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Automobile Inspections, LLC Jeff Webster; Automobile Inspections LLC have totally unqualified inspectors examining classic cars giving useless & bad reports Hartford, Connecticut
Automobile Inspections LLC claim to be experts in inspecting cars for pre-purchase but have totally unqualified inspectors who "guess" their way thru an inspection on classic cars. I had one done recently on a late 60s Rolls-Royce and I ended up spending 3 hours with an inspector explaining to him how different things on the car worked and were "supposed to be". I am a Rolls-Royce restorer of 30 years and the inspector not only did not understand the workings of the car and its various features but wanted to argue and dispute my understanding of them.
Needless to say the report was incorrect in its finding, was mis-leading and provided a very inaccurate over-view of the car. In this case, the car was a 100% original quasi show-car falling within the upper 10% percentile of examples and yet Automobile Inspections LLC, concluded it to be just a "good" car for driver purposes. This may not seem bad but the report seriously questioned the value of the car for an avid collector who engaged their services.
Automobile Inspections LLC had no idea of the unique Citroen-licensed hydraulic system adopted by Rolls-Royce (claiming normal brake pump noise as valve lifter noise), did not know that Rolls-Royces were hand-made (citing imperfect body panel fitment as a major fault), were unaware of the car having major body panels constructed of aluminum (and citing the different "sound" of body-tapping to be the result of excess bondo), suggesting factory applied underside body sound-deadening as restoration "cover-up" handy work amongst other things.
On general items, they could not identify a $12,000 bare metal respray citing it as a cheap and "poorly prepared" repaint. They had no ability to assess the characteristics of hand-crafted wood interior finishes and leather upholstery. The list goes on.
Basically, they go thru a car and list anything they DON'T know as a fault, get paid their $350 and walk away with a "no responsibility" escape clause for any errors. Both the buyer and the seller agree that the reports are "arm-long" simply to protect Automobile Inspections LLC from any recourse from buyers (sellers are emphatically denied a copy and in fact any and all copying of a report is regarded as "theft of intellectual copyright" by Automobile Inspections LLC!) One has to ask what is the point, then, if no car gets sold because of such an over-cautious report that is not only incorrect but then cannot be shared, discussed or reviewed by any other party?!
Efforts to contact Automobile Inspections LLC to discuss the report were rebuttled by threats of legal action and criminal action. They offer a live chat web-link which was terminated mid-conversation and emails and phone calls not returned.
Please note, this report against Automobile Inspections LLC is for the awareness of sellers AND buyers alike. When it comes to Classic cars, buyers want them as much as a willing seller wants to sell one. Classic cars are bought and sold out of "want", not "need". It is not like buying the next family car. What is the point of having an unqualified inspector carrying out an inspection on a car and erring on the side of negativity when he does not have knowledge on the car by providing a bad report. Who does this help? Only the inspection companies, perhaps, who get to do more reports because buyers and sellers do not conclude a deal. What a shame that such beautiful and stunning classic cars are not passed from one caretaker to another because of some ill-informed, uneducated and incompetent inspectors. I can only assume the ill-mannered personnel at Automobile Inspections LLC are most likely failures in their quest as mechanics in the real world and this is their "new job" - to scam a short-gain fee for their well below standard service. A not so lousy $350 at that! You would think for that price, they could do some internet research on the product or get a truly qualified person at that!
BUYERS and SELLERS beware.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
rolls
Barrington,Illinois,
USA
dont use Auto "inspection" companies on classic cars
#7Author of original report
Mon, August 23, 2010
For those interested in vieing my Rolls-Royce facilities:
rolls
Barrington,Illinois,
USA
Automobile Inspections - You make your own decision
#7Author of original report
Mon, August 23, 2010
Readers of this report should also take the time to read the following thread of posts on EdmundsCARSPACE.com ~ Read teh entire thread and it summarises well the worthless nature of "contracting" Automobile Inspectors.
(((Redacted)))
It is interesting that the only "defender" of Automobile Inspections, LLC is a poster going by the name of "Jeff the Chef" and the principle behind Automobile Inspections, LLC is "Jeff Webster". Maybe just a coincidence, but; "I wonder".
CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.rolls
Barrington,Illinois,
USA
Jeff webster never saw the car!
#7Author of original report
Mon, August 23, 2010
Interesting post by Jeff Webster who is a principal of Automobile Inspections LLC. He once again proves his ignoornace on the subject he discussses. I am a licensed dealer in the state of Illinois. I make it clear in my adverts that I am primarily a collector and restorer of Rolls-Royce. I am ONLY licensed in the state of Illinois to comply with all regulatory standards. This is law. Jeff only proves that he has no knowledge, nor does he take the time to research, the subject he chooses to discuss. Just like his inspections.
