360 Mechanic Auto Repair gets 4.6 stars, rounded up to 5, for a pre-purchase inspection of a used…read morecar. I was happy with his services, but his advice could have been more definitive. But, you'd be safe getting a PPI from him.
I was purchasing a used car at a dealership on a Sunday. I called him that morning, and same day he was able to come in the morning to do the inspection. He was a good communicator too. Good stuff.
Overall, I am glad he looked at the car. It helped us negotiate $2,500 off the purchase price, and I knew which issues had to be addressed. I brought it to my mechanic in Jersey City the next day, who agreed with 360 Mechanic that the rotors, brake pads, and tires needed to be replaced.
His inspection entailed looking under the car, running the computer, and checking the engine. He correctly identified that the car needed new brake pads, rotors, and tires. His computer did a pretty thorough report and identified issues.
He told me it was a good car with issues that could be addressed. However, he did not give me advice I would have liked: yes or no, about whether I should buy the car. He seemed concerned about appearing neutral to the dealership. He told me the car needed $1,600 of work.
There are more thorough pre-purchase inspections available. I had one done at a shop in New Jersey for another vehicle I was considering. They did a whole battery of tests and thoroughly looked at everything. 360 didn't do that and didn't jack up the car to look thoroughly at the underbody. I had expected that type of work and was a little disappointed. You can find some dedicated services online, but you need to schedule them in advance.
If you are in the Bronx on a Sunday looking at a car, like I was, you should seriously consider 360 for a pre-purchase inspection.
