Sorry for the click baity title. Following on from my intro thread here http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=132572 I thought I'd start a fresh 'new owner guidance" thread..... Cause you guys probably don't get enough of them right?
So I test drove the car in question (2001 3.4 C4 manual 80k miles) and noted the following. Unfortunately the car was warm when I arrived as it had been moved from other premises about 5 miles away.
Postives
Negatives
This final point is my main concern but could be a matter of coincidence. I went round the car after test drive and noted a small puddle at the left exhaust. It could be coincidence as the car was washed prior to my arrival and was pulled up on a busy road. I probably shouldn't say this but I did do a wee finger dip and lip taste and it was slightly oily and bitter, not sweet like coolant... could be that's what all puddles taste like.
Anyway. I went in to speak to an indie on the way back to work and have booked it in for a PPI on Monday. Had a good chat with the mechanic and he's said I'm more than welcome to go along and he'll take me through the inspection.
So I test drove the car in question (2001 3.4 C4 manual 80k miles) and noted the following. Unfortunately the car was warm when I arrived as it had been moved from other premises about 5 miles away.
Postives
- No knocks, bangs or squeaks from suspension while driving
All gears seemed to engage easily without noise or notchiness
No knocks or slack in the steering
Bodywork all looked straight. I expected to find signs of paint and I assume it must have had some
No signs of rust around arches/sills
Aircon blows cold
No apparent leaks from radiators and ducts were clear of leaves
Tyres have plenty of life left in them
Everything electrical seemed to work
Engine temp was steady throughout the drive
Oil pressure sat between 1/2 at idle and up around 4/5 while driving ( read this was normal)
Negatives
- Driving at normal speed around town the car pulled slightly to the left
The clutch biting point was high and the pedal relatively stiff (my other car has a very heavy clutch and it felt very similar)
It was VERY loud (possibly a positive) The righthand silencer is a different design from the left which explains why they don't align well
There's a definite oil leak that looks like it's been there a while
I was wrong about the brakes. They definitely haven't been done recently and need doing
The handbrake was useless even on a slight hill
This final point is my main concern but could be a matter of coincidence. I went round the car after test drive and noted a small puddle at the left exhaust. It could be coincidence as the car was washed prior to my arrival and was pulled up on a busy road. I probably shouldn't say this but I did do a wee finger dip and lip taste and it was slightly oily and bitter, not sweet like coolant... could be that's what all puddles taste like.
Anyway. I went in to speak to an indie on the way back to work and have booked it in for a PPI on Monday. Had a good chat with the mechanic and he's said I'm more than welcome to go along and he'll take me through the inspection.