Anyone near Glasgow to view a car for me?

thegingerninja · 14-09-2016, 03:34 PM

http://www.scottishmotorservices.co....01511279032939

I'm looking at buying one of these in the next 12 months as an "investment" (or toy, as my wife prefers to call it), and this one seems to be about the right spec, mileage, price, etc.

Having called them - they say it's "mint" (don't they all), but it is a 400 mile round trip for me to go to view it. The last time I had the misfortune of buying a used car, I went to see quite a few of these so called mint cars to find out that they are shite, poor paint repairs, missing service history and so on. So I now own a paint thickness gauge.

I asked them if they had a paint thickness gauge so that they could give me the readings off each panel to establish if the car has had any paint repairs during it's life - but he said he doesn't have a thickness gauge. Now considering that even I have one of these gauges which are easily bought on the tint, you'd expect a car dealer who handles this type of car to have one? Or is it just me?

So to get to the point..........can anyone who is nearby, and has OCD like me and thus owns a paint thickness gauge, go there and give me the readings off each panel.

Just in case you are wondering what one of these gauges is, here is a link to the one I bought a few years ago, it is very accurate and reliable
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CEM-DT-156...sAAOSwMmBVqIA7

It has been absolutely invaluable when I've bought a used car because cars are painted by programmed robots at the factory so the paint thickness is incredibly even, a human being cannot replicate this. As a general rule, measure the thickness on the roof and check all other panels to this value (as roofs are rarely painted in repairs), if they all match within a few microns, then you have a car with original factory paint.

**Mark CSL** · 14-09-2016, 05:38 PM

I am not too far from glasgow but dont own a paint gauge

What is the inportance of this as long as the car is in fantastic condition
after all if a panel has been painted it doesnt mean it has been repaired it could have been scratched ? or is this just me

Would it put you off if the car has had any paint after all its a 13 year old car i have seen brand new cars with paint ?

thegingerninja · 14-09-2016, 06:17 PM

I'm not 100% against a car that has had paint, but prefer one that's original. I once a bought a car that had a paint repair - looked fine when I bought it, but 2 years later the colours did not match due to fading at a different rate - it looked awful, so I try to avoid them where possible. I know they're are rare to find, but I'm after rarity.

MisterCorn · 14-09-2016, 07:05 PM

Can't help on viewing the car, but personally I think an early 996 C2 might be a better bet. The 3.4l engine is less prone to bore scoring, the steering feel is better with it being 2wd, it is lighter and it is a 'purer' drive with the pre 2000 cars being the last with the cable throttle.

MC

14-09-2016, 03:34 PM	#1
thegingerninja S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cheshire Posts: 370 Casino cash: $4367	Anyone near Glasgow to view a car for me? http://www.scottishmotorservices.co....01511279032939 I'm looking at buying one of these in the next 12 months as an "investment" (or toy, as my wife prefers to call it), and this one seems to be about the right spec, mileage, price, etc. Having called them - they say it's "mint" (don't they all), but it is a 400 mile round trip for me to go to view it. The last time I had the misfortune of buying a used car, I went to see quite a few of these so called mint cars to find out that they are shite, poor paint repairs, missing service history and so on. So I now own a paint thickness gauge. I asked them if they had a paint thickness gauge so that they could give me the readings off each panel to establish if the car has had any paint repairs during it's life - but he said he doesn't have a thickness gauge. Now considering that even I have one of these gauges which are easily bought on the tint, you'd expect a car dealer who handles this type of car to have one? Or is it just me? So to get to the point..........can anyone who is nearby, and has OCD like me and thus owns a paint thickness gauge, go there and give me the readings off each panel. Just in case you are wondering what one of these gauges is, here is a link to the one I bought a few years ago, it is very accurate and reliable http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CEM-DT-156...sAAOSwMmBVqIA7 It has been absolutely invaluable when I've bought a used car because cars are painted by programmed robots at the factory so the paint thickness is incredibly even, a human being cannot replicate this. As a general rule, measure the thickness on the roof and check all other panels to this value (as roofs are rarely painted in repairs), if they all match within a few microns, then you have a car with original factory paint. __________________ Get out of the fucking middle lane! ...and turn off your sodding fog lights too!

14-09-2016, 05:38 PM	#2
Mark CSL CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 8,777 Casino cash: $42229	I am not too far from glasgow but dont own a paint gauge What is the inportance of this as long as the car is in fantastic condition after all if a panel has been painted it doesnt mean it has been repaired it could have been scratched ? or is this just me Would it put you off if the car has had any paint after all its a 13 year old car i have seen brand new cars with paint ? __________________ www.procarkits.co.uk

14-09-2016, 06:17 PM	#3
thegingerninja S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cheshire Posts: 370 Casino cash: $4367	I'm not 100% against a car that has had paint, but prefer one that's original. I once a bought a car that had a paint repair - looked fine when I bought it, but 2 years later the colours did not match due to fading at a different rate - it looked awful, so I try to avoid them where possible. I know they're are rare to find, but I'm after rarity. __________________ Get out of the fucking middle lane! ...and turn off your sodding fog lights too!

14-09-2016, 07:05 PM	#4
MisterCorn S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 391 Casino cash: $8663	Can't help on viewing the car, but personally I think an early 996 C2 might be a better bet. The 3.4l engine is less prone to bore scoring, the steering feel is better with it being 2wd, it is lighter and it is a 'purer' drive with the pre 2000 cars being the last with the cable throttle. MC