Forkian
Member
Car-Max in Brandywine
CarMax doesn't sell any cars in the $5k price range. CarMax is almost always $10k and above.
Car-Max in Brandywine
"American Branded" is a very good way to label the vehicles. A good number of the foreign branded vehicles are technically "Made in the USA" (meaning the content and finally assembly meets the criteria.
Ironically some of the big "American" names are not made in the USA, technically Mexico is in the Americas, but also part content is not going to be much different than the "foreign" cars.
The best measure of a vehicle is looking them up in such things as Consumer Reports and compare the various criteria on reliability, cost of ownership, etc.
We rented our in law apartment to a couple from Japan here for 1- 2 1/2 years and are looking for a used American made car for about $5000. My husband has been doing some searching for them and is willing to go tire kicking at dealers because there is a language barrier and we don't want to see them get screwed. Anyone have or know of someone that has a car for sale that has been well maintained? I doubt they want to drive to Nevada in it but should be dependable for local jaunts.
Anyone?
So.....even though it was *inspected* prior to being sold, it needed front and back brakes and a tire.
My guess is it is still possible to "buy" and inspection in St Mary's County!
So.....even though it was *inspected* prior to being sold, it needed front and back brakes and a tire.
My guess is it is still possible to "buy" and inspection in St Mary's County!
Well, there's different levels of rigor and judgment involved, although there shouldn't be. And depends on what you mean by "needs brakes". Pads and rotors, or just pads? Some mechanics refuse to do a "pad slap", they insist that the rotors must be replaced when you do the pads. And I think the criteria on pads is that they have not yet hit the wear indicators. Some mechanics might see that they are really close and say they need to be replaced. some might see that the wear bars on the tires are within the legal limits, but close and sign off, others might, recognizing that even if the wear bars are legal, that you lose like %50 of your wet weather handling when they are within a certain distance of the surface and demands replacement.
When you do a Maryland State Inspection tires, rotors and brake pads are checked by measurements.. Rotors or drums to thin--- fail,,,, Pads or Shoes to thin--- fail......
Not enough rubber left---- fail....
.personal opinion is not involved in passing or failing a State Inspection.
http://www.agapeauto.com/marylandst...o-pass-the-maryland-vehicle-state-inspection/
In a perfect world, this is true, the tech will pull the technical specifications for each part of each vehicle inspected and take the measurements. In the real world, mechanics don't always do those things. Wear bars not even with tread? tread depth good. Wear indicators on pads not scraping yet, away you go. Wear pattern on tires looks good? Car tracks straight and true on the test drive? Caster and camber must be good. And I'm not saying they are doing it for bad reasons. Some will use inspection to drive repair business and some will really think it's best to call out the repair in the customers best interests. The best will note exactly where the margins are and why they think replacement is or is not a good idea, even if the equipment is still barely within limits. Big world, lots of variations of people, bosses and vehicles.
I worked as a line Mechanic at Ralph Brown Buick and Tom Hatton Pontiac as a young man, I'm well aware how it works. All measurements are written down on the Inspection sheet..It's very easy for the Trooper to go to the previous Inspection station and pull the paperwork
It's as simple as if these parts failed Inspection within a few hundred miles the State Police should be notified..
What's next with this State Inspector, a leaking caliber that fails and a accident with injury?
The form does require pad and rotor/drum thickness numbers. Tires are pass/fail. I submit your experience what 30 years ago at a dealership might vary just a bit from what happens at the average independent mechanic.
Yea, because car safety inspections have changed so much in 30+ years.. LOL...
It's either done correctly and honestly,,,,, or it's done fraudulently...
The data nowadays gets entered online and printed out... BFD...
Update: "inspection" station has been reported to the State police and all the parts that needed to be replaced were saved and documented. In the end, the vehicle needed $1500 worth of work; a majority of it things that should not have passed inspection. The state police said they are familiar with this particular inspection station...
The good news is our mechanic said this should be a pretty decent vehicle for these folks to get around locally now.