i would like to contribute to the PPI debate. I have a local mechanic that my entire family have been using for over 15 years. Very honest and i though good. I get him to check out all my cars prior to purchase and he does it as a favour. I recently bought a 1992 200TE wagon in visually immaculate condition inside & out. He checked it out for me and mentioned that the steeing needed to be re-alligned and that there was a small leak from the power steering box, but just to clean it down, add some STOP LEAK before the car was due for it's National Car Test (NCT -State road worthiness challange). I bought the car and paid a good sum of money for it and have had nothing but aggrivation from it ever since. It doesn't drive properly. It is hesitating on acceleration intermittently and nobody can find out why. Have checked out Auto gearbox -OK, checked out carb and fuel injection and delivery - OK, checked out exhaust - OK, minor bits and pieces replaced still no joy.

I think that if i had gone to an indy PPI guy and paid him that he may have spotted that little issue. I think my mechanic is getting a bit lazy when checking out cars for me. I'm stuck with a complete lemon.............Having said that it is approaching it's 108,000 service mark and the last service was 2 years ago!!!. However my mechanic says that is not causing this problem.

I am now at sea for my next car purchase. What do i do. Do i pay a stranger who i don't know to evaluate a car for me for around $200 or go back to my 'trusted' mechanic who let me buy this lemon? I am not in any way mechanically minded so i can't do it myself.