Auto Critic of Western PA

2÷9÷15
I recently obtained the services of the Auto Critic of Western Pa to perform an on the site inspection and road test of a used pickup truck I was interested in buying. NO MAJOR REPAIRS were cited in the report so I subsequently purchased the vehicle.
While driving home I noticed the steering was very stiff and the steering wheel would not return when making turns. Driving was difficult and dangerous. The fact that this problem wasn’t detected by a certified mechanic who claims to have several certifications is alarming and leads me to question his competency. After a phone call we met and he attempted to diagnose the problem but was unable. Ed promised a follow-​up but as time went by (3 weeks) he failed to contact me. I returned the vehicle to the dealer. They agreed the vehicle should not have passed their PA state inspection and replaced the intermediate steering column even though it was not a warranted repair. This could have been a costly repair which was overlooked by the Auto Critic.
I phoned Ed and explained what had happened and expressed my unhappiness with his inspection and his lack of professionalism. He promised to return my inspection fee because I wasn’t happy with his services. Two months have passed and no refund has arrived.
The purpose in hiring the Auto Critic was to avoid mechanical repairs before purchasing a vehicle. I was fortunate the dealer agreed to cover this costly repair and I did not have an accident. Therefore, I would never recommend this company because they failed to detect an obvious and dangerous mechanical problem. Don“t be fooled by Ed’s friendliness and his checklist. He certainly fooled me!
Ed M

Ed is amazing. You’d never buy a house without a home inspector, so why would you buy a car without a car inspector?
Ed was a referral via my very trusted mechanic. For $ 100, Ed drove to the dealership, showed sales his insurance to inspect/​drive vehicles for sale, and spent 3 hours with the 2008 Honda Accord. He jacked it up, took off tires, drove it around, did stuff under the hood. Afterwards we got a detailed written report — basically «this car is in great shape! But make them give you a new battery before you buy it».
So Ed gave us 1) Peace of mind 2) A full status report and a heads up on maintenance down the road and 3) Paid for his services same day by us receiving a new battery for the vehicle.

What an excellent service and Ed is just great. In the last 10 years, i have not purchased a car without Ed’s inspection. Dealers hate him becuse he finds issues on certified cars as well. I have recommended him to my friends and they all use him. Keep up the great work Ed. Service with a Smile !

What a great business idea! And Ed is wonderful at what he does, I’d recommend him any day of the week!

I couldn’t be happier with this service. Before Ed even looked at the car I was considering purchasing, he’d spent at least an hour or more on the phone with me. He spent well over an hour & a ½ inspecting the car– and it was 104 degrees outside that day! He prepared an extensive and detailed report, with grades and codes in excess of what is needed for inspection, as well as detailed notes on specifics. He answered every little question I had at length, including giving me ballpark estimates for the possible future work I might need– making me an informed and well educated consumer. I didn’t even know there were such services as this! Expert, professional, friendly and accommodating, this was a real education that benefited me greatly. I will recommend Ed the Auto Critic with great enthusiasm. I actually just did to my neighbor moments ago!