Would you feel better buying a used car from a

[WhyMe]

auto repair shop.

in my quest for a cheap euro driver, i come across a quite a few being sold by auto repair shops. Some of then seem quite reputable.

now I would assume these are vehicle that perhaps the cars were sold by customers that could not afford to repair them or car they bought cheap and fixed themselves.

So would you feel better buying from one of these shops?

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I wouldn't. My first thought is that it was at the shop for a reason. I would think the previous owner had a lot of problems and the shop decided to buy it at a low price. Maybe that means that they were able to fix it, but it could also mean that they're just going to offlaod it.

Part of the risk with a used car unfortunately.

 

[cptbarkey]

they are selling it for a reason. they dont want it either.

 

[Rock_Hudstone]

I bought one of those service station used car years ago. It was on consignment and turned out to be a great deal and great car. The fact that it was a loaded low mile '84 Olds 307 Cutlass Supreme probably had a lot to do with it.

On the other hand, an older European import= Money pit.

Given the choice I'd prefer to do business with brick and mortar establishments that I can go back to if there is a problem. Private sales off Craigslist, forget about it, once money changes hands you're on your own.

Again, all depends on the vehicle and who you're dealing with. Euro cars have a reputation for being problematic and very expensive to repair as they get older.

 

[LeakySeals]

Know the business, worked at one. Some are auction flips, some are totals so carfax it. The goal is to double your money so whatever they want for it, they have about half of that into it.

 

[coolbird101]

Most likely the repair bill never got paid and the shop kept the car, hit or miss on these just like any used car, the fact that its at a repair shop would not be a factor for me.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: WhyMe
So would you feel better buying from one of these shops?

Only if it means that you'll get some kind of a warranty from them as a result.

But if the previous owner could not afford to repair it, it doesn't mean that the shop did. What's broken may still be broken. I would take it to another shop for a PPI and use the results as a bargaining tool. If they're unwilling to let you do a PPI, run away.

 

[NHGUY]

Years ago an area shop got a 87 Cavalier Z24 in for CV shaft and starter replacement,when quoted the amount the "kid" called daddy.Daddy said he would buy them a new car,and to sell the Z24 to the shop for cash.They bought it for $800,fixed it and sold it for $1800.

 

[Vikas]

I am watching this with little bit of amusement. OP wants to buy a cheap "money-pit" of euro drive and is trying to minimize his exposure to unnecessary repairs.

Is that goal really achievable?

 

[simple_gifts]

Quote:

cheap euro driver

oyxmoron.

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Know the business, worked at one. Some are auction flips, some are totals so carfax it. The goal is to double your money so whatever they want for it, they have about half of that into it.


THIS!

These are usually not the cars that customers cannot afford to repair, these are usually wrecked cars, especially German cars that are very easily declared as total loss due to expensive parts. These shops simply buy them from the insurance company and fix it as cheaply as possible. Sometimes they even use parts from multiple donors, and you may find body panels of different colors once you look inside them. If there was frame damage, expect all sorts of problems as proper frame straightening is expensive and these guys will never do it properly. Heck I even know few guys that bought these cars because they were cheap only to find out later that it was two different car halfs welded together.

Avoid at all costs cars like these, sure there is a chance of finding something decent at great price, but the odds are stacked against you.

 

[eljefino]

For a few thousand bucks, go for it!

For more than that, the profit motive means they'll do shenanigans like welding two halves or covering flood damage, etc.

You want to figure out if they're truly passionate about their cars... do the mechanics drive cool versions of the same thing? Do they race on weekends?

 

[WhyMe]

the one i am referring to are more of the high end german auto places, not the average repair shop.

Many times the labor cost to fix a vehicle far exceed the price of the parts.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
Quote:

cheap euro driver

oyxmoron.


Not necessarily.
I have a cheap Euro driver now and have found it to be trouble free over three summers and 34K.
The old BMW cost me 4.5K with tax and title, so it doesn't owe me much.
I've had cheap Mercedes 123 diesels that were reliable and trouble free.
GHT has a cheap Volvo that has required only minor repairs to bring into heavy daily driver use, even if it had better get a new timing belt soon.
The notion that there is no such thing as a reliable, cheap to own Euro car is simply not true.

 

[tc1446]

You can trust a used car salesman as much as a pawn broker.

 

[JHZR2]

Are the sellers "experts" in the make that youre going for? If so it could be an owners, or a shop guy's. Ive been asked by my BMW mechanic if I was interested in selling my 318, and he had a real nice M6 from the late 1982 for sale. These guys do move cars sometimes, and if they are trustworthy and know what theyre doing, it may be OK.

They may also be anticipating something well known that may fail.

Personally, Ive bought a few older euro cars, and my requirement always is ALL records... As in from every oil change and service. I want to see that it was consistent and proper. Ive not been burned yet.

 

[artificialist]

The story of each car is different.
I often find:
1. A car with a good body, but the engine failed. The repair shop bought it cheap, put a low mileage junkyard engine in place, and it might be a good deal.
2. A car with a good body, but the transmission failed. Often the owner sells it to the transmission shop, the trans shop rebuilds the transmission, and sells it. It is an extremely easy way to find a used Chrysler T&C van.
3. An employee of the repair shop is selling their own personal car. They treated it right, but now they want something new.

 

[hounddog]

I was in the business 30 years. I use to buy customer cars that were broke bad. Overheated,engine ruined or transmission broke,bad EFI issues etc. FIx them and sell them with fresh engine OR trans. I had some of these that new owners continued to bring in to me. I'd let them take them to another shop if they wanted to look them over elsewhere. I always sold them fixed,good tires,brakes,wiper blades and such. I'd do two or three a year. Made great on them and never had a unhappy buyer. Mainly I did Datsun/Nissan's. They were great cars for the most part to fix and drove and ran great after. Biggest issue was making sure the seller realized how bad it was really broke and not making them feel like the damage was exaggerated just to get their car. That was never the case or intention.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: tc1446
You can trust a used car salesman as much as a pawn broker.


You can trust either to the extent that their claims are documented.
Your knowledge or lack of it plays a role as well.
As they say, trust but verify.

 

[HWEaton]

Originally Posted By: coolbird101
Most likely the repair bill never got paid and the shop kept the car, hit or miss on these just like any used car, the fact that its at a repair shop would not be a factor for me.


Bingo!!! I have 3 for sale right now.