Should used car dealers suck?

[Tucsonjay]

I’m looking at a 2021 with low miles at a non-Ford dealer in another state. Trying to perform due diligence before spending on travel.

I buy a car every 10-15 years or so. I got my current ride over Christmas a couple of years ago and maybe that worked to my advantage. But I'm seeing this kind of thing more and more. Is this the new normal?

** Inquired online and dealer rep sent me a 1-minute video of a walkaround. It wasn’t very informative, except to show the car had light spots all over it. Dirt? Bird poop? Chipped paint? They later sent a second video and explained it was just dirty. Why not wash it first?

** Dealer says it performed a 100+ point inspection. I asked for a copy of the results, but the single page they sent had nowhere near that many. I’ve asked again for the full form.

** They also say I can’t get the car looked at by another garage, but they offer a return policy so I can have it inspected and bring it back within 3 days if it doesn’t pass. I asked for a copy of the legal terms but they haven’t sent them yet.

** Since I’m out of state, I asked if I could get consideration on price by deleting the local dealer warranty. They said they don't haggle, the price is the price.

** Carfax reports three owners in five years, with two tires replaced immediately before listing for sale. Copy of work order indicates new but sidewall date of manufacture is May 2025 (2325). Moreover, new Goodyears should be 9/32” tread depth but inspection form shows only 7/32”.

** Also, the remaining two original tires show only 4/32”, far below what they should be given the car’s mileage.

If this is what it is, so be it. But is it?

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[robvas]

Sounds about right. More crappy dealerships out there than good ones, especially with used cars.

 

[2020 MagneticPP1]

Only a shady dealership that you should never consider buying a car from is this way.

 

[HKusp]

If they won't allow for a pre-purchase inspection by an outside agent, walk away from dealing with them. They're trying to hide things.

 

[barney1]

I traded in a 2021 GT California Special with 7900 miles on it at Speedway Subaru in Indianapolis 2 weeks ago. Last I knew they still have it.

 

[Oakley]

all dealers should respectfully be treated like a bag of snakes until they prove themselves otherwise.

 

[Tucsonjay]

If they won't allow for a pre-purchase inspection by an outside agent, walk away from dealing with them. They're trying to hide things.

Ironic that the independent brokers and flippers let me inspect and then the cars turn out to be total $#!t. Yet the major brand dealers have all these gimmicks that are certainly convenient, but mostly for them.

 

[John S]

Cars are nothing more than a commodity most dealers will say and do anything to flip. Not allowing a third party inspection before the sale is a red flag to walk away. Carvana is an especially good dumping ground for abused or damaged enthusiast cars. Try to find a private seller where you can trust the car's history.

 

[GrabberBargeCaptain]

Walk away imo,, they made a shitload of these cars, surely there is another one that meets your spec

 

[Skye]

Treating everything a used vehicle dealer tells you as a lie is a good approach. Trust, but verify. Every. Single. Thing.

In my area, new vehicle sales have slowed. Prices are higher than ever before. Even with 5-10% discounts on virtually everything, dealer lots are full. Driving through one local Hyundai dealer yesterday, it was shocking the amount of vehicles they have on-hand.

Buyers have been pivoting to the used car arena. One local used dealer, they turn their inventory (50-100 vehicles) every 60-90 days, all year long. They ether sell or transfer vehicles throughout the year. It's constant churn and burn.

Was the OP's experience unusual? Unfortunately, it's more and more common. I've had similar concerns when viewing some listings on-line. Third-party documentation and odd claims. Lack of photos of key areas. Obvious modifications while listing a vehicle as stock. At one site, the legal disclaimer at the bottom said everything short of, "Prove us wrong!"

The OP has their wits about them and is being critical of what's out there. I genuinely feel bad for people that don't. Many of these used dealers will tell you anything to make a sale. And if something later goes pear-shaped, they'll drag things out as much as possible before trying to make it right.

If there is something distant that ticks all the boxes and seems worthwhile, IDK if a local shop would be willing to drive over and make a lot inspection. Pay them an hour or two of labor to get eyes and hands on. It wouldn't be the same as getting it up on a lift, but it'd be a start. A quick check of national inspection companies yielded mixed results.

Virginia...the OP is in a vehicle-dense area of the country. I'd set up a series of searches or bookmark some sites and wait. Let the vehicle come to them. We're in a model year transition, the Fall and Winter months are approaching. The next six-plus months could provide some great opportunities.

Edit,

If you do find and buy something, dive under the dash and confirm if a vehicle tracker is still attached. Virtually every used car dealer and many new sales will install them. They're often used in repo operations. The devices are typically attached to the backside of the On-Board Diagnostics port. Several types. If you do see something, they're often poorly installed, look out of place, do not appear factory.

In this example, the tracker actually fell on the OP's foot.

https://www.mustang7g.com/forums/threads/hidden-tracking-device-plugged-into-obd2-port.162356/

 

[barney1]

Don’t know what OP is looking for but I told him I traded a 21 in with only 7900 miles. I could give him complete history on the car.

