bzlvr

Probably this is a general question. But I am looking at a 2003 E320 wagon. Based on the car fax record, it has been put on an auction before the dealer bought it in. I believe the deal bought it from the auction. Is there any special thing I should watch out? How does the auction effect the value of the car? Thanks!

DWP

Auctions are the usual intermediary between the dealer who takes a car as a trade-in and the dealer who ends up selling it from their used-car department, assuming they aren't one and the same. The fact that a used car has been auctioned says nothing negative about it, doesn't affect its value and raises no particular red flags.

JDM

Could just be a program car, or maybe a repo. chances are if a dealer is buying it, it's okay, but thats no gaurantee.

bzlvr

DWP-Thanks.
JDM-Are you saying a car with auction history "might" be a programmed car? How would I tell whether a car is a programmed car or not? What does repo mean? Thanks.

BudC

Most ex-leased cars are auctioned to dealers (mostly in Texas). I would never buy a ex-leased car. People who lease couldn't care less about how they take care of or abuse a car.

I wouldn't buy a *program* car that was driven by employees of a company or that were rentals. I wouldn't buy a repo. If the guy couldn't pay for it he probably didn't maintain it.

You won't find really nice used cars on dealer's lots. The good ones never get to the lot, they go to preferred customers.

Talk to the used car Manager and tell him you are looking for a nice, local one-owner car and that you will pay a premium to get it. Then drive the wheels off it.

Like my dear old mother always said, why buy someone elses problems?

bzlvr

BudC- Thanks. How do you think loaner car? They were supposed to be taken care by dealers...

JDM

A program car is one used for advertising, low milleage lease returns, low milleage rentals etc..basically any car thats late model with low milleage can be called a program car. I think an 03 is too old for that though. A repo-sessed car is one that was picked up by a bank for failure to make the payments.

BudC

I doubt dealers do much maintenance on loaners. They're probably put on the used car lot before they get an oil change.

Anyway, a loaner isn't any different than other cars driven by a bunch of strangers.

If you are not going to keep your car very long, then it probably doesn't matter what you buy. If you are like me and will keep your car for a long time (17 yrs, 15 yrs and counting), then you want to make sure the car hasn't been abused and hasn't been serviced at a Jiffy Lube.

There are some used cars that I might buy. They are cars that I know and (best of all) serviced by the owner. Nobody cares more about a car than their owners.

Good luck.

bzlvr

JDM-Thanks.

The carfax history is as below. Anything I need to watch on? Should this car be considered as one owner car?

10/15/2002 Registered as personal vehicle
10/05/2004 27,820 mile passed emission test
01/24/2006 39,856 mile auto auction
01/27/2006 39,869 passed emission test
02/17/2006 vehicle offered for sale

BTW, if the car was maintained in dealership, can carfax have the information, or is there any other place to find out?

LEGOIII

Most leased cars are maintained, as required by leased contracts. I have purchased several high end autos from auctions and I have not had any problems out of them. The key is purchase from an auction that has more high end autos to choose from. My first option is always the auction because you will save thousands of dollars on low miles, and newer autos and generally more to pick from than lots. I traveled hours away to purchase from auctions. It is worth it.

JDM

Looks like someone bought it, and quite likely lost it to repo. No carfax will not have service records. Ask a dealer to run the vin for you, tell them why you want the info.