Jeff lives and works in Connecticut and the the car is in Illinois. He engaged a contracted inspector who said the following pertinent things:
1) I have never met anyone from Automobile Inspections LLC
2) I have never insepcted a Rolls-Royce before
3) I have never driven a Rolls-Royce before
All readers of this post can make their own conclusions from this information.
As for the car, it was a 2nd place winner at its local concour d' elegance. It is worth every bit of its asking price. I was keen to sell the car to make way for a vintage Rolls-Royce project I am engaged in so I heavily discounted the car to $31,000. So the price was reflecting of a much "lesser" car.
For those who would be interested to more about me, the following is an extract of an article on myself:
Rodd Sala has been a Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor car collector for over 25 years. He has a very good working knowledge of the marque having owned almost every model Rolls-Royce and Bentley from the early 60's thru to current models. Rodd has written articles and inspection reports on this fine marque and has toured the Crewe factory in the UK as part of a special private showing prior to the Bentley & Rolls-Royce separation. Now a member of the RROC, Rodd was also a member of the Rolls-Royce Association in Australasia. He was Australia's single largest private collector of Rolls-Royces during the 1990s, having owned some 400 Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars over the last 25 years. He has considerable experience in restoration and refurbishment techniques.
I can be contacted on 312-320-6996 or ensal@comcast.net
Its interesting with all the time and effort taken by Jeff Webster and Automobile Inspections, LLC to write these rebuttals, he still refuses to take my calls or answer my emails. That says a great deal.
rolls
Barrington,Illinois,
USA
Automobile Inspectors - unqualified
#7Author of original report
Sat, August 21, 2010
Thanks for your comments. Yours has proven my point exactly. As a Rolls-Royce expert of some 30 years, I know that no early Rolls-Royce has perfect fitting body-panels. This is the way they were as they were limited by the technology back then. Just as you did not know this, which is totally understandable, a "qualified" inspector should have and would have. As such it would not be a topic of conversation and certainly seen as "normal" and not a "fault".
This is the reason why an inspector for any make of car needs to be an expert in THAT make of car. He needs to be experienced, have a good working knowledge and understand all there strengths and weaknesses as a "make of car" so as to not confuse any as specific to an individual car.
Automobile Inspections LLC - buyers adn sellers BEWARE!
Automobile Inspections LLC
Connecticut,United States of America
WARNING! This complaint is NOT from a customer of Automobile Inspections. LLC
#7UPDATE Employee
Sat, August 21, 2010
Dear Consumer,
Thank you for reading this.
The individual placing this complaint against Automobile Inspections LLC was NOT, nor has he EVER been a customer of ours. His name is Rodd Sala and he sells cars in Lake Barrington, IL. In his listing on eBay.com he perports to be a "collector", NOT a dealer or a broker. He shows photos of a showroom/warehouse full of Rolls Royce Silver Shadows and currently has no less than SIX for sale on eBay! The title to this particular vehicle was not in his name, suggesting that he has not paid sales tax to his state when he bought it. It's called a 'skip title' and it's illegal. Perhaps all this evidence means he doesn't possess a Illinois 'dealers' license and is 'curb-stoning'. (DMV / eBay.com take note).
The photo he has posted on this site was NOT the car in question. Draw your own conclusions. He attempted to sell this car to a overseas customer and we were engaged to give our client a true picture of the cars condition.
We invite you to view the car in question for yourself on ebay.com - The listing number was: 260647479205.
If you are familiar with old Rolls Royces from the 60's and 70's, you'll know that they are cheap enough to buy but horrendously expensive to service and maintain. So you either buy the very best one you can afford or you don't by one at all. I can divulge that while this cars overall condition was found to be generally good - a 'driver' quality car, however it was not without issues. The buyer evidentally decided that it was not a Shadow worth $36,000 an was expecting a nicer car for his money.
What you are reading are the ramblings of a disgruntled seller - a used car dealer(?) who's less than accurate description of a car he listed on eBay was exposed by our inspection and as a result the buyer (our client) elected to renege on the purchase.
We represent the BUYERS interests and have done for over 15 years.
kingsizepops
United States of America2nd opinion
#7Consumer Comment
Sat, August 21, 2010
It,s like anything else some times you my have to get a second opinion .
But you would think a hand made car would have body panels that fit as close to perfect as possible.
From the one pic you have It appears the hood does not fit right over the divers side headlight . So maybe the inspector was right and you just don't have the car you thought .
You were paying for this guys opinion that's what ya got . Just because you don't like what he said about you car does not mean you were ripped off.