Has anybody ever bought from a used car lot?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Carmax is great. Bought my M.B. there. No regrets.

Back when I bought the 951, I had the transaction brokered through a used car dealership. The other vehicles on this particular dealer's lot were were garbage (I'd have never gone there normally) but the car owner knew him and allowed him to buy the 951 and turn around and directly sell it to me on "in-house" financing. It was a lot easier than trying to get a bank loan on a 20+ year old car and it allowed me to spread out the payments which the owner (private party) wouldn't let me do ($8k-$10k is a helluva lot of money out of pocket to swallow in one pill).

Of course the dealer charged for this and made a profit by doing it, but it was reasonable and I had the thing paid off fairly quickly (6 months). I think the interest paid to him was worth it (even so, I got a decent deal on the car). There are advantages and disadvantages - they're a resource to be considered, but don't get taken advantage of either. I know too many people that have been. If I ever walked onto a used car dealer's lot and got a bad vibe, I'd definitely walk. Too many scheisters in the car industry.

[Britwrench]

Used car buying is simple: no history, books, spare keys, (particularly Boxster/996), radio code, locking wheel nut socket, tools, jack, etc = no buy OR the lack of is reflected in the price after research has been done.

We do lots of PPIs and while some cars are good, (even those lacking in up-to-date history), why would you buy your second largest purchase, after the house, without knowing as much about it as possible?

For cars that have known "issues" regardless of make, an extended warranty is essential.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Denis, were you at the larchmont peets wednesday eve?

Just saw this, answer is quite possible. (I swing through Larchmont several times a day coming and going from home). Did you see me or just my car? Say Hi next time!

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Britwrench

Used car buying is simple: no history, books, spare keys, (particularly Boxster/996), radio code, locking wheel nut socket, tools, jack, etc = no buy OR the lack of is reflected in the price after research has been done.

We do lots of PPIs and while some cars are good, (even those lacking in up-to-date history), why would you buy your second largest purchase, after the house, without knowing as much about it as possible?

For cars that have known "issues" regardless of make, an extended warranty is essential.

While I don't disagree w/ this advice, I bought my 996 w/ no records and only a spare valet key, (remote no worky), + no books and it's been rode like a pig for god knows how long. Runs like an open sore, I particularly love just beating the living schit out of it. Great cars...