Auto (lemon) purchase advice

[Adolph Coors]

When I was in Colorado, there was a European car shop right next door to my business. He said some of the best used vehicles you can buy are lease returns from those three manufacturers. They all have some sort of required scheduled maintenance, plus any warranty work, that takes place in the 36 or 48 month duration of the lease. I think Audi (though not generally prone to lemons) is on that list now as well. Most of the ‘bad’ is worked out of them by the time they’re turned back in and they make great cars at a discounted rate for the level of vehicle you’re getting. All of his personal vehicles were 3 year+ old Land Rovers and they were solid. Buy one that wasn’t in one of those programs and you’re really taking your chances. I bought one of his 10 year old Land Rovers that was nearly bullet proof and other than tires and oil changes, didn’t need much of anything for the ten years I owned it.

To your point, the cars in the smaller lots are either bought by the dealer at auction or taken in trade for one of their other pieces of shit. They don’t typically have or care about maintenance records or the condition of the vehicle beyond being able clean it up and keep it running long enough to sell it. I know ‘As Is’ covers a lot, and I’m generally not a fan of Government involvement in much of anything, but I’d like to see some sort of minimum requirements for pre sale inspections with a 30 to 90 day return window for complete failures like described in the OP. There has to be some protection for the dealer as well, because people are generally stupid and will do dumb shit with cars/trucks all the time.

ive been buying ford buy-backs & have had good luck on them

 

[2010sarenevercomingback]

This isn’t a 100% rule, but most of the small used car lots are trying to pawn off shit the big dealers don’t want on their lots. That doesn’t mean they’re all junk, but I’d never buy a used car from one is didn't have checked out by a third party mechanic. Especially one of the big three in maintenance hell. Mercedes, BMW and Land Rover.

Ya they suckered my brother into a Land Rover so it was ultimately on him for making a bad decision.

But when buying used cars I prefer to stick with certified pre-owned or Carmax. I would rather buy local and try to get a deal, but the majority of stuff on small lots is piece of shit clunkers that a real lot sent to auction on trade in.

This also true in smaller surrounding towns? Sample size of exactly 1, but we found a minivan online in a smaller dealership in Plattsmouth a number of years ago that was a pretty good bargain because of some relatively light cosmetic damage. Went there willing to pay sticker price if necessary, but hopeful we could negotiate it down a bit - before we even made an offer, the salesman offered a lower price than I was going to give, and the van has run beautifully for like 7 years.

 

[greybeardedchild]

This also true in smaller surrounding towns? Sample size of exactly 1, but we found a minivan online in a smaller dealership in Plattsmouth a number of years ago that was a pretty good bargain because of some relatively light cosmetic damage. Went there willing to pay sticker price if necessary, but hopeful we could negotiate it down a bit - before we even made an offer, the salesman offered a lower price than I was going to give, and the van has run beautifully for like 7 years.

Yea, what I consider the be the smartest vehicle purchase of my life so far was complete happenstance. Was going to check out a Ford truck, seen a comparable Chevy 1/2 ton at a used car lot on the way out of town (Lanny Carlson in Kearney). Pulled in, liked what I seen even tho it had 100k miles. I was a naive teenager and I'm not sure I even popped the hood on it. Have been driving that pickup for over a decade, closing in on 300,000 miles now. Haven't even spent $1000 in mechanical repairs yet, despite my less than rigid maintenance schedule. Would still drive that thing anywhere, and I can't trade it in because it's been too good to me. It's like the opposite of a lemon, whatever that is. But, I have been on the flip side of shady used car places too. On my most recent outing trying to help a family member buy a used car, we were blatantly lied to by the finance lady. We made a deal with the sales lady, who claimed the OTD price including sales tax since we were out of state. Then the finance lady, after we got the papers signed, looked at me like I was a crazy person when I noticed the final agreement didn't include tax, although the OTD price stayed the same. Said they obviously didn't collect sales tax since we were paying cash, and the OTD price I was quoted had never included that. I knew we had talked about it with salesperson. Was kind of small figures but it still pisses me off. I would have walked except my emotionally fragile family member already had their heart set on the car, we had been in there 3 hrs (that's part of their game), we were late to a Christmas party already, and I didn't want to spend another day car shopping. FUCK shady car lots.

