We've all heard the term "buyer beware," especially when it comes to buying a used car. That warning is even more appropriate when buying a used car from a private seller. Ultimately, it's up to you to do your research and make an educated purchase decision.
Vikram learned this lesson the hard way, but thankfully he had Patrick Banta and the team at San Francisco Automotive Solutions here to help.
"GREAT experience," Vikram writes in his recent Google review. "I bought a '98 [BMW] M3 and had Patrick and his team do a detailed lookover and change the tires."
Vikram bought the BMW from a private seller who showed him a clean car record. Unfortunately, the vehicle inspection at San Francisco Automotive Solutions showed a very different story. The car had clearly been in an accident. It had cracked engine mounts and cracked transmission mounts among numerous other mechanical issues.
Patrick advised Vikram that we would only provide a quote for all the necessary repairs if the rest of the car was worth repairing. After further inspection, we cataloged all the recommended repairs and determined that the vehicle could be repaired properly. It would be a big job, but everything was repairable.
Wisely, Vikram took the repair quote from San Francisco Automotive Solutions and shopped it around before making his final decision.
"A dealer said, 'This price looks really good and these guys are really good. My cost would be at least 40% more,'" adds Vikram.
In the end, Vikram put his trust in the San Francisco Automotive Solutions team to make all the recommended repairs to his BMW. We covered every detail and made sure everything was working properly once again.
"Today my new old M3 drives like it was new," Vikram concludes. "Overall, every future performance car I purchase will be brought here. Satisfied customer is an understatement. Thank you San Francisco Automotive Solutions."
If you are thinking about buying a used car, you have the right to get a pre-purchase vehicle inspection. Let San Francisco Automotive Solutions look it over carefully and provide a full inspection report along with any repair recommendations/prices, so you will know exactly what you are buying before you sign on the dotted line.
For all your auto repair and vehicle inspection needs, call San Francisco Automotive Solutions today at (415) 957-1170 or schedule your service appointment online.