" only to find out they were in major front-end collisions (more on that in another post)

DON'T BE PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH!

Another extensive project that sprung a surprise on a new buyer. Buyer beware! Your street mechanic is not going to cut it here. FULL inspection with electrical scan and not a Bluetooth one


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSZwkFScl2E?si=3NxIcWkfodkAJKiH

radautoworks:
Another extensive project that sprung a surprise on a new buyer. Buyer beware! Your street mechanic is not going to cut it here. FULL inspection with electrical scan and not a Bluetooth one


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSZwkFScl2E?si=3NxIcWkfodkAJKiH

I see the rear right caliper dangling and hanging unsupported. That's not a good practice ma'am.
Good job all the same.

jceesquare:

I see the rear right caliper dangling and hanging unsupported. That's not a good practice ma'am.
Good job all the same.

Hi! We usually clip them up. I just stopped him in between so I could do my video. Good eye.

radautoworks:


Hi! We usually clip them up. I just stopped him in between so I could do my video. Good eye.

Great then