repo auctions about car ?
repo auctions about car ?I have a question for yall I am considering buying a car from the repo
auction here in west texas and I was wondering if any of you have ever
bought from one. What kind of title do these cars have? are they a salvage
title? No on eI know has ever bought from one so I was just wondering!
No, it shouldn't be a salvage title. If it is a repo, the seller still has
the original title. I have bought many cars from dealer auctions. Here is
my advice:
1. There is almost certainly something wrong with every car there, if it
is sold by a local used car dealer. They would sell it retail if there
wasn't.
2. If it is a trade-in from a major, or a rental back off lease from Avis
or Hertz or someone, there maybe nothing wrong with it. Major dealers
simply auction all trades over 50,000 miles, unless it is a special car.
GMAC and others routinely auction all rentals returns and these can be
great cars. They are certainly maintained.
3. Do whatever you can to drive the car you are buying. You need to feel
it and see how it drives.
If you can't drive it:
4. Check steering for tightness, noise, etc.
5. Start it and place it in all gears. Powerbrake it a little to load it
up and see if it slips. Listen for engine knocks at the same time.
6. Stomp the throttle a few times and note the rate of RPM increase. It
should be quick and stumble free. Also listen for rod knocks as it idles
back down. Take off the oil filler cap while it is idling and note how
much blowby there is. On a low mileage vehicle, there should be none. A
little puffing is ok on a high mileage car, but a steady pulsation
splashing oil out is a sure sign of needing a ring job.
7. Check the AC and heater for the right temps and no strange noises.
8. Look at all the body panels, under the hood, in the trunk, underneath
each end. Squat down by the headlight and eyeball each side all the way to
the taillight, looking for straightness.
9. Look for signs of odometer tampering. GM odometers will show if they
have been changed. Don't be a sucker. If the car looks like it has 60,000
on it but the odometer shows 35,000, it has been rolled back. If it
hasn't, you don't want it anyway.
10. Be familiar with your inspection and emission laws and do your best to
determine if the car would pass. I know you can't smog check the exhaust,
but it should be crystal clear. There should be no holes in the exhaust
system. All the original emission equipment should be in place.
11. Don't get emotionally attached to a car and overpay for it. I have
seen people pay way more than a car was worth retail, at a DEALER auction.