Edit: the check came back clear in the end, 3 days later so I've found another one now.. oh well :/

do a HPI and consider getting an inspection from RAC or the like

Go for it. Just dont put up any holding deposit or payment in advance and you'll be safe enough.

As Binary Shadow said, do a HPI it could still be on finance or a Cat write off, and an RAC inspection spending that sort of cash, failing that you can ask him to put it through any MOT station for an unrecorded test to see what it fails on, preferably a garage of your choice.

Just did a full hpi check, came back with a warning and it's had a plate change -

**53*** 16/07/2010
**05*** 27/10/2008

First registered31/03/2005

Look at the changes, it started off on an 05 plate, changed to a 53 plate then back to it's original 05 plate??

Also, "This car is recorded as being at High Risk."

conceivable the 53 plate has some personal meaning for the guy and he's swapped it back to sell but I agree it looks odd.

I thought you already had a Mini, why risk the change?

+100bhp

I thought that would it not be easier just to fit a turbo, remap, supercharger, go fast stripes?

Seems like this is too good to be true anyway.