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Comments
Yeah you could do an inspection yourself if you're mechanically inclined.
But I'd still pick a mechanic myself to do an inspection, rather than have a dealership pick someone.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Not usually accidents but title problems, odometer discrepancies etc. That data is put into the system by people and people make mistakes.
A scratched bumper can show up ACCIDENT REPORTED!!
And some accidents that were REAL accidents might not show up at all!
You take it to a place that sells used cars and they might condemn it trying to switch you into buying one of their cars.
Even if a car has been in an accident, a quality body shop will make it as good as new.
I pity the person who gets my car, though I might drive it til it's dust. Nothing on Carfax, but it hasn't had near the loving attention that the wrecked car got.
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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That is so true. My GFs Elantra had $8,500 in front end body work with 150 miles on the odometer. A year and half later and now 14K it is still tight and rattle free as new, and the repair looks as good as the original body panels.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
Just be sure to get your discount up front because the car is always worth less even if the repair work is flawless.
I suppose there are "title washing" scams, for previously flooded or wrecked cars, but I'd bet most of these are pawned off by curbstoners, not licensed dealers. There's a paper trail, remember.
Nothing wrong with buying a totaled Tribeca, but you'd better plan on driving it for the next 100,000 miles, because by the time you buy it and fix it, your resale value is going to be crapola.
Are you sure about that?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I bought a used car in 2002 which had a clear Carfax. Later I noticed a small spot of paint run which I had missed during my inspection. I thought no more of it until years later the paint faded on the door frame and the clearcoat disappeared from the roof. I don't know exactly was repaired but something was.
"...Do rental companies like hertz ...control whether they get reported..."
I've seen Carfax reports on cars that state previous ownership by "major rental company" and later document an accident. I don't know how long they have been doing this but it seems if an accident report was filed with the police, it's on the record.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
(if that car in the photo were a $10 million dollar classic Ferrari, it would be fixed and it would be beautiful. All you need is the VIN plate.)
But with modern cars, the trend is definitely going in the other direction---it's more and more likely that modern cars will just be thrown away rather than repaired. Even 60% of market value seems to be enough these days to total a car, and probably less than that in years to come.
Labor rates and the car's complexity dictate this. This is why TV sets are not repaired anymore.
Another reason I don't feel comfortable with those sellers. Every so often on Craigslist you will see an angry post about some @%$&*%# crook who sold an open titled car to an unsuspecting person who found out it did the crabwalk down the highway. Of course when the buyer went to complain the curbstorner was in the wind. :mad:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
The article said "Now is the time to buy" because Saturns would be selling "Near invoice". That got me thinking (always a dangerous thing).
First, how does a no haggle place sell at near invoice and second, if the place is going bye-bye I would think waaaaay below invoice would be required to move iron?
Edmunds lists some market support money. I supose that would be a way to reduce actual prices.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
And if a greenpea sold it to you... well... someone would be happy.
A couple of winters ago our son realized that he couldn't get to his new job at Nintendo with his S-2000 in the snow.
Off we went to find the best SUV we could find on a limited budget. The S-2000 was coming off lease the following spring so we needed something cheap and dependable as an interim car. I fronted the money (2400.00) with the understanding the car would be signed over to me when the S-2000 was replaced.
After looking for a couple of weeks, I found a gem. A one onwer BABIED 1993 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer that had never spent a night out of his garage. He had a maintenance file three inches thick (that he wouldn't give me?)
He let me know that when "Eddie" was almost new, he had flipped it on an icy street. It landed on it's side in a ditch. Nobody hurt but the Explorer suffered 14,000 worth of damage! That was in 1993 dollars!
He tried his best to have it declared a total but they insisted of fixing it.
It was in the shop for a month and the owner was determined that "it would never be the same". He decided to take his losses and just buy a new one.
But...it looked and perfomed exactly as it did before the accident! It didn't drive any different, it tracked down the road perfectly and try as he tried, he could find zero evidence that the car had been damaged.
He made sure he disclosed this to me and he even made me sign a statement to that effect.
The Explorer at 165,000 miles STILL shows no effects of an accident and it has performed flawlessly. It got our son to work this last miserable winter through a foot of snow. It sits in our side yard now and the studded tires are ready to reinstall in case it is needed to bail one of out this winter.
