A local tire place has told me that lifting the car off it's wheels won't change the ride height and hence the alignment because they lift by the suspension points, thereby not unloading the suspension. Does this sound suspicious to anyone else?

 

Jeffa,
See 'Tire wear question' below, there you get all the answers.
Regarding lifting as you said, that's only possible if he has a very special lifting devise.
Regards from Erik in Denmark
1984-S2-Aut-Euro-Black/black

 

They are correct if they lift from the suspension points as far outward as possible. That's how my GT was aligned two years ago, and its alignment is still spot-on. YMMV.

 

Thanks to both of you. Now I just wonder if I need a separate appointment to check my shocks, ball joints etc, as I know they will need to check those things before an alignment. No way to do that on the ground!

 

They should be able to check the condition of the front end, then drive the car for five miles or so, then align it.

 

...or better still, I could drive it