Buying a used car is really an act of faith.
It is so hard to get accurate information. And, how do you KNOW who to trust?
I made several calls over the weekend to the used car dealer that I am hoping to build a long term business relationship with. Since I had not received a return call, I decided to drive by his lot on Monday night. The place was locked up but guess what I saw inside…
a certain 1998 Honda Accord!
The last time he and I spoke, he agreed to return my money and was going to return the car to the auction because they did not disclose that the odometer had been rolled back.
He finally called me back on Tuesday and I told me that he bought the car back for $600 less. I told him that I was still interested in buying the car at the previous price if he would fix the car’s computer and let me take it to the Honda mechanic for a thorough evaluation. He agreed.
The Honda mechanic is the best in the area…literally. I was really hopeful that he would tell me once and for all whether I should buy this car or the 1996 Accord that he had for sale.
We talked on the phone after he finished.
He didn’t check the computer because the “Check Engine” light was not on! That was the main thing that I wanted him to look at!!!
He said that the car should be selling for $6-7,000. The fact that it was being offered to us for less than $4,000 made him very suspicious.
“People don’t give cars away. There has to be something wrong with it. The car has been in an accident. You can see that it has been repaired.”
“Did you drive the car.”
“Yes.”
“Well, how did it drive?”
“It drove great! It could end up being a great car.”
Essentially, he said that the car could be a disaster in waiting or an incredible deal. So, here I am, right back where I started.
I decided to go with my initial hunch.
I called the dealer and offered to buy the car at a price that would give him a decent profit. The first time that we tried to buy the car, he sold it to us at his cost. I told him that I was never comfortable with that because I wanted him to make a profit. He was really taken aback at this as I am sure that he doesn’t hear that from too many of his customers.
But that is the way the free enterprise system should work. Both parties should come out of the transaction feeling like they are better off, that they have “won.” He has sold a car to a happy customer who thinks that he is getting a great deal!
