scoobyrob

goin to check out a scooby today, just inintial checks first before i buy!! wot should i be looking out 4? engine wise. and at wot mileage does the turbo start playing up. car has done 55k.

cheers

Iain P

Have a good look round the car first in good light. Look down the bodywork for dents and ripples. The car should be clean so you can check the colour match on all the panels. Lift the bonnet and check for any parts that look brand new, like the front engine covers - normally indicates it has been smacked in the front so have a good look around the front of the engine and body structure. Look at the tyres, this will tell you how it's been driven and the alignment of all the wheels - the tread should be even across the tyre with a small amount of wear on the front outer edges. Check all the disks for wear (outside edge should not have more than, say, 0.5mm lip) and cracks. Whilst you are under the bonnet, check that the engine is cold before you start it up. Leave the hood up and crank it over. Do this yourself. The engine should fire without throttle and after 2 or 3 turns. The idle should be around 1200rpm and constant. Look ot the back for blue/white smoke from the tailpipe as well. The engine should sound smooth with only a TINY amount of top end 'tick'. For a 55k mileage it should have had all the major services done and stamped in the service log. Make sure you see it and check that the stamp looks pukka. If in doubt, ask where the car is serviced and give them a call to verify. Is the car standard? Might think of more but it's early. What time r u off (& where, might be able to have a look as well)?

scoobyrob

iam off shortly, to crawley. not got the address yet though.

rob

pob on the job

Make sure you hear it running from cold. If it sounds like a bag of hammers when cold, getting better when warm, it probably has the dreaded piston slap, walk away. The turbo life, like any other turbo car depends on how it's been treated. 100K miles+ is not uncommon if treated well. If it's a private sale, let the owner take you out first. If he starts it up, pulls out the drive and starts canning it, I'd be wary. It needs a good 10-15 minutes to get up to temp, even if the water temp gauge has settled after 5 mins or so. likewise when turning it off, is he allowing it to cool down first?

Brake discs, clutch judder/slip are also something to look out for.
Hope this helps a little.
Alan