Park Place Porsche in Dallas charges only $250 for a PPI w/o leak down / compression. I hope for $500 you are getting the leakdown / compression test.

Personally, I would rather find a car with complete service records than get an expensive PPI on a car w/o service records.

I just shipped my car from Dallas to Indy. The first shipper damaged my car. Painful ordeal, but their insurance covered everything. The second shipper (HSZ Transport) did fine. Cost $450 for uncovered.

 

This is just a personal thing, but when I was on Autotrader I completely ignored the listings that didn't provide a VIN#. I bought the unlimited reports on Autocheck (better than Carfax, I hear) and you have to know the VIN of the car in order to get reports.

balefire- First: I do not honestly know what this $500 inspection includes. The mechanic will be calling today when he gets the car, so I will make sure to ask him. Second: For a short trip like Dallas to Arkansas, what do you think about uncovered vs. enclosed carriers? I really can't stand the thought of it being exposed to the elements like that, but I also don't want to pay $650+ for an enclosed carrier.

 

I totally agree about the history report, they aren't perfect but it's a good preliminary screen. I just ask in email though, a lot of people just don't think of it when they put up the add, and if there are any issues with them giving me the VIN, I'd just move on.