Used Car Evaluation

[Davekiat]

I sent my used car for evaluation before I bought my second hand vios. I found that the report was not detailed enough although they have chassis alignment tests conducted, engine, gearbox checks but I do not know how extensive these tests were.

 

They did put a remark mentioning "Minor repair job on the rear of the car". After getting my car, I sent it to my mechanic for checks and found it was actually a rear bumper repair job. STA will try to report it in a nice way rather than the specifics.

 

 

[Busybody]

i also having this problem

Got a used car in mind, but do not know where to bring for evaluation.

Anyone got advise for me ?

 

Test Drive the car, if it feels right, ask the dealer to send it in for you.

 

You would most likely have agreed upon a price and the Dealer will ask you for a downpayment

 

Put in down in the agreement that

 

If <=Grade C, dealer pays for the eval fee., refunds you the downpayment in full and you walk away paying nothing.

 

If Grade A or B, you pay for the eval fee, and will have to accept the car.

[Busybody]

Thanks for the info, Btw is it grade B means that vehicle have been involved accident before ? Any idea?

 

No, i believe older cars will automatically get grade B due to wear and tear of parts.

[Auntyoink]

Hi all, i am a first-time car buyer so pardon me if the question sounds silly. Which inspection centre is better in yr experience? STA or Vicom? And do u know if the folks there can help check if the car is a "flood" vehicle?

[Yeobh]

You will be surprise that there are simple and very important tests that used car evaluation centres , I understand are just doing visual or don't conduct test at all

 

a) Engine compression and mandifold vaccum test

b) Cooling system pressure & coolant test

c) Brake fluid moisture test

d) Battery high discharge test

e) Alternator output amp volt load test

f)Power steering hydraulic power output test

 

Correct me I maybe out of date

[Good-Carbuyer]

You will be surprise that there are simple and very important tests that used car evaluation centres , I understand are just doing visual or don't conduct test at all

 

a) Engine compression and mandifold vaccum test

b) Cooling system pressure & coolant test

c) Brake fluid moisture test

d) Battery high discharge test

e) Alternator output amp volt load test

f)Power steering hydraulic power output test

 

Correct me I maybe out of date

 

I believe those are for academics who never know what it is about.

Articles written after 'test-drive' no mention of braking distances? No mention of lateral acceleration? No mention of cruising speed? No mentione of noise level within car cabin?

[Voodooman]

http://www.aas.com.sg/data/Services/VAS/Car.pdf

 

I only trust AA since I swore off new car. It is however difficult to convince dealers to allow an AA inspection. Dealers will usually ask you to use STA or Viacom instead, just insist on it and be prepared to walk away.

[Auntyoink]

I tried to search on AA's website but didn't see any car evaluation. Must u be a member to get the car evaluated?

[Voodooman]

I tried to search on AA's website but didn't see any car evaluation. Must u be a member to get the car evaluated?

 

Here you go...

 

http://www.aas.com.sg/index.php?show=conte...w=8&val=210

 

No, you do not need to be a member to have access to the service but you pay slightly more.

[Picanto]

You will be surprise that there are simple and very important tests that used car evaluation centres , I understand are just doing visual or don't conduct test at all

 

a) Engine compression and mandifold vaccum test

b) Cooling system pressure & coolant test

c) Brake fluid moisture test

d) Battery high discharge test

e) Alternator output amp volt load test

f)Power steering hydraulic power output test

 

Correct me I maybe out of date

 

then which are the centres that skip these tests?

[Yeobh]

Not even one centre do such tests

[Picanto]

Not even one centre do such tests

 

perhaps its not cost economical for the centres

[Yeobh]

No idea as I am not sure how they run the centres

[Mm63]

Take all evaluation reports with a pinch of salt. Nowadays, workshops can repair seriously damaged cars to such a extent that the evaluation centres cannot really detect. I wanted to buy a car and it was rated B by a evaluation centre that shall remain unnamed. Later I found out from reliable sources that the car was a serious accident before where even the airbags were deployed. I re-checked the car myself and saw the tell-tale signs personally e.g dashboard and steering wheel looks new compared to the rest of the interior etc etc. Managed to back out of the deal and forfeited 10% of my deposit. It was a close call but learnt quite a bit from the experience.

 

Car dealers like to go their preferred evaluation centre because they bring so many cars there to check and may have formed "personal" relationships with the staff there. Serious damage may then be reported as "minor repair work at the front"........

 

I have heard that from a car dealer that car dealers really hate sending their cars to AA for evaluation because the mechanics there are very strict and fussy and will be blunt and upfront about what they see. I have never sent any cars to AA for evaluation so don't just take my word for it

[Mkl22]

Take all evaluation reports with a pinch of salt. Nowadays, workshops can repair seriously damaged cars to such a extent that the evaluation centres cannot really detect. I wanted to buy a car and it was rated B by a evaluation centre that shall remain unnamed. Later I found out from reliable sources that the car was a serious accident before where even the airbags were deployed. I re-checked the car myself and saw the tell-tale signs personally e.g dashboard and steering wheel looks new compared to the rest of the interior etc etc. Managed to back out of the deal and forfeited 10% of my deposit. It was a close call but learnt quite a bit from the experience.

 

Car dealers like to go their preferred evaluation centre because they bring so many cars there to check and may have formed "personal" relationships with the staff there. Serious damage may then be reported as "minor repair work at the front"........

 

I have heard that from a car dealer that car dealers really hate sending their cars to AA for evaluation because the mechanics there are very strict and fussy and will be blunt and upfront about what they see. I have never sent any cars to AA for evaluation so don't just take my word for it

 

 

yup agree with you. All the evaluation are b-------t. and lots of under table money. never trust them. heck even the yearly inspections got heavily modified cars passing, what more such evaluation which are no subjected to any laws.

[Shadla]

a relible workshop

[Shadla]

a relible workshop

[Picanto]

yup agree with you. All the evaluation are b-------t. and lots of under table money. never trust them. heck even the yearly inspections got heavily modified cars passing, what more such evaluation which are no subjected to any laws.

 

its time the govt do some audits of these centres