[help] Where should I get a used car checked out?

try taking it to a dealership of the same make..

 

Well, it's been a long while, but I used to get the guy at the Texaco on I-10 and Shepherd (next to the wendy's) to look at them. He was pretty knowledgeable, but forgot what he charged to look at them. Actually, I don't even know if the shop is still there, much less if the guy (who's name I have forgotten) is there, but he was very good about it.

This isn't very helpful, is it? Seemed helpful when I recalled it.

 

I don't know. Perhaps the Autozone on Montrose and Fairview? Even if they don't have one there, I bet they would have some good suggestions.

 

You could also do a Carfax report to see if anything unusual has happened to the car.

 

My friend took a car to the Auto Exam place on the Gulf Freeway and they told him there was probably about $3,000 of work that needed to be done. There was apparently oil leaking from all over the place. Needless to say, he didn't buy the car.

I think he paid $99 for the inspection and if I remember correctly it took less than an hour. Small price to pay to avoid buying a lemon. The guys there seemed very knowledgeable and everything seemed to be on the up and up. They're not there to charge you for repairs or anything, so they have no reason to be shady.

http://www.autoexam.com/

 

Unless they are getting kick backs from the dealer down the road...

 

Buy a less expensive model that is still under warranty.

 

There is no way for a tech to tell you anything about a car except what is wrong with it right at that moment and usually you can tell something is wrong just by driving it if that is the case.

The most they can really do is a compression check, diagnostics of PCM, and checking for leaks but you would be able to tell if those things were bad by a MIL or the car running rough.

 

if you haven't already Russ' Automotive on 17th and Durham will hook you up. Russ is a straight shooter who I'm not afraid to send my grandma to for work on her car.