Which car should I choose?

Asked by viktoriajane Aug 14, 2016 at 08:54 PM

Question type: Shopping & Pricing

I found a 2008 Honda Civic for $5,995. 122,000
miles on it. The guy selling the car is a college
student who buys cars from auctions, fixes them up
and then sells them. My dad is skeptical of the car
because the carfax says that the car has not had
any work done on it besides the tires being
changed once. The oil has been changed when
needed but the breaks haven't been changed or
anything else like that.
There is also a Toyota Maximus for sale at a Toyota
dealer. It's $6,875 with 103,000 miles on it. My dad
thinks it will be better to buy there because the
dealership has a reputation to uphold and the car
could be more mechanically sounds, as it has been
through inspection already.

Which would be a wiser purchase?

103,205

KenF answered 8 years ago

The Toyota has 20K fewer miles on it, and a better provenance. The Honda is being sold by a flipper from an auction buy, you just don't know what sort of history goes with that car. If it was a repo or impound lot auction, you take a gamble with those cars. Honestly if you want to buy an auction car just go to one yourself, you don't need to pay a flipper's markup. I'd go with the Toyota, at least you have some protection by consumer laws. Although if you're buying used, why not buy direct from a private party, and avoid both dealer and flipper?

3 people found this helpful.

Mark helpful

159,075

Bob answered 8 years ago

Listen to your dad, I think he is right.

2 people found this helpful.

Mark helpful