College Car Company Ã¢â‚¬â€œ beware (and reward for a car)

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College Car Company Ã¢â‚¬â€œ beware (and reward for a car)

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Started 2 years ago by GW_Justice
Latest reply from GW_Justice

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cars

GW_Justice
Grandview Hts.
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I went up to the College Car Company after I found a good looking car on their website, found a different car that I was interested in and plunked down a $20 for a deposit that would hold the car while I made up my mind. I called up the next day and had them change the deposit to the first car I had found on the net. No problem they said, we will hold the car for another two days. Later that same day I went back and did a detailed inspection of the car, talked to my sales guy (John), told him I would be back the next day for a test drive by the wife to finalize the deal. No problem, he said.

The next day we arrived on the lot, and the car was gone. Sorry dude. So I'm out $20 and a lot of time doing research and inspection of the car. Something tells me I'm lucky to only be out the Jackson if they can't be honest on something as simple as a car hold. Meh Ã¢â‚¬â€œ what do you expect from used car lots.

Reward for locating a car - $25

For some reason I'm having a difficult time finding the car I want. So I'm enlisting the CU readership to track down a car. If your tip finds me the car I buy, there is money for you.

I already have a search feed for Craigslist, so that is not where I need help. I'm asking for you to look on the hard to find places Ã¢â‚¬â€œ church bulletin boards, postings at your workplace, the guy down the block with a sign in the window of his car.

I'm looking for a car that is about 5 years old. A small, 4 cylinder, good millage car (Honda Civic is the sweet spot, but other cars like it are good too). Prefer a car with good options, like a sun roof, but any good quality, non-salvage title car could be OK. I'm running into a lot of people who ask way over Kbb price, and don't want to deal. No need to waste time on those cars.

PM me here with your tips, or email me at jwagner_mail, followed by the squiggle, then Lycos.com

Thanks!

Posted 2 years ago #
dru
IV
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that's too bad to see negative PR for them. i usually recommend them when people ask. i purchased my current car from them several years ago, as did 2 friends around the same time. we all got good deals (they largely price well and then don't haggle) and all 3 cars have lived a long second life.

Posted 2 years ago #
lifeliberty
Here
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How much do you want to spend?

Posted 2 years ago #
GW_Justice
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I'm willing to spend up to KBB price. That will be different for each car, so I don't have a single number - but I think it will be under about $7K for cars in the range I'm looking for. Preference given for cars under the KBB, I like good deals!

Posted 2 years ago #
Snarf
Dystopia
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Cars like what you're after are going for higher than what KBB suggests because the demand is high.

I was seeing $1500 Honda CRX's go for upwards of $5000 when gas was $3-4.

Posted 2 years ago #
lifeliberty
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my advice for finding a good deal is find a car you like and then look for that car. be patient til a good deal comes along. don't just check craigslist, that is hit and normally a miss. autotrader used to let you search online and you can specify what you want. most cars now a days have their own owner forums which you can search and learn about the cars. they will "normally" (YMMV) have a for sale section which will beat anything on craigslist for trusting the seller and honest pricing.

I found my bronco cheap on the bronco forums. traveled to Pittsburg to pick it up. seller was honest, kept great records, great at corresponding.

found my first cycle on cycletrader, cheap. was up in New philadelphia, had to trailer it back to Cols. seller was again honest and had no issues with the bike.

My last bike was through a horrible ad on craiglist in Cleveland, but a heck of a deal.

be willing to travel for a great deal. don't just search local ads. helps if you know cars a little, or bring someone that does.

Posted 2 years ago #
GW_Justice
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lifeliberty wrote >>
Be willing to travel for a great deal. don't just search local ads. helps if you know cars a little, or bring someone that does.

I'm good enough with cars that I can spot defects. This is part of the problem with the CL cars I have looked at, sellers will not list problems and when I point them out they don't want to cut the price.
I'm also leery of out of town deals for this reason, you can waste time and money on trips in the sticks only to find a car with major defects that was not disclosed. I'm realistic about this, that is the game you play when you look for a car, but it gets old.

Posted 2 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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craigslist car sales are pretty much singlehandedly keeping the TV court shows in business.

protip: never buy a used car in an as-is sale without a complete inspection by a qualified mechanic. Buying a car out of town (unless you know a mechanic in that town or ARE a mechanic) adds another level of complexity to an already risky proposition.

It's really REALLY hard to argue for a refund that the advertisement didn't specify a problem in an as-is sale. In fact, legally you're most likely screwed.

Edit:

You might want to go up to Saturn North. they sell good certified used cars. I bought a 2 year old one there 10 years ago and it's STILL my favorite car I've ever owned.

