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Buying a used car these days can be a risky endeavor
at best, what with the horror stories of some shady dealers who piece
a vehicle together from the carcasses of several wrecks, then sell it
on the open market.
Bryan Chapman inspects a vehicle for a customer
There's a Pinecrest-based company that will send an
ASE-certified, county-licensed mechanic to your home, office or any
location in Miami-Dade and Broward counties and give the vehicle
you're interested in a thorough going over, possibly saving you some
expensive headaches down the road.
"This is a much-needed service," said Bryan
Chapman, owner of Car Check, Inc. "There are a lot of
unscrupulous people out there who are selling cars that are just no
good and don't belong on the road."
Chapman says a complete vehicle inspection usually
takes 60 to 90 minutes and he checks it out front to back and top to
bottom, road tests the vehicle and then issues a detailed, written
condition report of his findings. The inspection fee is $95 for most
vehicles, with the charge slightly higher for expensive foreign models
such as Mercedes and BMW.
"We do a full body inspection and check for any
hidden body or frame damage from a previous accident, said Chapman.
"We also check the condition of the engine and transmission and
give
a general estimate of what repairs may cost in the future."
Other areas checked are:
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Brake system
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Exhaust system, including muffler, catalytic converter and tailpipes
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Front-end
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Accessories, including air conditioning, radio, CD player, tape player,
sound system, horn, wipers, headlights, taillights, interior lights, turn
signals
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Interior upholstery, rugs and headliner
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Air-bag system
"Most of the cars that I check about 90 per cent of them have
been in previous accidents and had serious damage to them," Chapman
said. "The damage has been repaired and covered up and probably would
have been overlooked by the buyer. You'd be amazed at the cars that I've
seen."
Chapman, a Pinecrest native and 1988 Westminster Christian graduate, says
Florida law allows a buyer to have any car up for sale inspected by a
mechanic. He adds that it is best to inspect a vehicle in daylight hours.
Car Check is open from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
For more information on Car Check, please call 305-665-2127.
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