Independent Car Inspection

sauvignon

Can anyone please recommend an independent authorised car inspector, possibly specialising in Toyotas? Are there any other organisations apart from AA or RAC providing this service?

Hintza

What is wrong with them?

Just a quick Google should help here is one:-

http://www.auteco.co.uk/

sauvignon

Thanks, Hintza, I have mastered the art of googling, too. I was interested in personal experience or recommendations, not the obvious choices.

We've used AA in the past and they missed things. RAC seem to check only what they choose.

sillygoose

I have wondered how feasible it is to ask a mechanic from a local franchise for the make your interested in to do a little 'on his own time' inspection?

The big problem is how to approach one other than loitering around the workshop! Perhaps best just to ask the service manager outright if any of his guys would like to make £150-200 one evening (whatever the going rate is?) It just seems that a mechanic with daily model specific experience and who sees all the manufacturers bulletins and maybe can borrow a diagnostic laptop would be excellent.

sauvignon

Thanks, sillygoose, for your suggestion. The question is, could his report be then used as a negotiating tool with the dealership? Would it be recognised as "official"?

sillygoose

sauvignon wrote: »

Thanks, sillygoose, for your suggestion. The question is, could his report be then used as a negotiating tool with the dealership? Would it be recognised as "official"?

Its a valid point considering he is working outside his dealership. However presumably (to cover themselves) the dealership must ensure the technician (as they like to be called now) will have been trained and certificated, no matter who he is 'working' for at the time that is still valid as you cannot temporarily un-train someone. I am a qualified engineer and the same applies.

A service desk person might help if it was explained you needed the car checked out of hours when the dealership would not be able to do it themselves so no lost business to them, and as its the same marque, if they could help you out it would put them in a very favourable light for all your future servicing needs at the dealership.

goldspanners

why not check out owners forums for your particular model and then find all known faults and how to spot them yourself.
if you did get a mechanic who specialises in your model then what comeback would you have? none i suspect. unless it was official.
is this for the yaris? if so then i think it would be a waste of money.

harveybobbles

I can recommend a decent bloke in Wiguurn. He used to work for the AA/RAC but wasn't making enough money, so went it alone.

sauvignon

OK, thanks everyone for their penny's worth. I'll consider all your suggestions and see what I can do - if I'm still alive in a week's time that is. Until then I'll have to use this blasted car and pray that it lasts.