Johnny 5
03-04-2006, 01:01 PM
I bought my 5th used car recently. This was the second car I have purchased from a car dealership and the first time I have dealt with a dealer that sells new cars. I have figured out some of the tricks that they used to sell the car. I would like to share them and have people add to the list.
First of all, never assume the dealer knows anything about the car they are selling. It easy for them to make claims about condition, the owner and how they treated it, and what service it has had.
If a dealer makes any statements regarding mainatainance, accident history, overall condition, what they will do for you...Be sure to get 100% of it in writing. Their words are worthless until they are on paper. I can not stress this enough. It must be writing. I don't care if all they say is that they will wash it before delivery; GET IT IN WRITING!
Talk with the service manager and find out what the dealership did to the car. Here are some things I found:
They might wash it and wax it and try to cover up any wear.
They might cover the interior with glossy goop that hides stress to materials and cover up ground in dirt.
They might clean and coat the engine bay with that same goop. This will hide the real dirt that it sticking to those black plastics and the paint. It will also hide oil leaks.
They might change the oil. If so, make sure they put the right kind of oil in. Some dealerships do not even carry synthetic.
They will, almost 100% of the time, clean the floor mats and put them in the trunk. They put them there because they are still dirty. They look clean on the surface, but beat them with a stick and see how much dirt comes out. It also makes the interior look cleaner.
First of all, never assume the dealer knows anything about the car they are selling. It easy for them to make claims about condition, the owner and how they treated it, and what service it has had.
If a dealer makes any statements regarding mainatainance, accident history, overall condition, what they will do for you...Be sure to get 100% of it in writing. Their words are worthless until they are on paper. I can not stress this enough. It must be writing. I don't care if all they say is that they will wash it before delivery; GET IT IN WRITING!
Talk with the service manager and find out what the dealership did to the car. Here are some things I found:
They might wash it and wax it and try to cover up any wear.
They might cover the interior with glossy goop that hides stress to materials and cover up ground in dirt.
They might clean and coat the engine bay with that same goop. This will hide the real dirt that it sticking to those black plastics and the paint. It will also hide oil leaks.
They might change the oil. If so, make sure they put the right kind of oil in. Some dealerships do not even carry synthetic.
They will, almost 100% of the time, clean the floor mats and put them in the trunk. They put them there because they are still dirty. They look clean on the surface, but beat them with a stick and see how much dirt comes out. It also makes the interior look cleaner.