Didn't think it would be this soon...

This is the insane one.

That two mechanics missed that is terrible.

So far I'm lucky and the person who did my inspection was part of this forum. He knew what to look for. Likewise you guys know what the weaknesses and big ticket items are on these cars: timing belts, F1 pump, guides, exhaust system.

But these are two good examples of PPI's really being a bit of a joke and a waste of money.

Some recent service receipts, and money in the bank are probably better than some of these PPIs.

 

The fun is just starting.

LoL. PPI at Lambo of Houston. LoL.

 

i just PMed you in more detail about not writing off the pump even if the car does start AND even if it goes for a short while without any issue

as for thinking if it was the clutch, my F1 is my only "manual" gearbox i ever owned so i am not an expert, BUT, if you feel the car 'groaning' to shift, then yes it could be it

STILL, it can be an awesome air-intake thing
i remember once my car stalling if the RPM is less than 1.8k or something around that, and i immediately thought it was something to do with the engine

turns out, it was a "V" shape 'hose' that connects and is found at the near end of the trunk..

keep us posted

 

......just recently I bought an AM Vantage Volante and had a PPI done by AM Long Island.

140 different items checked and they charged some 325 USD.........in my opinion well invested money.

Have not seen the car yet but it is now somewhere on the Atlantic heading for Europe.

//B//

 

No updates in a week?

 

I think I'm in the minority where I don't really trust the PPIs. I get them done because I feel like people on here beat it into your head, but everytime I do it I feel like I already know the outcome. You can tell a lot about the car from driving, inspecting, and most of all talking to the previous owner how well the car was cared for. Prior records also show a lot, as usually if something is wrong the dealer will note it when they service the car.

 

I am also in that minority, PPIs buy a false sense of security - Out of the 9 cars I bought in the last 6 years, 2 got PPIs (one got 2 PPIs) and both of those ended up having major problems, while the other 7 have been good cars. PPIs are useful for the obvious stuff, but ultimately cannot predict impending failures (or problems that are purposefully hidden). My experience is that talking to the mechanic that regularly services the car will provide far more insight than any PPI.

 

I suppose the good news is that your F1 pump (and everything else) is fine and doesn't need replacing.

 

Interesting story. Were they the correct bolts? Were the bolts loose on the opposite side as well? Glad it was something simple.

 

Are the CV boots new? Perhaps they were previously replaced? That might explain the loose bolts.

 

sorry to hear.

 

It really depends. I have had 5+ PPIs done this year on used Ferraris. Three of them I knew what I was getting already, and the person doing the PPI was the best of the best, and served to confirm what I pretty much already knew.

One was WELL worth the money, because I thought I knew what I was getting, and an hour into the PPI they told me to run away.

The other....well.....not even close. I knew I was taking a relative gamble, but the Ferrari dealer inspected the car "fully".....and now that my independent tech has the car, realized they missed/misrepresented a bunch of obvious stuff that is going to cost me 5 figures. Yeehaw.

PPIs are not an insurance policy. However, if you know who is doing them, and know what to expect, they can lessen the risk in purchasing.

 

This sounds good too, that another shop/dealer says that otherwise things look good.

I wonder how much of the sale of this car was due to a mechanic/shop that didn't know what they were doing, and the previous owner thinking he had a problem car.

Chris, I guess you know who the "other" mechanic/shop is. The one that left the car with these bolts loose, a fuse blown, and therefore a fan and radiator not working. Whomever did the work mechanical work on the car, and then the L of Houston doing a bad job on the PPI, it shows how hard it is to find competent people.

It seems like more than half the battle with these cars is finding a good shop.

Also Chris, as a fellow spider owner, if anything isn't acting right with the top, don't force it. Search the archives, post, or PM one of us. There are a couple really simple fixes for some of the common problems.

For example, replacing hydraulic fluid is pretty easy. Or there is a bar on the roof that sometimes get a bit bent, especially if someone sits on the spider top while it is down. That bar may need to be "helped" into it's correct position, and then the top will go down fine.

 

Yup tell me about it, mine was an elusive electrical glitch that has not re appeared. Great special flat bed though.
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