My first post to this list…..Been lurking on here for a while soaking up all the information and advice. I think I’ve finally found the F-Type that I’ve been searching for (2021, Black, R coupe, 30k mi). Unfortunately, it’s about 900+ miles from me, in Michigan, which is about a 12 hour drive for me. Since I will potentially be buying this vehicle site unseen, I want to get a Pre-Purchase Inspection prior to making an offer. I’m wondering if anyone has experience, either good or bad, with the big PPI companies like Lemon Squad, or POMCAR that you could share. I’ve tried contacting local area shops, leaving messages, but none have gotten back with me. I am particularlly concerned with the driver’s side DRL issue I’ve heard about, Super charger coupler and timing chain tensioner rattle, A/C vent panel in center dash deploying up/down, rear differential leakage, exhaust valve seize open/close, any sign of water in the battery compartment and any OBD II codes thrown. All stuff that I could easily check out myself but will have to hire out for this purchase.

Any PPI experiences out there worth sharing? Thanks.

 

Where in Michigan?

 

I have used Local to the vehicle dealerships of the brand of vehicle that I am planning on purchasing with good results. I have also used independent and franchised PPI companies in the local area of the car. The key to using these types of services is speaking with the inspector using leading questions to make sure they know the vehicle that you are purchasing (common issues) and also what is acceptable to you and what is not as far as condition of the vehicle. The cost is also a factor, I have paid a little as $58.00 for a PPI, which by the way was the best PPI I have had completed. This was at a Dodge dealership in New Hampshire on a 2002 Dodge Viper in 2010. The service manager was a Viper fanatic. I have also paid $1200.00 for a PPI on a Porsche 911 by a local independent shop that was recommended by the internet forums, that turned out to be a costly mistake. I have flown or driven to where the vehicle is and done the inspection with an independent shop. This works best for me, as I am the type of person that needs to lay my own eyes on what I am purchasing. Most of the issues that you mention in your post could be fine the day you buy the car and can fail within a week of ownership, You could also purchase an insurance policy (extended warranty) to cover what may come up instead of a PPI. I know people that have done this, thinking at least they are getting something more than an inspection. I am leaning towards this option for my next purchase.
Good luck with your purchase.

 

No worries about the DRL in a 2021--that's a facelift model and those headlights don't have the issue.

 

SW Michigan, Kalamazoo, Grands Rapids area.

 

Gotcha. Sorry, no resources on the West side. We came from A2.

Having grown up in St Joe I will say be very careful doing business in GR.

 

I'm figuring that the cost is going to be around $300 - $500 according to their websites....no issue for me. Unfortunately with those nationwide PPI companies you do not get to speak with you inspectors as you don't know who is going to be assigned to do the inspection, according to their websites. I would go there myself to do the inspection but I just can't swing it with obligations and the logistics currently at home. I have not heard about an the insurance policy option before which is an interesting option. The car is still under JLR manufactures warranty for a few more months, but I don't want to rely on that. Thanks for your reply.

 

Okay...thanks for that information. I thought that issue was up through model year 2021. Thanks for your reply.

 

How many months is a few months of warranty?

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but......I believe the warranty starts when the car was first purchased...correct? And, according to the Carfax report, the Michigan DMV reported it purchased on 30 April of 2021. However the JLR dealership that had it for sale got it registered and titled in May of 2021 and sold it to the first owner on May 8th 2021. So either April or May of 2026 I would assume that the warranty runs out.

 

I believe they call it the "In Service Date." I special ordered my car, so mine matches the delivery date, but if the car was ordered for stock it might have been put in service before it was sold, maybe for test drives or as a loaner.

 

Hey, @sasande I'm out in Ann Arbor and could probably run over to check it out for you. I don't have any expertise, however, but would be happy to get on a video call and have you walk me through the stuff you want checked. I mean, I have some familiarity with stuff like the pulley coupler knock, center vents, exhaust controllers, etc., from doing research as I'm in the market to buy an F Type, too, (don't worry; I can't afford a '21 R!) but I have no practical experience with any F Type and am not a service tech or anything like that, and so I want to be very clear about that.

Lemme know if you're interested and I'm sure we can work something out (avoiding winter storms!).

 

Appreciate that very kind offer chaadster. I went ahead and decided to try Lemon Squad to perform the PPI. They've contacted me and have assigned an inspector and tentatively scheduled an inspection for today (20th January). Although from what I understand from the seller is that the weather up there in MI has been pretty brutal as of late, so hopefully they'll stick to that schedule if possible.

 

Please let us know how if Lemon Squad does a good job for you. I’m in a nationwide car search and would be happy to know they’re a resource.

Good luck!

 

Thanks....I'll be sure and let you know how well it went. Apparently they were unable to do the inspection today because of the rough weather....the suspense is killing me!

 

Is it the Jaguar dealer in Novi? I am like 5 miles away...

 

No. The car is at a JLR dealership in Grand Rapids. Appreciate your thoughts and reply.