 

[Paris MkVI]

all dealers should respectfully be treated like a bag of snakes until they prove themselves otherwise.

Sad but true. Ironic they couldn't even wash the car. Touch not the unclean thing.

 

[Tucsonjay]

Treating everything a used vehicle dealer tells you as a lie is a good approach. Trust, but verify. Every. Single. Thing.

In my area, new vehicle sales have slowed. Prices are higher than ever before. Even with 5-10% discounts on virtually everything, dealer lots are full. Driving through one local Hyundai dealer yesterday, it was shocking the amount of vehicles they have on-hand.

Buyers have been pivoting to the used car arena. One local used dealer, they turn their inventory (50-100 vehicles) every 60-90 days, all year long. They ether sell or transfer vehicles throughout the year. It's constant churn and burn.

Was the OP's experience unusual? Unfortunately, it's more and more common. I've had similar concerns when viewing some listings on-line. Third-party documentation and odd claims. Lack of photos of key areas. Obvious modifications while listing a vehicle as stock. At one site, the legal disclaimer at the bottom said everything short of, "Prove us wrong!"

The OP has their wits about them and is being critical of what's out there. I genuinely feel bad for people that don't. Many of these used dealers will tell you anything to make a sale. And if something later goes pear-shaped, they'll drag things out as much as possible before trying to make it right.

If there is something distant that ticks all the boxes and seems worthwhile, IDK if a local shop would be willing to drive over and make a lot inspection. Pay them an hour or two of labor to get eyes and hands on. It wouldn't be the same as getting it up on a lift, but it'd be a start. A quick check of national inspection companies yielded mixed results.

Virginia...the OP is in a vehicle-dense area of the country. I'd set up a series of searches or bookmark some sites and wait. Let the vehicle come to them. We're in a model year transition, the Fall and Winter months are approaching. The next six-plus months could provide some great opportunities.

Edit,

If you do find and buy something, dive under the dash and confirm if a vehicle tracker is still attached. Virtually every used car dealer and many new sales will install them. They're often used in repo operations. The devices are typically attached to the backside of the On-Board Diagnostics port. Several types. If you do see something, they're often poorly installed, look out of place, do not appear factory.

In this example, the tracker actually fell on the OP's foot.

https://www.mustang7g.com/forums/threads/hidden-tracking-device-plugged-into-obd2-port.162356/

The Carfax report indicated the previous dealer installed accessories prior to resale. I contacted them when the current dealer couldn't tell me what they were, but they haven't replied. I wonder.....

 

[BullittTheBlueSky]

Stop messing with dealers. Buy privately.

You'll spend less and get more.

 

[BullittBoy]

You are in NOVA? Just a month ago, I bought a 25K mile, 2023 MACH 1 from a huge Toyota dealer in NOVA that was a 1 owner car, in perfect shape with full PPF and tint and a Steeda H pipe. I drove out and inspected it myself, I live in Annapolis. I found 2 more, 1 was in Pa about 2.5 hours away and 1 on the eastern Shore. All 3 were at dealers. I picked the 1 in NOVA as it was the spec I wanted and was lowest in mileage and was 1 owner. The PPF told me the orininal owner cared about his car. Tint was perfect. Inside was immaculate.

PASS On the one you are talking about. You are in NOVA and have more cars than you could imagine within 2 hours of you. I use Carguru's to find cars I want quickly, then go to the website of the seller to look at them, check records and such. If they look good, then I go look at them. I never call first, I just show up unannounced and inspect it. I ask them to put it on a lift, if they refuse, I thank them, then walk away. 9 times out of 10, they acquiesce and agree to let me look. Mostly it is a PIA for them to take it in and put it on a lift, since usually all lifts are being used by techs, so I understand the hesitation, but that tells you how much they want to sell. Almost all dealers will sell with some kind of warranty. I got 30 days 1000 miles. I negotiated 4 NEW tires and the tire/rim warranty thrown in.

Be patient and keep looking. Personally, I like buying from larger dealers who move a lot of cars. They usually don't sell crap and you have some recourse if there is an issue post sales. While private sales sometimes get you less money, you have no protection so it is a toss up. No knocking private sales, just prefer dealing with large volume dealers who have skin in the game and it is a buyers market right now-They NEED to move cars. Always be polite and don't be afraid to walk away. But don't bluff, truly walk away if they refuse a request that is reasonable. Never give them the upper hand-

There are SO many cars in and around NOVA. With in 2 hours you can find a couple examples of the spec you want. Sounds like that dealer wants to play hard ball with it is what it is on pricing, then okay, see ya. Don't write off all dealers because of some. Car dealers are like any other profession that involves humans. Some are good and some are crap. Some will deal and some will sit. I have had good experiences with Preston Ford and Koons over the last 20 years. Not all dealers are dirtbags but a lot are!

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