US tip: Don't buy any used cars

Started by rcjordan, September 03, 2017, 03:55:42 PM

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rcjordan

unless you vet the source.  Used car dealers will be buying and transporting TX salvage out-of-state. There's a period of a month or so before corrosion really attacks the electronics.  Govs try to stop this and it happens less now, but...

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2017/08/31/hurricane-harvey-cars/619785001/

rcjordan

Just in NYC: Some 1,300 cars have been towed so far.  I'm seeing repair shops posting about cars coming in for water damage 'repair & cleanup' before the electronics corrosion sets in.

Thousands of cars, houses damaged in New York after torrential rains

https://www.dpa-international.com/topic/thousands-cars-houses-damaged-new-york-torrential-rains-urn%3Anewsml%3Adpa.com%3A20090101%3A210903-99-85516

ergophobe

#2
When you keep your cars as long as I do, the amortized annual difference between new and used is minimal. I've had good luck with used cars, but all but one were from known sources (family) who I knew to be conservative drivers who keep up on oil changes, etc.

Corollary rules: never buy a used car from someone who meets you and says "dude" or refers to anything as "sick" unless refer to a living creature with an illness.