(not sure where this question belongs)

I test drove a 350z, check it over fairly well, offered a price that we agreed upon, but before I buy it, I told him I would like to bring it to a mechanic to get it checked out professionally. He told me that he works 60+ hours a week and it's hard enough trying to get time just to make the sell.

He told me I can bring it to a mechanic, but the mechanic "won't know anything about this car. old timer mechanics see a car like this and they don't understand it" and the owner said he "just wants a simple sale"

I'm sure a mechanic will be able to tell if something is wrong fairly easily? does this raise any red flags in regards to there might be something wrong with the car? are professional mechanics really as dumb as he says?

 

yep red flag a mechanic will be able to tell if their is something wrong lol. a car is a car for the most part mechanically speaking. might not now how to program it but are cars are fairly simple.

 

I've heard that lie before. And he probably doesn't work 60-70 hours a week.

 

I wouldn't buy it from him if he basically out righted lie.

Is he from Jersey, perhaps?

 

 

Did you create two users?

 

^^^^ haha jersey lol

 

I did create two users, I somehow logged into my other one. and no, we're not in jersey, but he may be from jersey for all i know, lol.

 

see below

 

 

His reasoning is suspicious. Why is he talking about mechanics' incompetence before the car is even taken in? Almost like he's setting up for something to be wrong

 

Well, we agreed on $1,500 under what he's asking. The transmission was replaced 30k miles ago, it has 70k on the odometer. There was nothing that made me suspicious. The engine block had a little bit of oil burnt on it, but it was very minimal. The clutch let out a little high, but the only thing on was the "bring in for maintenance" screen for an oil change that he said he changed himself. he said he needs to bring it to a dealer to get it turned off.

 

The more I read it, seems like he is hiding something.

 

Check it yourself. Turn the key on and look for all the lights to turn on.

Do all the gauges work? A/C, heat in all speeds and vents, power steering, brakes, throttle, wipers in all speeds, washers, lights, fluids full, any leaks etc...

Does the engine start easily and run smooth?

Look at the ball joints if you can, see if they are blown out, check the rear diff bushing (possible price haggling point).

Does the hatch pop easy? Do the windows auto index? Power mirrors operative? Power seats move smoothly?

I think I've covered just about everything.

 

Everything seemed to be fine though, although I'm no expert.

Gauges worked fine, i didn't check A/C or heat, car had a smooth idle and there was no grinding in any gear. hit all 6 gears, was impressively smooth. he was talking about a whistling noise at a certain RPM in 4th gear that i didn't hear. brakes, wipers, washers, fluids and everything were good. didn't check the hatch or mirrors. power seats worked fine. didn't check the ball joints or bushings. I didn't look under the car too well. Like I said before, the "bring in for maintenance" (or whatever it says) was up on the GPS screen for an oil change (that he did himself)

 

Transmission replaced at 40k miles and burnt oil on the engine?

Skip it. Two big red flags there.

 

There was no oil on the ground, or anywhere else that i could see. it was only on one side, and it was very minimal. he said it was probably from the oil change when i pointed it out. And yeah, I was asking about the clutch, and he said he doesn't know if the original was in it or not. He said the transmission was replaced by the previous owner and the clutch was *probably* replaced with it too. the current owner bought it from a dealership a few years ago

http://maine.craigslist.org/cto/4553852674.html


well, might as well post this, since it might help.

we agreed at 10k.

edit: has 80k on the odometer, said 70k earlier in the post

 

I put 100k miles on my factory clutch before replacing it and I still have my factory trans at 110k.

My engine block is spotless. It's dusty because I drive on gravel roads/park in a gravel lot at work but there nothing leaking on it.

I bought the car with 55k miles and I haven't babied it at all.

 

Hmmm, you do have a great point about your z. Well, after reading all this, there's no way I'm buying it without having a mechanic take a good look.

 

That line pisses me off.

If you're determined to buy it I would ask for another $500 off for having to decipher the ad due to his lack of spaces between words, incorrect use of punctuation, and lack of ability to use a spell checker.