Another week, another Lemon! Lemon Squad takes to Instagram each week to get input from our followers. 

How the Lemon of the Week Works

On Wednesdays, we post a poll to our Instagram account that includes an image of two cars and some brief bullet points on the vehicle’s condition. Followers then can vote for the car they view as the bigger Lemon. The following week, we released a blog (like this) to provide readers with insight into an inspection report and what it can reveal about a used vehicle. So if you missed the poll last week, get involved by following us on Instagram. For other information or to stay up to date with what is new and exciting with Lemon Squad, check out our Twitter and Facebook!

The Winner

This week, the winning Lemon (or the car in the worst shape) was the 2009 Isuzu NPR. At the time of inspection, this vehicle was just short of 160,000 miles, making general wear and tear based on the age and mileage to be expected. We’ll dive into the interior, exterior, and road test results as part of our standard Commercial Vehicle Inspections procedure.

One of our unique features is choosing an inspection tailored to the type of vehicle you are looking to buy. When you select the specific inspection for the vehicle type, we match you up with an inspector who specializes in that category of inspection and vehicle. This provides a trained eye that is qualified to evaluate the car at an elevated professional level. 

The Interior Inspection

In general, the interior inspection revealed an overall fine condition for a commercial vehicle. However, in the thorough walkthrough, we also found a few noteworthy things. All the seats were in good condition except for the center back seat, which had some damage. The left door’s physical key did not work in the lock at the time of the inspection. The dashboard of the vehicle was missing the center cover. The glove box lid would not stay closed. The right sun visor clip was missing. 

The biggest thing the interior inspection revealed was rust under the left front floor mat. Our inspection noted that the cab had a lot of black undercoating, so that the floors may have additional unexposed rust. We covered how rust can be very hazardous in a vehicle in our previous Lemon of the Week blog. 

The Exterior Walkthrough

The vehicle’s exterior was in much worse condition than the interior. The windshield washers did not work at the time of inspection. The paint was in bad shape as the logo removal had taken off some finish on both sides of the box. 

Beyond that, the vehicle’s paint showed wear and tear consistent with the age and mileage. The left headlight lens was cracked, and the rear lenses of the exterior lights needed cleaning and possible polishing. The left mirror is disconnected and is missing a lower panel. A significant dent was apparent in the left side rear of the bumper. The front bumper was also cracked on the right side. There were additional dents and scratches throughout the exterior of the vehicle. 

The apparent rust on the vehicle’s interior was much more prevalent on the exterior. Lots of frame rust and overspray were found under the cab. In addition, both of the rear doors had rusted through on the inner panels. 

The Mechanical Inspection

The vehicle’s mechanics were also inspected, showing a bit more wear. The radiator reservoir cap was missing. The belts within the engine showed some varnish. The seller informed the inspector that the catalyst was stolen. Finally, the lighting within the box was hanging down below where it should have been. 

The Test Drive

Why a test drive? A drive test provides the inspector with a deeper look into the vehicle’s performance and can often allude to other problems that may have been previously masked.

So far, the drive test showed that the engine and all other components ran well at the time of inspection. The only issue at the time of inspection was that the whole box was loaded during the drive. 

Overall, the inspection report provided information unavailable through the seller’s advertisements. This is the most significant advantage of a pre-purchase used car inspection. By hiring an inspector, you can get an unbiased, third-party opinion of the condition and performance of your potential purchase. This information proves invaluable in making an intelligent and educated choice and providing insight for negotiations. 

So don’t buy a lemon – use Lemon Squad. 

The winner of last week’s poll is… car number 2, the 1966 Cadillac Eldorado. 

Each week, Lemon Squad is taking a poll from their Instagram story, giving followers a choice between two cars we have previously completed inspections on. Once users have taken their vote, we tally up the results to reveal which car has been dubbed the “biggest lemon” Then we dive a little deeper into the winning Lemon’s inspection report and reveal all the juicy details! 

This week, the biggest lemon is this 1966 Cadillac Eldorado. At first glance, the car looks to be in beautiful shape. Based on the images, this vintage car looks like a rare find in exceptional condition. However, thanks to the mobile pre-purchase inspection that the potential buyer requested, some dark secrets about this vehicle were revealed.

The inspector was unable to locate a VIN plate on the vehicle. The VIN allows individuals a deeper look into the car’s history and is an identifier for that specific car, similar to a fingerprint, as no VIN is the same. 

As the inspector began to delve into the vehicle’s actual condition, many more red flags were raised. The exterior of the vehicle, although seemingly perfect within the images of the car, had quite a few issues. The windshield wiper blades and windshield washer did not operate, and there were apparent chips on the glass of the windshield. The exterior lights of the vehicle were inoperable. The hood and trunks of the car were misaligned. Scratches were found on the vehicle’s trunk, right panel, and right fender. The paint was chipped on the hood and right fender, and fish eyes and paint bubbles were apparent on the rear. The seals on the rear windows showed dry rot. Rust was evident on the vehicle’s undercarriage, and the frame appeared to have been repaired. The inspector noted an oil leak at the front of the engine and intake manifold; however, the severity of the leak was undetermined. Finally, the engine coolant reservoir was empty. These issues only reveal what was discovered on the vehicle’s exterior, and the interior issues were comparable. 

The interior components showed wear beyond the years. It is important to remember that older cars will often have general wear and tear to an extent. If a car is properly maintained even after 50+ years, the car can be competitively priced as a collector vehicle. This 1966 Cadillac Eldorado however was a little worse than expected. 

Within the interior, the steering wheel was cracked and showed overall wear. There was a very apparent hole in the front left footwell carpet. The cruise control was none operational at the time of inspection. The trim of the right front seat was loose, with wires sticking out from the underside of the seat. The clocks within the vehicle were non-operational. The radio did show signs of power; however, it was only capable of playing static, and the antenna showed no sign of power. The vehicle’s power locks did not have power (no pun intended) nor the driver’s door master switch for the right rear window. The fuel gauge and temperature gauge were also inoperable. The center console of the vehicle was loose, and the air conditioning could not get cold. 

Finally, the road test revealed operational issues within the vehicle. A road test is standard practice for a classic inspection performed by Lemon Squad. A classic inspection is intended for any car that is over 20 years old. The advantage of a classic inspection on a vintage vehicle is the thorough, organized and informed perspective of the inspector. Inspectors are selected for certain jobs based on their specialty and experience, meaning that they know the common issues and warning signs for specific vehicle classifications. When driving, the inspector found that the car’s steering had play, and the vehicle’s front end wandered. Upon braking, it was discovered that the car pulled. A car that pulls when braking can often indicate a failing brake caliper. 

Why is a Pre-Purchase Auto Inspection Important? 

Based on the photos of this car, many, if not all, of these cosmetic and internal problems, could have gone undetected until post-purchase. Not being able to see a vehicle in person poses a unique threat to buyers – the threat of buying a lemon. 

Flashy, well lit images can disguise many faults in a vehicle. This buyer could make an informed decision based on the findings by taking advantage of Lemon Squad’s mobile pre-purchase inspectors. With the inspection report, this potential buyer could weigh not only the cost of the vehicle but also the costs that would be incurred fixing the vehicle into an operable state.