 

So here's an update on my thoughts on hiring the Lemon Squad and how well they performed on a PPI on a F Type that I am looking at purchasing in Grand Rapids MI. First thing I noticed was that it is very hard to talk to a real person over the phone to ask any questions. I guess that's not all too uncommon now-a-days. You first have to navigate through their AI robot (Scout) telephone system and when you finally do get to talk to a real person they really couldn't answer any specific questions and kept referring me to their FAQ on the webpage. So I ended up doing all my transactions through their website, lemonsquad.com. I had specific question about certain areas I wanted checked out concerning the F Type that I wanted the PPI inspector to know about and check out. I was told that I cannot speak with the inspectors. Their website specifically reads: "If you have specific concerns that you would like to relay to the inspector, please put those in the Additional Notes section of the order page." I went to their order page and filled out the necessary information about the car but there was no "Additional Notes" place to ask any specific questions on the "order page". I thought maybe once I placed my order that another page might have a place to ask specific questions, but that wasn't the case. So I was immediately charged $219.99 after hitting the submit button on Saturday the 17th of January. They are not open over the weekend so I didn't expect any action happening until Monday the 19th of Jan.. I was assigned an inspector on Monday the 19th with an ETA inspection to happen on Tuesday the 20th, no specific time was given. Later on the 19th I received an update that the ETA was changed due the "technician encountered an unexpected issue". No other explanation given but I suspected it could be weather related due to the brutal weather Michigan was having over the past few days. Another inspector was assigned and accepted the same day with the inspection ETA again for the Tuesday the 20th. The next update on their website timeline was on the 20th and said the inspection was in progress but the timestamp read 10:00pm. Apparently the inspection happened that day but I have no idea exactly when, so I had no way to inform the JLR dealership when to expect the PPI inspector that day...he just showed up without any notice. This kind of mattered a lot because with advance notice to the dealership they would have prepared the car better for inspection. Instead when the inspector arrived the car was covered in snow and frozen like a block of ice. The dealership would have at least thawed out the car prior to inspectors arrival making it easier to inspect some vital areas. Overall I was not overly impressed with the inspection. On the website they give you an example of a standard "sample report". The example came with something like 270 photos included in the report and hits all major areas with a written overall summary. I had only 115 pictures included in my report. The inspector was not able to do a proper exterior inspection as he writes in the summary: "EXTERIOR CONDITION: Snow, ice, and moisture covered much of the body during the inspection, limiting a complete visual assessment and potentially hiding minor scratches or chips." The pictures of the exterior looked like they had just wiped the snow off the top of the car and scrapped the windows clear enough to be able to go on a test drive. Some other issues I had with my report, the inspector took multiple pictures of the same thing, 6 pictures of the dashboard cluster alone, albeit from slightly different angles, but a bit overboard I thought. Some pictures we blurry, and I don't know why he even included them in the final report. On the mechanical side he gave it high marks with no issues found with "no diagnostic trouble codes or warning lights present and OBD II all clear" One major mechanical thing that he was not able to check out was the air conditioning system as he writes in his report: "The air-conditioning system could not be fully evaluated due to low outside temperatures, but the blower motor and controls responded correctly." He noted the ambient temperature outside was 16 degrees F. Again, if he had given notice to the dealership prior to his arrival, the dealership would have had the car better prepared and space made in their garage for a proper inspection. The inspector included a short video of him starting the car, and then getting out and doing a walk around the entire car. I could tell he was in a bit of a hurry too because the weather looked pretty brutal outside, but I appreciated the effort. Overall I wasn't over-the-top impressed with how the inspection took place. I would have much rather had it conducted in better conditions (another day) so that I could see and have everything inspected as it should have been, I give the inspection a C+. Would I use Lemon Squad again....I'm not so sure I would. I think I would first try to find a local knowledgeable mechanic or try another national PPI company like POMCAR instead. Currently I'm in the process of buying the 2021 F Type R now. Next to arrange an enclosed auto transport to Virginia.

 

@sasande sorry to hear that it was unsatisfying, but that's about what I'd expect from such a service. I have a hard enough time believing the inspectors have any real or relevant qualifications-- the business model relies on having "Johnnies on the spot," not providing expert assessments. Proceeding from that presumption, it seems like a very risky situation to have just any ol' yahoo-- and no offense to the Lemon Squad, here-- taking directions from, and communicating directly with, the customer. Of course none can be expected to be Jaguar specialists who'd voluntarily inspect common failure points.

I was open to be surprised to the contrary, and indeed would have liked to know such a worthwhile option existed, but I suppose that the service, even as it is, would be helpful to avoid a total scam. If the pitch was simply "we're gonna check it out," I'd be more on board with that than calling it a PPI!

My thinking right now is to pay the premium to buy through CarMax or Carvana, which have in-built anti-scam/inspection policies and dispute mechanisms. Of course that narrows the range of options, but so far, I've been finding a good selection of the mid-model cars I'm looking for. That said, if I do trip across the perfect car elsewhere, I'll use an "anti-scam" service, so thanks for the heads-up on those and what to expect.

Anyway, I'm really glad you found what you were looking for and got the peace-of-mind you needed to buy it. A '21 R should be sa-weeeet! Pics please!

 

Well - you're buying it. Congrats!!!