 

[Quint]

ive been buying ford buy-backs & have had good luck on them

Lease returns are generally in good shape and low miles.

People sign up for a lease, looking only at a lower down and monthly payment, and seem to forget they have to give it back with mileage and damage considerations at the end. They’ll often have to just buy the thing out, paying the residual value, instead of the mileage and damage fees.

Leases make sense for business or people who don’t drive much, but for me it’s never made sense. That said, they do tend to create some pretty solid trade ins at the large dealer level.

 

[Omar Little]

Can you get me the VIN?

Smaller used car companies buy almost exclusively from auctions. I can see who sold the vehicle through the auction company to the dealership in which you bough it from.

The prior dealership and auction company might have documented the engine issues in which the dealership you purchased from would have been aware of.

I have access to Manheim auctions. Selling dealers through auctions companies are required to disclose any known issues with vehicles they have running through auctions. If purchased on a trade they'll have their service records, plus we could possibly track down any prior service records if that shop reports to Carfax or Autocheck.

VIN: WDDNG8GBA400153

 

[Boondock_St_Sker]

VIN: WDDNG8GBA400153

I think you are missing a couple of numbers, VINs are typically 17 characters

 

[Link-]

Can we get the name of the dealership? Had a mega day at work and finished my work projects for the month due to working over winter break. Now, I’m not saying that I’ve been drinking celebratory IPAs, but I am 100% ready & able to flame these fuckers on social media.

 

[Bulldog10]

Can we get the name of the dealership? Had a mega day at work and finished my work projects for the month due to working over winter break. Now, I’m not saying that I’ve been drinking celebratory IPAs, but I am 100% ready & able to flame these fuckers on social media.

Honestly this is probably your best bet. Put there name in here and let us all give them bad reviews.

 

[Omar Little]

Honestly this is probably your best bet. Put there name in here and let us all give them bad reviews.

Concierge Motors in Lincoln.

I created a Facebook page today called Concierge Motors Worst Buying Experiences. Just getting started on it

 

[Omar Little]

I think you are missing a couple of numbers, VINs are typically 17 characters

VIN: WDDNG8GB4BA400153 is the one on our insurance card.

The previous one was on the purchase contract, so he didn’t even put the correct VIN number on it.

 

[HuskerGarrett]

Concierge Motors in Lincoln.

I created a Facebook page today called Concierge Motors Worst Buying Experiences. Just getting started on it

If we all give him a one star review on Google that’ll probably get his attention

 

[Omar Little]

If we all give him a one star review on Google that’ll probably get his attention

If the whole board does that would be great

 

[Mavsker]

Trust me when I say that I am beyond pissed at my wife and son for making this purchase and it wouldnt have happened if i was involved.

This is why I don't give my wife access to money or credit

 

[Bulldog10]

If the whole board does that would be great

Not many people in this thread, if you really want results post a summary of what happened in one of the transfer portal threads..

 

[Tyneb23]

 

[greybeardedchild]

so he didn’t even put the correct VIN number on it.

Oohh excellent. Giah can argue this contract is invalid. (I amnt a loyer)
Always love to simple Google search my vin also. Hears yors, you've pry already done it.

https://stat.vin/cars/WDDNG8GB4BA400153

 

[vailhusker]

Oohh excellent. Giah can argue this contract is invalid. (I amnt a loyer)
Always love to simple Google search my vin also. Hears yors, you've pry already done it.

https://stat.vin/cars/WDDNG8GB4BA400153

Looks like she had some sweet chin music put on her at one point. From my sick days at home with the Barker Beauties as a kid I'm going to bid $7301.

 

[2010sarenevercomingback]

If the whole board does that would be great

IMO, you'll want to have a group do it, contact them again and say there are a lot more people willing to do the same if they don't resolve the dishonesty, and have another wave in reserve if they don't make things right.

 

[cwessel76]

I’m trying

 

[vailhusker]

Looks like she had some sweet chin music put on her at one point. From my sick days at home with the Barker Beauties as a kid I'm going to bid $7301.

Seriously though only 14,000 miles in almost 3 years is not a good sign. Could have been parked for awhile with mechanical issues.