“This is what you get for $36,000.”
A mechanic recently showed up at a dealership to perform a routine pre-purchase inspection on a Ford F-350. He was shocked by what the salesman had to say about the situation.
In a TikTok with over 2.6 million views as of this writing, Mac (@macsmobilemechanic) describes the condition of the Ford F-350. He also reveals what the salesman really thinks of customers getting pre-purchase inspections done.
In the video, Mac walks into the Jarboe Motors office and tells a salesman he’s there to do a pre-purchase inspection on the Ford.
Then the salesman drops this bomb: “We already know when people do a pre-purchase inspection they’re not gonna buy. They know they’re wasting time here,” he says.
Next Mac takes a look at the truck. The condition of the F-350 may be the reason the salesman doesn’t think the potential customer is going to buy.
He immediately finds a major issue.
“Immeditately noticed painted over rust,” he writes in the on-screen text.
He also says that there’s paint over another rusted-out area. As he pokes around, paint falls to the ground.
“That’s such a joke,” Mac says.
Then he checks the oil and finds it low. “Oil is exactly halfway full,” he says.
Climbing inside, he tries to turn it on. No such luck.
This leads him to test the battery. It’s dead.
“This is what you get for $36,000,” he says ironically.
He goes inside to confirm the price and is told it’s actually $34,900.
Mac eventually gets the truck started and does a test drive. This at least goes reasonably well.
“It does drive good,” he says.
Nevertheless, he concludes that his findings prove that a pre-purchase inspection is necessary.
The truck is still currently on sale.
Viewers in the comment section were stunned by the price of the Ford truck.
“If it wasn’t a bad one it’s not even worth close to 36K,” one person opined.
A second agreed, “36K for a rusted out gasser is insane.”
“That’s a 10K a truck at best lol,” said a third.
“$36,000 and they don’t even have it maintained (full of rust) and a gas motor. Even $26,000 seems too much for the condition,” another piled on.
Other viewers didn’t understand the salesman’s claim that people who get pre-purchase inspections don’t buy the car.
One said they’d gotten a pre-purchase inspection and bought the vehicle on the same day.
“Pre-purchase inspections aren’t free. If I send someone to inspect a vehicle…then I’m interested,” another wrote.
Buying a vehicle is often a major financial commitment. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the average cost for a used car is $28,000.
Experts agree it’s best to review the vehicle history report and get a pre-purchase before committing to buy. After all, as most used vehicles are sold as is, once you drive away from the lot, any problems are yours to pay for.
Pre-purchase inspections typically cost between $100 to $200, Edmunds reports. This includes a full inspection of the vehicle and a test drive. The mechanic will look at the engine, frame, body, tires, and over 100 other inspection points. Major problems that often are spotted are poorly done repair work, frame damage, and fire or flood damage. Additionally, the mechanic may discover fluid leaks, rust, overdue maintenance tasks and more.
Considering thousands of dollars is being spent, getting an inspection done for a few hundred bucks is a wise move.
A professional inspection can verify what is right and wrong with the vehicle and any potential future issues. Verifying the vehicle with a pre-purchase inspection can create more confidence when committing to buying the car.
Motor1 contacted Mac via phone and TikTok direct message. In an email and a text message, Jarboe Motors confirmed receipt of the inquiry Motor1 sent via online contact form but has not responded as of this writing. This post will be updated if either party responds.
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