Everything I Hate About Buying Used Cars in a Five Minute Window

"Josh Welton" (watchtheprettylight)
02/09/2015 at 16:59 • Filed to: Used Cars

I enjoy acquiring used vehicles. I don't enjoy the process of acquiring used vehicles. I have friends that get off on it, which is fine. I don't. I was explaining everything I dislike about it to Darla on our way to a local B lot. Not that I had to, she knows me. We were going to this lot to look at a 16 year old Land Rover (I'm actually looking for a '94-'98, but this '99 was around the block so what the heck). What happens next will (not) shock you.

Grizzled guy chomping on cig directs us to a parking spot (ok, that is kinda odd)

"whatr ya here for?" We called about LR "who'd ya talk to?" Tony. "I'll Let him know you're here." Ok

Tony comes out in all black track suit speaking something close to the english language.

"Oh yer things a beast when wer got that snow we had to dig erthing out first cept her ther built so heavy" uh. ok?

"good rubber on it all round"

Tires had no tread and were dry rotting. As were the rear side window seals.

"Here are the keys open her up"

Power Locks wouldn't work.

Finally get doors open.

"She's real nice, only 70k miles."

No, that's 170k. And if I couldn't read it on the odo I sure as hell could tell from the wear and tear on the interior.

"What price was it online?"

Darla "I don't remember" he looks at me "I have no idea" then he says "well I'll getcha a price cuz wer don't mess around on price her."

Of course you don't.

"Go ahead n fer it up"

Won't turn over. I guess that explains the power locks not functioning.

"Oh yeah ur pry not in park"

No, it's in park. It's dead

"Ah sumwun left der lights on. Differnt car, not use to it pry"

Right. Cuz y'all only sell one type of car, right?

"wait an I'll get it...."

Naw, we're good man. Have a nice day.

THE END

DISCUSSION (26)

RazoE > Josh Welton
02/09/2015 at 17:05

To be honest, it could have come that way from the factory...

trolololololol

Richtofen, Baron von Pickup > Josh Welton
02/09/2015 at 17:06

The worst of the worst, dude.

Josh Welton > Josh Welton
02/09/2015 at 17:10

And I totally get that this was a B lot and they weren't gonna have shit, but it was literally around the corner. Plus it's not like I haven't had similar experiences with "nicer" lots or first person sales.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Josh Welton
02/09/2015 at 17:13

170k means a solid block, at least. Camshaft worth a damn, however... heh. Rounded lump by this point.

Josh Welton > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
02/09/2015 at 17:33

I'm not gonna lie, I don't know shit about them. I have a couple of friends that have been telling me what to look for. There are a couple lower mileage ones out east I'm interested in.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Josh Welton
02/09/2015 at 17:37

I only know a lot about these (as opposed to the old Series II/IIA and Defender) because I'm interested in motor building. 98-99 or so with a 3.5 engine is a stay the hell away situation, others not so much, but purportedly anything past 130k or so on most versions stands a good chance of a shot cam and lifters. This old without coolant issues though means you have one with good liners, which are a problem.

Josh Welton > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
02/09/2015 at 17:45

I gotcha. The other 3 I'm looking at are 97-98s with 4.0s, all under 100k. There is one with 60k-ish, one owner, which is enticing.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Josh Welton
02/09/2015 at 17:54

As long as they've never gotten hot, they'll hold together for a while in most cases If you get an RV8 hot, however, there tend to be many, many ways in which you're screwed. The big one is a seeming blown head gasket, which is sometimes a blown head gasket and sometimes is a porous failure next to the liner *in the block*. Sometimes said liner gets loose and even drops into the crank - though that's not something you'll see too much in the 4.0 (improved design of the "sill"). Ordinary 4.0s may or may not develop liner issues in normal use, and the only good fix involves an engine pull and redoing the liners.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Josh Welton
02/09/2015 at 18:06

I don't care if it's a A,B or C used car lot... they still won't know jack shit about the used car they're selling. The only sellers who know anything about their cars are private sellers who drove the cars they are selling.

The last car I bought, it needed a new engine mount as it was abnormally noisy and too much vibration was coming through. I figured that out with one test drive and 15 minutes of research. The dealer initially took the stance "that's how these cars are"... and I responded " Noooo. I know how these are when they are running right. This one is NOT running right. You need to fix it on your dime or you'll never sell it... unless you want to sell it for next to nothing as-is. No, I'm not gonna buy it or sign anything. If you want me to buy it, you're gonna fix it, I'm going to test drive it again and if I'm satisfied it was fixed right, then I'll buy it at the price you're asking ."

Josh Welton > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
02/09/2015 at 18:11

Gotcha. Wonder if that's why one on eBay has a 4.6 swap? Said he had it done at the dealer when he first took ownership (bought it used), didn't say why. Check that, it was in place of a 4.2. And it was an OEM sourced block with work done at a place specializing in British 4x4s. My memory sucks.

