Looking at 2006 Z R8 - What to look out for

[Jesterarts]

Hey guys,

I'm going to check out a 2006 R8 this weekend.

It's got 100,000km and it's a manual.

It's at a dealer so I would get the 5000km 3 month warranty on it but want some advice on what to look out for.

Also, even though its from a dealer, should I get a RACV inspection done on it if I do decide to get it?

Appreciate any input.

[hofstetter]

Always get an RACV inspection. Good luck

[someguy360]

Always get an RACV inspection. Good luck

+1

Work didn't get an inspection with my camry when we bought it (boss just looked at the condition of the car and the service history)

So far been back to the warranty workshop 9 times in the 2 months we have had it (radiators exploded, shagged alternators, head gaskets, wheel bearings etc)
(FYI car yard warranties aren't worth the paper they are written on, mine has 12 pages of what isn't covered and half a page of what is, and even what is covered is usually only to around a 20% of the cost of the repairs)


With 100,000km on it definitely check the condition of the gearbox & clutch as the R8's were generally driven pretty heavily

[Jesterarts]

Ok, I did a RACV rego check thing on the vehicle.

No money outstanding, no thefts or write offs.

Areas of concern:

The vehicle is listed as a manual?

Also, the vehicle seems to have swapped hands a few times in it's lifetime.

It was first registered in 2007 to a private company.

Then is seems to have been owned by 3 "Private companies" and then had a private owner.

Thoughts?

[Jesterarts]

Update:

I used a HSV VIN authenication site to check the VIN and it comes up as a manual.

So they haven't changed it from manual to auto.

This is good.

[VS 5.0]

The "Private Company" thing could ultimately be the same underlying individuals changing entities around for tax or other reasons and then they disposed of it after say 3 years (again maybe because they had minimal tax benefit left and started the merry go round again) to the "private" owner.

Or not.

I would also get an independent inspection. Having been an RAC member for nearly 25 years I would use them.

[Jesterarts]

Yeah, I rang RACV today to see how long it usually takes for them to organise it and they said if I organised it today they would do it Monday.

So if I organise it on Monday they should get it done that week.

One thing that was interesting, they said that they don't do the "pre-purchase" inspection on this type of car and only to the comprehensive check which is 310 bucks.

I'm not too fussed, but it is rather interesting that they don't do the more basic pre-purchase check on HSV's.

Hmmm...

[VS 5.0]

Oh well...at least you will be getting a thorough check done and should be across any issues from the start.

[Jesterarts]

So... the one I looked at today... didn't even bother with test drive.

List of shit that was ####ed:

Dents on roof, boot, hood and front quarter.
Scratchs ALL ROUND
Leaking sunroof
Missing interior sunroof cover
Interior wrecked, leather beyond repair, vents ####ed, flaking paint, just plain old dirty too
Sound system, missing connections to most speakers and missing HSV subs
Spare wheel missing
Foglights what looked like kicked in
Towbar hole in rear bumber which I saw but there was also a cable tie holding the mesh on
Rear bumper not aligned and missing clips on drive side
Side skirts scrapped to shit!
Twin 3 in exhaust (good) with on of the centre mufflers crushed and pretty much split open (bad)

Just.. terrible all round.

[edals]

Thats a Shit load of things wrong for a car so young, The price of it yet people still seem to trash them
I Have only had luck once at a car dealer when i got the VX, Brilliant car yet every other car in the lot was perfect also.
I would say that you might have to find a private seller that has loved the thing to death, And shaking as they hand the keys to you like my father was when he sold his pride and joy VY SS lol, After 60k on the clock, it was better then show room condition, The buyer was like had you even driven it ? lol

[Jesterarts]

Yeah, found something today that was clearly someone's pride and joy before it was traded.

Only down side was slighly high km, but it had other features to make up for that plus I got a 5 year warranty, basically new car warranty on it.