Buyers, Beware Of Irene-Damaged Used Cars Flooding Dealer Lots

[no_hypocrisy]

Even if you live thousands of miles away from where Irene hit, that's no guarantee that you won't run into a storm-damaged car on the used car dealer lot. These cars could be salvages or total losses, with screwed up engines and rotting components. Here are signs to watch out for.

NYT says to look out for these red flags:

* Musty smells. These persist long after the car has been waterlogged. If there's too much deodorant inside, that could be a sign that they're trying to cover the smell up.

* Look for soot, grime, and water damage in all the various nooks of the car.

-more-

http://consumerist.com/2011/09/buyers-beware-of-irene-damaged-used-cars-flooding-dealer-lots.html

[NNN0LHI]

1. I was at an auto auction once that had an car that looked perfect but had been through a flood

First words out of the auctioneers mouth were "Let your conscience be your guide."

It sold in a jiffy.

Don

[theoldman]

2. Never buy a car that was originally sold in another state.

Personally I have only bought used cars from a dealer that was authorized to sell a particular brand of car. In other words, don't buy a Honda from a Ford dealer.

[Lionessa]

3. I wouldn't beware buying such a car, only in buying such a car without

knowing it or as one might say, full disclosure about it. I would think new or used cars would be a concern to some, not just used cars.