Edit: he also said why: he had a lot of issues with it when he bought it.

Josh Welton > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
02/09/2015 at 18:14

Yeah, I mentioned that in a reply but not in the post. Honestly, you're lucky if private sellers know shit or are willing to tell you half the truth either.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Josh Welton
02/09/2015 at 18:15

4.2s were only ever offered with the CUX Lucas injection. Combine that with the model they were offered on most having some overheat issues from hose design, very few being made, and the 4.6 being the most popular crate and base for rebuilds (including the liner fix), it's no surprise at all. The 4.6 usually has the Bosch GEMS injection, unless a nutcase rebuilt it otherwise, so that particular one may have had an ECM swap to go with the engine or a bodging together of the 4.2 injection on the 4.6. It's probably mechanically really solid, but might have a gremlin or two from the injection meddling.

Josh Welton > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
02/09/2015 at 18:18

Had one dealer tell me none had ever smoked in a particular car. "That's weird, it smells like cigarette smoke. My wife's allergic to cigarette smoke."

Sir, I can assure you....

"STFU"

Josh Welton > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
02/09/2015 at 18:25

Right on, thanks! He said he's driven for 3 1/2 years with no issues, but to me the price is still high for what I'm looking for.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Josh Welton
02/09/2015 at 18:30

I've got a 4.2 engine I'm rebuilding for a project. It has a few peculiarities due to the fact that the crank was originally meant to be a diesel. Relatively few of them out there. Most people just go for the longer stroke 4.6, but the 4.2 is a strong crank and I can build it for a few more revs without running out of air with the stock heads.

Josh Welton > Josh Welton
02/09/2015 at 18:33

Another great one from a few years ago:

Chevrolet dealer told us we should look for a Chevy on their lot because they get their special Chevrolet Certified blah blah points inspection you can only get from a factory dealer. When we went to leave to look at a different Volvo up the road, he said "well, they won't have the right inspection." "On a Volvo? Neither will you!"

"uhhhh"

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Josh Welton
02/09/2015 at 18:50

In my experience, private sellers are much more likely to know about and be honest and upfront about what has been done on the car, how it has been and what it needs. Now I'm not saying all private sellers, just that it's much more likely.

Dealers almost always play the 'convenient stupidity' card... except when it's something it can get them more money. In that case, then they suddenly know everything.

And that's to be expected in my view. There's no way any dealer is gonna really know all the history of any car a customer traded in or they bought at an auction... unless that info was disclosed to them.

Josh Welton > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
02/09/2015 at 19:57

I didn't have to be an expert on the vehicle's history to know someone had smoked in it. Not knowing, or playing dumb is one thing, thinking you can Jedi mind trick me into believe a falsehood is another.

Froggmann > RazoE
02/10/2015 at 01:45

It's not trolling if it's true.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 09:49

Stupid time wasting asshats. I stopped bothering with lots like that years ago for this same reason.

I would avoid 94-95 just because the CUX fuel injection and distributor can be a pain. 96-99 is much better. In case you didn't notice 99 was a split year where they made both D2 and D1. RamblinRover covered most of the mechanical engine stuff, but be sure to watch out for head and front cover gaskets as well. Then getting away from the engine, oil and trans cooler lines, swivel/CV seals, panhard rod bushings, and little electrical gremlins (which surprisingly aren't terribly common).

The Real Dacia Sandero > Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:10

I hope that you actually told the salesman to shut the fuck up.

timgray > Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 15:55

Problem #1- you are going to shady small lots. Everything on those lots is a steaming piece of crap.

Problem #2 - if the guy comes out is wearing a track suit. Just walk away as it will not get any better.

Josh Welton > timgray
02/10/2015 at 15:58

As opposed to shady big lots? My experiences haven't been much different regardless of lot size or affiliation.

timgray > Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 16:02

Your chances of getting ripped off on a small lot is a lot more than a large high volume lot. Because those lots will not screw around with a turd car, they will send them off to auction right away. Also a small shady lot does not care if you complain online about them, the big ones do so they try to not outright screw the customers.

I dont care how shiny or rare, if the car is not being sold at near scrap prices on a B/C lot it's a rip off. Private seller has a better chance of dealing as well because the B/C lots know there is another sucker going to come along if you dont buy it.

Been there done that, I'm a relative of a B lot owner... I would not let him call 911 for me if I was dying.

Land-Rover Matt > Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 10:52

Bald tyres and they flattened the battery. What are the chances anyone took care to have the rest of it serviced?

Seaking > Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:09

>We were going to this lot to look at a 16 year old Land Rover

If you go looking for trouble, you're probably going to find it.