5th & 6th Generation (2002-2006 & 2007-2011)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 2002-2006 & 2007-2011
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To Auction or not to Auction??? That is the question..
Greetings folks! I'm looking into buying a car, and came across an auction. I'm really not sure about this method of buying. Can any of you folks share any car auction experiences? Whether good or bad, I'd like to hear/read from you.
Another thing, I've noticed some vehicles have rebuilt/salvage titles, is there any big deal buying one of those?
Greetings folks! I'm looking into buying a car, and came across an auction. I'm really not sure about this method of buying. Can any of you folks share any car auction experiences? Whether good or bad, I'd like to hear/read from you.
Another thing, I've noticed some vehicles have rebuilt/salvage titles, is there any big deal buying one of those?
It looks good, but see if the auction provides Carfax and Autocheck reports for all the cars. If not I wouldn't even consider buying there. It looks like theres a crack on the right side of the front bumper, but otherwise its seems fine.
EDIT: It looks like the car is Autocheck certified. I'd go for it.
I don't think an auction is a good deal, but I also don't have 100% faith in 'certified pre-owned' either. This is more of a marketing tactic than a guarantee of a quality product, and anything 'certified' always costs a few grand more.
The best deal still takes time, that is to find a single owner, never been wrecked, with maintenance records, selling privately. They are a needle in a haystack sometimes, but usually worth the wait if you have some time to buy.
It's not a negative experience... just no one has gone through with it since the sites have so many rules... plus you buy as is... it's not about test driving since most cars in auctions carry salvage titles... it's about the damages underneath that you cannot see. If you're really bent over going for an auction, go to a live one... they let you inspect the car a day before bidding begins.
As to kenny1773, for pre-owned, you can take it back and have them fix whatever. Auctions, you can't
It's not a negative experience... just no one has gone through with it since the sites have so many rules... plus you buy as is... it's not about test driving since most cars in auctions carry salvage titles... it's about the damages underneath that you cannot see. If you're really bent over going for an auction, go to a live one... they let you inspect the car a day before bidding begins.
As to kenny1773, for pre-owned, you can take it back and have them fix whatever. Auctions, you can't
Most cars in auctions do not have salvage titles....a small % do.
Look into dealer auctions. Youll need to know someone/find someone that will take you with and let you choose which car your want to buy. They need to have a dealers license.
There are tons of off lease/rentals/corporate cars that go cheap. There not gonna be a xle or se, but there still pretty nice cars. Alot of dealer "certified" cars come in like this.
Also if a cars still under the 3yr/36k mile warranty I woudlent be afraid of buying it without driving it.
Salvage title cars DO NOT have any manufacture warranty. Its void once its totaled. Personally I would stay away from them.
As to kenny1773, for pre-owned, you can take it back and have them fix whatever. Auctions, you can't
Understood, my point is you pay a HIGH price for that option and often you have makeup on a pig, just like any other used car, but a pretty pig marked 'certified' to gain yoru trust and have you drop your guard as to what you are buying.
I looked at a certified used car recently, had a clean car fax, clean autocheck, 12 month warranty, etc, etc, etc
Upon close inspection under direct sunlight there was clearly body work and a re-paint done.
How is that a certified car that is also car fax clean?
Warranty or not, buyer beware. Once outside the 12 month warranty you could easily have a rust problem with that body work they claim didn't exist. Wrecked cars are often times never right again (odd shakes, pull to the left, water leaks, etc, etc, been there enough to have seen it all)
Certified is not always what they advertise and charge for. The auto business has got to have some of the most dishonest people on the planet it in.
Have your wits about you and you can do alright at an auction, generally you save enough money to cover the cost of some repairs and still be ahead.
I purchased a certified used 03 Rav4 a few years ago and when I got it home I noticed that there was a dent where a bodyline was so when I saw it the first day i thought it was a body line, then I noticed there was a huge piece of paint missing right where the spare tire cover met the body. Turns out car-fax which I didn't ask for my fault just assumed it was clean had two accidents on it. When I bitched to corporate Toyota they basically told me to go fu*k myself, and when I tried going into the dealer to talk to a sales manager his quote that fat bastard that he is I will never forget "what do you want me to certify it? For a week I was honestly considering following him home one day until I cooled off. That being out there I would definitely consider an auction vehicle. The Pros You can get a great deal if you or someone you know knows about cars, Cons reduced resell and insurance value, you have a chance to catch a lemon. If you don't have a license you can probably get someone to take you for a few hundred bucks. If you know a Lil bit about cars and are super anal about everything being perfect there are tons of deals at a auction.
[quote=El Loco VG;3223692]I purchased a certified used 03 Rav4 a few years ago and when I got it home I noticed that there was a dent where a bodyline was so when I saw it the first day i thought it was a body line, then I noticed there was a huge piece of paint missing right where the spare tire cover met the body. Turns out car-fax which I didn't ask for my fault just assumed it was clean had two accidents on it. When I bitched to corporate Toyota they basically told me to go fu*k myself, and when I tried going into the dealer to talk to a sales manager his quote that fat bastard that he is I will never forget "what do you want me to certify it? For a week I was honestly considering following him home one day until I cooled off.
I guess the sales manager was trying to tell you in a "nice" way you should have checked and asked any questions you had before you bought the car. Those guys are in it for the money, and the money only.
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