"Mechanic's inspection" to buy a $3K car?

I got a PPI on my 2700$ Miata. I was glad I did, the repairs needed (brakes, and something else I can no longer remember) let me know what kind of money I was going to spend down the road. It also allowed me to talk the owner down a bit. It doesn't seem like much for a car, but around $3k is significant money for most people, and I want to know as much as I can before I spend that kind of money.

I probably wouldn't do one on a 1,500$ car, but it was worth my money on a car that started out at $3200.

For the $100 to $150 it might cost, the PPI could help you avoid a car that was going to require a bunch of money. And you might be able to get some $$$ knocked off of the sale price because of the PPI. I've always allowed a PPI on something I was selling - anything to increase the odds of a sale.

I don't know the cost where I'd not both with a PPI, it would probably depend on the vehicle, intended usage, etc.

I wouldn't have one done, but I'm fairly competent and you are as well. My mother and step father however...are clueless. They PPI everything including 2k cars. What's hilarious is that the last bucket they bought was a ragged out g35 sedan that had the front end held on by bailing wire, and obvious flood damage to me...but their PPI, at the mechanic's shop and on a lift, gave it a clean bill of health. The car is a dumpster fire. I think their mechanic just wanted them to buy it so he could work on it. I finally saw it 6 months after they bought it (i'm in FL and they're in TN) and strongly suggested a new mechanic.

He called and talked to the shop owner that knew the car very well, and I just got home with $3300 in two envelopes...

Yeah, one for the good guys! Congrats.

In reply to John Welsh :

He's already posted a photo on Instagram with the tag childhooddream and he couldn't be more excited.

Did you invite him here?

The car factors into the PPI. I had a PPI done by a specialist show on a GTI with a DSG I was looking to buy for 7k. I did not buy that car after the PPI. I probably would not have done a PPI on a different model of car in that price range.

I have another question related to ppi as the seller. How much time would you invest to have the potential buyer get the ppi done?

I once sold a car asking $3500, and told one interested party that I wanted a $200 non-refundable deposit towards purchase in exchange for the three hours of my time during the business day. Is that unreasonable? I had nothing to hide, but his mechanic was unable to give me a loaner vehicle or a firm commitment on an appointment time.

In reply to pushrod36:

I can understand your logic, but the deposit would pretty much be a deal breaker unless the car was something special. But I probably wouldn't be hiring a ppi for a 3500 car.

In reply to oldtin:

Same for me. However, as the seller, three hours of my life in the middle of the work day was a dealbreaker to sell a $3500 car.

Money Talks, BS Walks.

No way I would invest 3 hours of my day for that.

I had a guy look at my 06 Acura TL 6mt I was selling. He said he would think about it then called 10 minutes later and said he would take it after a ppi the following Saturday, and he would need to finance it. I also said my price was firm. 2 days later a guy showed up with cash and I sold it. Let the first guy know and he called me a dick. I told him he put no money down and now we both have our Saturday free. I too hate selling on Craigslist.

I wouldn't pay a mechanic to inspect a car unless I couldn't see it in person... But then I probably wouldn't be looking at a car I couldn't see either

With the last car I sold the buyer kept coming up with points like "oh it's the base model", kbb value is xxx, or trying to push a low-ball price because there are so many other $3500 cars on Craigslist​... He also asked about getting it inspected by a mechanic. I think it was just a tactic to see if I was hiding some issue.

In the end I just told him the price was fair because new this and that, and Im not going lower. I made sure to let him know there are a lot other people calling/asking about the car a few times. He skipped the mechanic and paid cash that day.

There are mechanic services that offer mobile inspections and will come to your location to look over the car. I would say that's the PPI they can have performed.

I imagine that shopping the sub-$5k car market without the mechanical chops to inspect a car and determine if it is solid is a scary place to live as a buyer.

I'm a cash buyer, so I have flexibility as a seller. I tend to facilitate potential buyers if I like them, even if it delays the sale, as long as it doesn't cost me time.