Cars can be properly repaired!
Guess ,the mods will be kept busy on this one !
We all know how much folks lovw going out and car shopping on their own. So pairing up with another couple/family (with screaming kids maybe) sure sound slike more fun.
If both buyers are clueless as to car shopping, both will be sold at MSRP if possible. Pairing up won't help one bit. Also would you like to sit in the finance office divulging your personal info to the finance manager while a stranger you met online is sitting right beside you?
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Yes I've used that site with great success. Here's how it works:
First you find some sap who knows nothing about cars but wants something for nothing. Then you go to the dealer pretending to be his friend but while he is playing with the horn and windshield wipers you make a secret deal with the salesman. You pay invoice while your "buddy" pays MSRP. Your partner doesn't know he's getting hosed so he's happy.
Later, in the parking lot you and the F&I guy roll him and steal his pants. Easy peasy.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
My last purchase was a used car. So far so good.
Cars can be properly repaired!
Yes but sometimes it costs more to do it than the car is worth. Now that picture I posted I seriously doubt that it could be repaired but rather completely replaced.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Works great after I shook out the roaches and she's none the wiser.
Well then I guess buying new is cheaper than a divorce lawyer.
I do think that with this last purchase I think my
bosswife is very open to another used car when we replace hers in the next couple of years.2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Seriously, this Explorer can sit for a month and it'll fire right up with no lifter noise. It'll go through a quart of oil every 3000.00 miles. AC blows ice cold and everything works.
I hate to take it on the freeway though. At 65MPH, it's a handfull!
They must have improved on that. I drove my buddy's recently and even with 100K on the odometer it was rock solid at 75 - 80. However its much newer than yours.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
Fairly good off-road and decent load capability but absolutely awful at high speed.
Sure if you have a death wish, drive it 90 mph and swerve in traffic. That'll do it
1. Since the draft wasn't guaranteed funds, I wait until the check clears to pick up the car. Which could take up to 5 or more business days.
2. They do what is called a "double contract". Which is I sign a credit app from Nissan, I take the car and they wait until the check from the credit union clears and then they tear it up. I'm a nervous person by nature, so I'm saying to myself if there is any chance that I'm signing anything that makes me owe $48,000 on two car loans, then I'm not doing it.
After going back and forth for about a half an hour with the F&I guy, I agreed to the double contract. They wouldn't even call up the credit union to verify the funds. I asked him if he would write on it that once the Penfed check clears, he will tear up the NMAC contract, which he agreed to and he signed it. Plus the salesman signed his name as a witness. They both said I can come in myself and tear it up.
So is this just the dealership trying to protect themselves from a possible scam, or are they trying to trick me into something?
Just wanted to add that this dealership has an excellent reputation from the Better Business Bureau, which I researched before I signed the contract.
If they tried to cash both contracts, I am sure they would get in major trouble for committing fraud!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Just an advice- Any time you are not sure/comfortable/nervous in the F&I guy`s office,just walk out. You can always go back after getting more information. Never be pressured into anything you dont understand. You can always walk out, ask folks here for advice and then go back to do the deal.If they dont want to deal at that time,find another dealer.Simple :shades: !
Really didn't like the F&I guy though. He tried to hard-sell me the extended warranty and maintanence plans for 30 minutes straight. I kept declining. He wouldn't take no for an answer! Part of me thinks that he pulled this double contract thing out because he was mad that I kept declining.
With so much electronics these days in cars and parts and labor being prohibitively expensive , an ext warr is a very safe investment.Just MHO. And also Nissans are not as reliable as Honda/toyota-so I would definitely buy an original Nissan manufacturer ext warr. :shades:
Also, there are usually dealers (or salesmen) connected to the marque-specific sites that offer much better deals on the same warranty you could have gotten from the F&I guy. They tend to be marked up quite a bit in the office thee.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Once again a false generalization. I have sold many and purchased several 3rd party warranties that provided longer coverage and equal protection for less money than factories. I would never buy one without knowing the backing insurance company and would never buy one from a mail or internet solicitation. Currently have one on my 4Runner