We are Land Rover secialists, but offer pre-buy inspections for ALL MAKES of car

Unsure if the car you're looking at is worth the cost of an inspection? 

Easy!  We'll do a 'walk-around' inspection on anything you bring us for just $99. That reduces the odds of having to pay for a complete used-car checkout, only to find it's obviously no good. If it passes the walk-around, only then do we proceed with the technical parts of the full-charge inspection, incrementally, and the walk-around essentially becomes free.

Pre-Purchase used-car check-outs ~~ very cheap and real insurance:

Since 1990 we have offered the best pre-purchase used car and truck assessments for southern Arizona. The Service is very specific and tailored over the decades to provide you with a definite outcome and estimation of fair-market-value for a reasonable price.  We then try to paint a picture of the car from the '10,000 foot' level for you.

We DO NOT do parking lot inspections or mobile on-site used-car inspections; Those are just not products we offer.  To be certain in our recommendations, we need all the facilities of our workshop at hand.

What to Expect

• We need a day heads-up when you schedule your pre-purchase inspection
• We'll need the vehicle dropped-off with us at the workshop
• We'll keep the car all day: a good pre-buy takes about three hours from cooled-off
• Please send with the car any and all past service records or other provenance
• Expect to spend ten minutes on the phone-interview after drop-off
• If the inspection goes to fruition, most cars* run $489 for the complete Service
• Expect pickup or post-inspection consultation to take about ten minutes
• Arrangement can be made to handle all of this over the phone, including payment
• You will get a written report and estimated valuation to go with the verbal one
• Occasionally we will recommend further tests before approving a candidate-car
• We don't offer on-site Inspections, sorry
• *For exotics and collector cars, please call for a cost estimate

Our Objective 

No used car is perfect. That's why we're here for you! Vehicle inspection allows us to help you buy a used car; to discuss with you at length whether it is a wise purchase. We also seek to value the auto for you, when compared with its peers -- used autos of similar make, age and mileage -- so that you can have the best 'new' car your budget, lifestyle, and desires permit.

Check List for our Pre-Purchase Inspection team

Item	Aspect	Description
Chassis / Frame	Damage	Inspect for rust or major past collision repairs often missed by Carfax®
Engine	Wear	Tests for noise, irregular cranking, indication of low oil pressure, leakage, abuse
Transmission & Final Drive	Wear	Tests for correct operation, including extensive road testing, review of service records
Body & Interior	Damage	Rate cosmetic condition vs. asking price and Kelly Blue Book® price (if applicable), and advise client how it compares with other cars of similar age and mileage
Suspensions	Wear & Damage	Tests for correct operation, including extensive road testing, inspections for abuse
Tires, brakes, battery, hoses, belts	Overview	These items do not represent "buy" or "don't buy" items, but where possible will be inspected

Will you make a list of little stuff for me to haggle with?

Not really.  When we suggest a fair value of $6500 on the report, for example, it already took into account that repairs would need to be made.  Typically the objective in the pre-buy is to rule-out cars not worth repairing such as cars with severe rust, damaged engine or transmission, prior collision damage.  If the car had no such flaws, it "passed" the inspection.  It is important to understand that the list of repairs we inevitably provide afterwards is not a result from a part of that vehicle inspection, but a happenstance artifact of having looked at the major items with one's eyes wide open.

 

Therefore, if purchased, we first recommend having a complete [next Major Interval] Service and Inspection performed.  This should bring all the fluids up to date, and better itemize the little things that should be repaired and items that should be changed preventatively.  On any car purchased with accumulated miles, some items will always be coming due.   These items do not directly influence fair-market value, since that market value already assumes any other similar car car of similar mileage will have a similar list of small needs.

Already bought a used car?

We also offer the more exhaustive Post-Purchase inspection.  This product does indeed provide the detailed list of petty needs otherwise not worth the cost of inspecting for on a car you may not even buy.  They are also a good inspection if you wonder whether your old car has ... well ... had it.  These inspections are similar checklists to the Pre-Purchase checklist except that chassis / frame, body, & interior line items are deleted, and tyre wear, brakes, battery, belts, hoses etc lines are checked out in detail.  These cost a little more, and provide an excellent baseline for ownership going forward.

Conveniently and Appropriately Located

We are about 15 minutes from U of A or midtown, ten minutes from DM or downtown. We are just off I-10, which is good for those on the north-west side and Oro Valley. Better still, being located near the freeway and in an uncontested area we can properly road-test cars and trucks so that when we check a used car we're not limited to a ten-minute drive around the block in city traffic.

* Specialty and collector cars require additional due-diligence in valuation and originality, and do cost considerably more.  Please call with specifics to inquire.

LEMONS