A car was listed as PRIVATE SALE on Craigslist. Turns out that he owned a used car sales business. We bought this car the day before T-Giving as my daughter needed it for college. He said in the add that the vehicle was worth $8,200 and showed us a report he ran from Kelley Blue book (the tax man's favorite tool because it inflates actual value). On the report, he has checked 'CLEAN' for the condition which drove the value way beyond true market value. However, his asking price was $3,600. SO it made the deal sound like a steal.
After looking over the car we saw that it less than 'clean' (significant dents, body work after an accident was second rate, etc.) While test driving it, I suspected that the alignment was off and we heard a clunking sound over bumps. He showed us what the clunking noise was when we got back - a tire iron was left (by itself) in the trunk on top of carpet and not secured in any way. He convinced us that this was noise we heard. He said the car was well maintained and it just passed inspection a couple days earlier.
He was a very good salesman (he could sell icicles to Eskimos plus a surcharge for using real water). We purchased the vehicle anyway thinking that even if it needed an alignment and other minor stuff, we would still be ahead of the game.
Well, the CHECK ENGINE light came on within 50 miles of driving it. The code pointed to O2 sensor or catalytic converter. I found out how to reset the code and clear the computer history temporarily. This involved removing the battery cables (which were surprisingly clean compared to the rest of the engine compartment). It worked. The light went off and when I took it back to AutoZone, the computer knew of no service codes. It would easily pass inspection that day if it needed one. The light stayed off for another 50 miles but came back on and is still on today. Just this fact has made me suspicious but I can not say definitively he used this trick to make it pass inspection. On top of all this, the clunking noise in the rear end continues.
Also, he told us it had a slightly defective radio (panel light shorts out but otherwise it was fine). We purchased a new one and had it installed. The rear speakers would not work. The technician found that the wires had been cut. This happens when someone puts in a super sound system. So, at one time, this vehicle had a non-stock sound system which was yanked and replaced with the original. I do not know how he did not notice the 2 rear speakers not working!
When getting the alignment checked (and repaired0, the technician found 4 different brands of tires with each having different levels of wear. I did not think that one would have to look at the tires to that level of detail. He said that he did not even know that himself! I guess it is my fault for trusting and not looking at them to that level.
Also, many other problems have quickly surfaced during the short time we have owned it. This man validates to the 'T' the saying that "WHEN YOU BUY A USED CAR - YOU BUY SOMEONE ELSE'S TROUBLES"
We can only expect that much money will know have to be dumped into this 'bargain' vehicle. Not good news for a financially struggling College student. This has obviously become a used car buyer's nightmare.
The negative perception the general public has about used car salesmen has been greatly substantiated as a result of this transaction.
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