Posted 2 years ago #
manticore33
Delaware, OH
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CL is not a bad place to buy cars. I have purchased several throughout the years with good success, but I am not your typical car buyer. Do your homework for common issues, maintenance requirements, and then inspect the car. If you are going for a Honda, be aware, they have timing belts which likely need serviced between 60,000 - 100,000 miles.

However, you must realize any car you buy is used and will have issues. There is no thing as a 100% perfect used car and things will break or be broken when you get it.

Edit: In regards to inspections, I do recommend them if you have a trust worthy mechanic. Realize the mechanic may come back with 'extra' things that may not need immediately repaired. Always remember, service shop is in the business of repairing and replacing parts and will sell you on the 'while we're in here.' Likewise, doing an inspection on every car you look at can add up quickly.

Posted 2 years ago #
GW_Justice
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manticore33 wrote >>
CL is not a bad place to buy cars. I have purchased several throughout the years with good success, but I am not your typical car buyer. Do your homework for common issues, maintenance requirements, and then inspect the car. If you are going for a Honda, be aware, they have timing belts which likely need serviced between 60,000 - 100,000 miles.

I've bought two cars on CL in the past and was generally satisfied. But for the past few months I've gotten no good hits. I posted about the problems with scam ads already, I'm wondering if people are giving up on CL (apparently posting a car for sale will get you a ton of spam and scammers trying the money order bit).

Yea, the timing belt for Honda is a problem, a lot of people buy the car without service records and have no idea if the belt was changed.

Posted 2 years ago #
Analogue Kid
5th by West-Northwest
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If you're looking for a reliable and efficient small car, I'd recommend a newer Ford Focus. When they first came out in 2000, they had a fair number of quality problems but by 2005 the reliability improved dramatically. Because of the initial issues, people don't perceive them to be a hot item (prices reflect this) and thus they represent a better value than a Civic in my humble opinion.

Here's a decent looking example: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=272908481&dealer_id=9807898&car_year=2006&rdm=1269624922041&feature13=sunroof&lastStartYear=1981&model=FOCUS&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=2005&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=25&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=y&make=FORD&keywords_display=&color=&scarid=276124291&page_location=findacar::ispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=43212&advanced=y&end_year=2006&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=29&standard=false

Posted 2 years ago #
takeasiesta
Harrison West
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Have you tried Facebook Marketplace? Right off the bat I found a 2006 Toyota Corolla for $2951.

Posted 2 years ago #
manticore33
Delaware, OH
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GW: A great resource is http://www.craiglook.com You can search the ad over multiple-CL to see if it is indeed a scam. Plus, at least for hunting Craigslist, you can set mileage limiters and it will search all of the CL boards within that radius.

Posted 2 years ago #
GW_Justice
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Huh. I didn't know there was a Facebook marketplace, I have an account but don't go there much.

As far as the 2006 Toyota Corolla for $2951 - yes, I see it. But it doesn't smell right, unless the car has high miles (and I see the miles are not listed, a favorite tactic of someone selling a car with 200K).

But - I'll check it out, takeasiesta, you may have won the $25.

(Later) Bleck, the guy is selling the same car in 10 different cities. in other words, a car shipping scam.

Posted 2 years ago #
takeasiesta
Harrison West
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Sorry dude. Good luck on the search!

Posted 2 years ago #
GW_Justice
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As a follow up to this thread Ã¢â‚¬â€œ I found my car. Toyota Matrix, the special Ã¢â‚¬Å“doesn't speed out of controlÃ¢â‚¬Â version, you have to ask for this option :-)

Two tips for used car buying at car lots that helped me get under the Kbb price for the car -

Shop at the end of the month. I always thought this was just a new car buying tip, but it works for used car lots also.

After you locate a car on the net, go to the car lot and find your sales guy, get his card, do a brief inspection of the car, then leave. He will want to do all the tricks sales people use Ã¢â‚¬â€œ offering various services, telling you that he might be able to get you a special price (then leave you sitting for 15 minutes while he is Ã¢â‚¬Å“talking to the bossÃ¢â‚¬Â). Don't bother with that stuff. Go home, contact the sales person by email, and do all the negotiation by email. Use the Kbb (or Edmunds.com, whichever is lower) price guides to insist that you get the best price. Sales negotiation is a lot more unemotional by email, and you don't give away the non-verbal clues that tell him you are a pushover who has fallen in love with the car.

Then after you have the best price, go back and do a complete inspection of the car. Use any new found problems to push for repairs or lower price.

Car pricing is crazy. I paid $3500 less than the sticker price, and if the price guides are accurate, this is normal.

Posted 2 years ago #