"wholesale to the public" - no test drive?

[SC Maintenance]

The local Nissan dealer is advertising "wholesale to the publics" on some of their lower end trades. You can start them - but no test drive. They make up some excuse. I guess there trying to mimic the dealer auction, but there not even close to auction price - more like the lower side of retail.

For example I looked at a 2008 4Runner - 2wd. It was well kept, Southern car, but they wanted $9K, and they still want their $700 dealer fee. If I could have driven it I likely would have bought it, but I passed. Someone bought it pretty quick though. Obviously someone was OK with this setup.

They now have a 2008 Xterra - for a good price actually - but 2008 was in the years that had potential for transmission SMOD issues. I am really hesitant to buy one without driving. If it was 2011+ I would be more likely - no smod problems.

So - would you buy a car that you could run and check out, but not actually take it on the road? Seems sort of gimmicky to me. There is no real reason for them not to allow a test drive that I can think of?

 

[walterjay]

It would have to be an absolute steal for me to do that.

 

[cptbarkey]

No.

 

[benjamming]

It would have to be an absolute steal for me to do that.

I would define steal in that situation as $700 for that '08 4Runner they had in the condition you saw it. Seriously.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I would define steal in that situation as $700 for that '08 4Runner they had in the condition you saw it. Seriously.

I understand the sentiment, but if you drove it to a junkyard they would likely give you more than $700.

$9K was too much hence I didn't buy it. Someone did. Finding a deal on a used car around here doesn't really exist seemingly.

 

[Chris142]

What's SMOD?

 

[SC Maintenance]

What's SMOD?

Strawberry milkshake of death. Defective transmission cooler in the radiator - mixes coolant with the ATF - looks like strawberry milkshake.

Nissan was not the only one with this issue apparently. Definitely quality defect. Obviously you can see it, but the old trick was to flush the trans, bypass the rad, and trade it in. Might work still for a while.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I wonder why you couldn't drive it?

 

[SC Maintenance]

I wonder why you couldn't drive it?

This also seems odd to me. Seems like there playing some game.

Its a big dealer - 3 stores, very nice. I have to assume they did a little due diligence and are not knowingly selling stuff with known issues - I would think it wouldn't be worth their reputation.

Still I am hesitant and its unlikely I will buy one. Was just curios on what others thought. I guess dealers buy at auction without driving anything?

 

[slacktide_bitog]

scam

 

[The Critic]

I wonder why you couldn't drive it?

Is it a state that requires safety inspection? Perhaps this bargain lot inventory doesn't pass inspection?

 

[dishdude]

So Copart with retail pricing? A nearly 20 year old 2wd 4Runner for $9k before fees is a joke.

 

[Exhaustgases]

Back in the late 60's dad and I got some very good deals on no test drive cars, I'd drive it around the dealer ship building maybe.
$100. maybe up to $200. good deals. 9k to me is a brand new price, I will never pay what they want for cars and trucks now, there is absolutely nothing so special about them to make them worth the high costs, just cheap cast aluminum engines and transmissions in them all, and the same old spot welded sheet metal from years gone by. Tell me what is so special about the new cars and trucks now other than engines and transmissions crapping out on the trip home, and recalls etc. I'd really like to know what makes them so special?
I suppose the high cost represents the expensive labor and pensions, paying off expensive automated machinery in the factory etc.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Is it a state that requires safety inspection? Perhaps this bargain lot inventory doesn't pass inspection?

No inspection of any kind in SC.

 

[andrew_j]

My old 2007 Acura MDX I traded in was sold this way in NH asking $4000. I traded for $2000 on my $14k 15 Pilot LX with warranty and inspection sticker at Ford dealer. It would not pass NH inspection due to severe rust that was under floor too(loose) from poor body work done in its life.

They allowed you to drive on lot at least.

The only complaint reviews of dealer interestingly were people who bought these derelicts.

 

[mrsilv04]

They're just trying to unload their auction junk, before they actually put the effort in to take it to the auction.

 

[fantastic]

I've bought at least 3 vehicles out of state that I paid for in advance that I did not test drive but felt the pictures & condition was worth the gamble. One vehicle did have a short warranty that they covered a transmission fluid change on my way back driving it home 1,000 miles.

The 94' Chevy 1500 5.7L had some throttle body maintenance needed that I had to cover. The 98' Eldorado had 50k on it & was an absolute gem until around 97k when the head gasket blew.

All of the above vehicles allowed test drives but I pre bought them from out of state before I have an opportunity to do that. Most of my requirements are indeed a test drive. I certainly recommend others to get a test drive though.

Regardless, you know buying used is a gamble but are there other ones that you could test drive & then get the price down to around where you feel comfortable?

 

[shortyb]

They're just trying to unload their auction junk, before they actually put the effort in to take it to the auction.

Typical action with bigger dealers that have large numbers of trade-in inventory that they want to try and sell before auction. These cars are usually looked over/scanned for issues and determined whether or not it is worthwhile for them to fix/repair and put into their used vehicle inventory.

These "deals" are usually the ones they feel would take more to get up to acceptable used car inventory status than they will reap in return. No test drive is probably because the dealership hasn't included them in their used vehicle floorplan yet and isn't covered with insurance if something were to happen on a test drive.

 

[fantastic]

"Sell before Auction" sounds right, Dealers must be feeling with the pressure of high interest right now as well.

 

[zzyzzx]

I wonder why you couldn't drive it?

Presumably because a lot of the vehicles were used Nissans with bad CVT's.