Car Sales and ethics

[DWBOX2000]

Just for Fun..

Just curious, I have a 00 Boxster S I am getting ready to sell. I bought 3 states away and didn't get a PPI. The car is fantastic, Engine is great, Suspension is tight and the roof is sorted. (Yes new IMS replacement). I was tinkering around like I do looking for scratches and found an area of bondo on the side. Probably like a 6" X 6" area. Not visible without really poking around. Car had been whacked under the right vent above the rocker panel. I was a bit upset and asked my mechanic about it and if I needed to do anything to get it right. He replied it aligns fine, don't worry about it. I haven't in the 3.5 years of ownership and 7k (now at 54k) I've put on.

Do you disclose to potential buyers? I have been asking at and outside the office and I am yet to get a single yes to disclose. I'm shocked.

I will disclose what I know.

I had the same problem with my 2004 Saab. I found a rot hole in the sub frame when i was changing the exhaust flex pipe. Everyone I told said to trade in and let someone else deal with it. Friends, inlaws. I fixed and am trying to sell this one too.

Has the world gone mad or am I just an idiot. I guessing I am not an idiot but just need to associate with other people.

[DWBOX2000]

[onewhippedpuppy]

I used to be a dealer specializing in unique stuff like Porsches and I disclosed everything. I've also personally bought and sold more cars than I can count. Conversely I ended up friends with a lot of people that I sold to, didn't make all that much money, and have a clear conscience. I always disclosed everything that I knew, and it was typically pretty exhaustive. Thanks to that, I never had a buyer show up and be disappointed with a car. Life is too short for bad karma.

[id10t]

What does Carfax say about it? I've always thought of under promising and over delivering, but be honest and up front about what you know.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by id10t

What does Carfax say about it?

CARFAX is worthless. It's only good for tracing the ownership history of newer cars. I once sold an Audi S4 with over $20K in body/suspension repairs...CARFAX showed nothing. And yes, I disclosed it...

[Arizona_928]

Due diligence... That said I disclose. I've bought cars where people did not and promised up and down nothing wrong with it.

Not everyone is as honest as you. Hell with my diesel truck I have told some friends about the diesel in def saga and their reaction is to trade it in and buy a new one.

[Zeke]

Seems like a minor issue if that is all there is to it. What if you never found it? Would you feel bad if the next owner did? Pretty sure our Box was wrecked or at least ran into sand and was repainted in front. Now I'm a body guy and I can't find any substantial evidence but my BIL who is a body guy professionally took one look and said respray. But he can't show me why either. Just that the gashole cover is a tad darker. Maybe they painted the cover, not the fender.

Bottom line, I can't prove anything so if I sold I would be mum.

[DWBOX2000]

Clean carfax.
Agree best to disclose. Not good for pocket but better for sleep.
Thanks.

[vash]

Haha. I got bit exactly in the same way with my Tacoma. Got it home and found the damage at the first car wash.

I got over it. It’s a crappy truck tho.

[gtc]

When buying an 18 year old boxster, I would think a small patch of bondo is the least of someone's worries.

[ckcarr]

Ask a fair price and disclose it all. If they can find a better car, then so be it.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I used to be a dealer specializing in unique stuff like Porsches and I disclosed everything. I've also personally bought and sold more cars than I can count. Conversely I ended up friends with a lot of people that I sold to, didn't make all that much money, and have a clear conscience. I always disclosed everything that I knew, and it was typically pretty exhaustive. Thanks to that, I never had a buyer show up and be disappointed with a car. Life is too short for bad karma.

Originally Posted by DWBOX2000

Clean carfax.
Agree best to disclose. Not good for pocket but better for sleep.
Thanks.

I've bought and sold a lot of cars and trucks as well and the trick is in the buying. If you are a little more picky buying, you wind up selling better stuff. Buy schit/sell schit.

That said, I usually go through stuff pretty thoroughly and when I sell, everything is working and worn parts replaced, etc. I also disclose whatever I know about the car. I even go as far as to inform people that with older cars, no matter how well maintained they are now, they are going to wind up replacing stuff and doing maintenance on it.

I sleep well.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Yup, you make your money when you buy. I walked away from a nice looking and great priced 996 this weekend because it had a really odd transmission noise. Not worth the risk and I’m not selling it like that.

[stomachmonkey]

Brand new cars off the dealer floor can and do sometimes come with bondo.

Cars get damaged during assembly all the way through transport to the dealership.

They get fixed and sold.

Depending on dollar value of the damage the dealer may not be legally required to disclose.

The value of damage needs to exceed a % of MSRP, what that % is varies by state.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by speeder

I've bought and sold a lot of cars and trucks as well and the trick is in the buying. If you are a little more picky buying, you wind up selling better stuff. Buy schit/sell schit.

That said, I usually go through stuff pretty thoroughly and when I sell, everything is working and worn parts replaced, etc. I also disclose whatever I know about the car. I even go as far as to inform people that with older cars, no matter how well maintained they are now, they are going to wind up replacing stuff and doing maintenance on it.

I sleep well.

How about that 335d that your friend got bent into a pretzel in a t-bone accident and you advertised a couple years later on here without mentioning the "mishap"?

G

[john70t]

Caveate emptor:
There are some states where salvage titles can be easily washed away.
(I forget them at the moment.)

Watch out for fast title history/location changes on record.

Someone has a duty to keep record.

[Gogar]

Disclose and be happy

[brock911]

Tell what you know.

[porsche930dude]

Id think most people who buy boxters arnt going to care. But I would say to people looking at it it "I think this area has had some work done" If they care they will look more closely. If they dont they will say "looks fine to me"

[Mike Andrew]

Honesty = clear conscience. A bill of sale with disclosure and "sold as is" helps potential whining after the fact.