Get the Most Bang for Your Buck when Buying a Car!
Have you ever flipped a car?
BE CAREFUL! Don't Become a Victim
Warning! There are lots of scammers operating on craigslist
Craigslist used to be a great place to buy cars. Things have changed.Never buy a car on craigslist unless the seller has the title.
Without the actual title how do you know the vehicle is actually paid for?
The seller could still owe money on the vehicle. The lienholder holds onto the title until the vehicle is paid off. Once the vehicle is paid for the lienholder sends the title to the registered owner of the vehicle.
The seller can tell you he lost the title and give you a duplicate title. Then when you go try to register the car at the DMV you find out the vehicle has a lien on it. You try to contact the seller and they are know where to be found. Now what do you do?
Lots of people play dumb when it comes to having the title of the vehicle.
The reality is that lots of vehicles owners take for granted the importance of a vehicle title. People lose it and don't keep it in a safe place. They just don't know any better. I probably wouldn't either if I wasn't in the car business.
This is a perfect opportunity for a scammer to play dumb. People sell cars to other people without titles all the time.
Some people think all they have to do is get the keys and the car and they own it. At least if you get screwed by a dealer you have recourse. Buying on the street there is no recourse.
Scammers operate on the street
Why do you think they want to meet you in the liquor store parking lot? Because their is no recourse to their fraud. You have know way of tracking them down.
Run the carfax before purchase
Don't ever believe what the seller is telling you. Before you buy the car run a vehicle history report. Then you will be able to see if the vehicle has salvage history or odometer discrepancy.
Take the vehicle to a mechanic before purchase.
If the seller doesn't want you take the car to a mechanic before purchase there is a reason. Now keep in mind. All used cars will need some type of work. By taking a car to a mechanic you are trying to avoid major problems.
Know what you are getting into. Take someone with you who knows cars. If it is too good to be true most of time it is.
Here are a few things any car buyer should be aware of:
Buying from a dealer
Why not buy from a dealer? A good deal is a good deal. A lot of people are scared of buying a car from a dealer. The used car business has had a long time reputation of crooked used car dealers giving good dealers a bad name. When you buy from a dealer you have more protection than from a private party. Most dealers offer a warranty. The car either comes with a warranty, or warranties can be purchased. Dealers aren't selling the cars just to dump them like private parties.
Warranties
It's a good idea to buy a warranty when buying from a dealer or private party. I would recommend getting a "power train" warranty because it covers the three major components (engine, transmission, and drive train.) If any of the three go bad it can be very costly. There's no reason to get a warranty to replace the radiator or water pump because those are inexpensive repairs.
For $200 I can provide you with a 3 month, 3,000 mile warranty on your vehicle. You don't have to buy the vehicle from us. We can add a warranty to your existing vehicle. The warranty covers:
Engine Group:All internal lubricated parts; engine block; engine head(s); exhaust manifold; expansion plugs; intake manifold; mounts; oil pan; timing belt or chain; and valve cover(s).
Transmission Group (Including transfer case if 4-Wheel Drive):All internal lubricated parts within the transmission and transfer case; cooler lines(metal); mounts; throttle valve cable; torque converter; transmission and transfer case housings; and vacuum modulator.
Drive Axle (2-Wheel Drive): Drive shaft, ring and pinion gears, pinion bearings, side carrier bearings, carrier assembly, thrust washers, axle and axle bearing; Universal and CV joints, except if boot is torn or missing. Drive axle housing is also covered if damage is caused by breakdown of listed lubricated parts.
Cooling: Water pump
Electrical: Alternator and Starter.
We also sell warranties from 12 months/ 12,000 miles all the way to 60 months/ 60,000 miles. The rates are very reasonable.
If you have questions abhout the warranties we sell call us at (818)509-0689 or visit us at 11218 Burbank Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601.
Financing:
Good Vibes Auto Sales offers inhouse financing for our customers. Come inside and fill out a credit application. We dont discriminate against people with bad credit, no credit, repos or bankruptcies on your record. We give everybody a fair chance. To see a list of cars we currently have in our inventory click on the link.
Check Out Our Inventory!
I'm sure you've driven by several cars on the street that have the price, and phone number written on the glass with white shoe polish. Be weary these are not private owners selling there cars. This practice is called curbing. A lot of people make there living selling cars this way. If there is a problem with the paperwork it's almost impossible to clear it up with the person who sold you the car. A lot of cars sold on the street are sold without a title, or a duplicate title. The danger of a duplicate is not being able to determine if the car has a salvage title. Write down the vin# and run a vehicle history report. You'll be able to find out if the vehicle has had the odometer tampered with or if the car has been salvaged.
Check the car when it's cold, and hot
Some problems only occur when the vehicle is hot or cold. A transmission or engine problem can get worse the hotter a car gets. The hotter the engine, the easier it is to detect a rod knock. Rev the engine from 0 to 4,000 rpms when the vehicle is cold. Due it again when the vehicle gets hot.
The initial start up should be a cold start. You'll be able to determine if the car has a bad battery, starter, electrical problem, etc. Don't let white smoke coming out of the exhaust deter you when the car is cold. It's a problem if white smoke continues to persist when the vehicle is hot. Be careful of Mitsubishi Monteros. They are notorious smokers from my experiences.
Use your car buying calculator
Always factor in what the car needs when negotiating the price. I checked out a 2003 Kia Spectra for a friend. It had three bald tires, a cracked windshield. A dent on the rear driver door, and one on the right rear quarter panel. Good used tires are $30 each. The windshield is $110 plus labor. The rear door dent would cost $60 for paintless dent removal. The right rear quarter panel dent would cost Around $200 because someone attempted to fix it before and the bondo can be seen. I explained that I would have to fix all these things. This helps negotiate the price down. Become a car buying calculator on repairs.