oioi Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 What to look for when buying? I am seeing a car at the weekend and I have compiled this list of things to check for. Am I missing anything? 1) Overall build quality 2) Factory or Individual Build (how can you tell apart from everything being extremely neat and tidy?) 3) Panels (normal-lightweight-carbon) (how can you tell between lightweight-normal? More flimsy?) 4) Lights and other fittings 5) Seats/Harnesses/Instruments 6) Boot box 7) Weather gear 8) Roll bar (RAC or normal) 9) Reverse Box 10) Suspension 11) Mileage on engine/rebuild/etc 12) Lightweight/normal chassis (how can you tell?) 13) Diff (how can you tell unless you take it apart? Eg. Difference between sierra/freelander? Down to casing markings?) 14) Dry Sump (different brands? How can you tell? Stamps on the sump/oil bottle etc?) 15) Oil Cooler 16) Detachable Arches 17) Exhaust (cat-non cat, how can you tell? Discolouration if a cat exists?) 18) Wheels/Tyres 19) Suspension components/uprights etc (alloy-cast) 20) Anti roll bars 21) Brakes 22) Axle (live-independent…any other options? 23) Steering Rack (what is considered quick/slow etc? Turn wheel from lock to lock and check) 24) Gear indicator 25) Shift light 26) Braided lines 27) Fuel tank (What options exist and how can you check?) 28) Windscreen/Aeroscreen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffC Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 pretty much reckon you"ve covered everything there , sounds like you have done your homework only thing I would add is do a HPI check before you hand over your cash to check for previous insurance claims or any dodgy history etc.. also not all bec"s need dry sump.. blade , R1 is fine with baffled sump, Busa , blackbird , zx12 will need dry sump if used with sticky tyres.. a call / email to the factory will reveal if the car is factory built.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oioi Posted February 23, 2006 Author Share Posted February 23, 2006 i would look for a file with the car. receipts, MOT's, work done. Somebody who has looked after and cared about the car will have a load of history Mileage is not as important as condition (imo) but it should be genuine. Its easy to frig ona lot of cars, so check the stated mileage corresponds to the car. Peppering to the rear wheel arches is common (hence a lot of cars have arch protectors). This will give an indication of amount of use. Has it been tracked? Again this should not be an issue but wear on the car will be harder and it will need at least more frequent oil changes. 3) Lightweight panels are more flimsy, only really worthwhile if the car os going to be for competition use 23) a quick rack will be about 1.9 turns lock to lock If its the first time youve driven a se7en then well worth taking someone along who knows the cars as with passenger ride/drive youll be sat there going "fsck me this is quick" and not easily be able to tell whether something is amiss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 23) a quick rack will be about 1.9 turns lock to lock Not always. A standard Escort Quick Rack usually comes in 2 flavours. 2.2 turns lock to lock, and 2.5 turns lock to lock. If you have standard front wishbones on the car, there is a chance that on full lock, the wheel arches may foul the bodywork or the headlamps (an SVA fail). To prevent this, you add lock stops to the rack, limiting the amount of lock availalble at the extremes of rack travel. Fitting lock stops usually has the effect of reducing a quick rack to 1.9 turns lock to lock. It also gives you the turning circle of an oil tanker, so learn to do spin turns. If you have wide track front suspension, you do not need lock stops so you retain the standard 2.2 or 2.5 turns of rack travel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikpro Posted February 26, 2006 Share Posted February 26, 2006 I have an escort quick rack of 2.4 turns lock to lock - no rack stops fitted either - I thought the standard were 2.2 & 2.4 not 2.5? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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