Doing the Homework Before Buying

[maxnix]

As senior member of the state agency that regulates Georgia's used car dealers, Donny Riner has an observation after years of reviewing consumer complaints: It's probably the consumer's fault.

"The consumer is a lot to blame for what goes on," said Riner, who, in addition to his role protecting the public, is in the car business. "The consumer is a lot to blame, for buying cars they shouldn't be buying, for not doing their homework."

...

In January, Dave Kidney pulled off the lot of Sapna Auto Sales in Marietta in a 1992 black Infiniti Q45. The Smyrna resident was proud of his new purchase and on his way to show it to his girlfriend.

Kidney was tooling along on I-285 when smoke started billowing from beneath the hood. He got to the shoulder before the engine died.

That was the beginning of an odyssey that has left Kidney questioning his decision to move from New York to a state with so few consumer protections.

By his own admission, Kidney didn't thoroughly check out the $3,250 car, which he bought "as is," meaning without any kind of warranty. But he said that's because the dealer promised to take care of him should something go wrong.

He should have been a NICOnaut!

http://www.ajc.com/news/conten....html

[squeefoo]

Whatta DF !! "Oh Puleeze Mr. Government ...Take care of me...protect me from those EVIL capitalists !"

Nothing about doing a little research first Whatta DF.

(Wonder what he wants for it ?)

[Q45CALIBER]

That was the beginning of an odyssey that has left Kidney questioning his decision to move from New York to a state with so few consumer protections.

http://www.ajc.com/news/conten....html

The add in commentary gets a A of effort however....Do your own research, New York State has what is called a lemon law. If the car was bought here then as is or not... Kidney would have been refunded for his transaction.

[Rex]

The add in commentary gets a A of effort however....Do your own research, New York State has what is called a lemon law. If the car was bought here then as is or not... Kidney would have been refunded for his transaction.

That can't really apply to used cars can it????

[maxnix]

That can't really apply to used cars can it????

Not when sold "as is."

The other fallacy here is buying a 13 year old luxury V8 sedan on credit means he doesn't have the financial wherewithal to invest in the deferred maintenance. The perils of a drive and buy here lot.

[Rex]

Not when sold "as is."

The other fallacy here is buying a 13 year old luxury V8 sedan on credit means he doesn't have the financial wherewithal to invest in the deferred maintenance. The perils of a drive and buy here lot.

See that's the thing the excerpt says if it had been bought in NY "as is or not" he would have been refunded is absurd to me. There has to be some responsibility to investigate what you're buying and from whom.

[Q45CALIBER]

The lemon law states that if the car is covered by manufacters warrentyand up to 18,000 miles. And no a 10-12 year Q45 car does not fall under this...Ok.... However used car dealers in New York are not only concerned with the lemon law but concerned with law suits...civil claims that can cost them time and legal fees.

I have many friends that have purchased lemons in New York.... a 95 Lexus 400 with a bad transmission the dealer took the car back and he then purchased another 94 LS400 on the lot...another with a 1993 Q that stated leaking oil and anit freeze a day into ownership the same place I bought my first 94 Q; and we are talking about small lots of maybe twenty cars.....

My point is that the (small claims and other) courts in New York favor the consumer so these guys out here do not play with your money. But just like anything if they think they can get over and you roll over they will take your money....

[Rex]

And I agree with this concept, the dealers are doing it cause the customer may take action, but not becasue the government is making them.

I do think, however, the article postiions the information concering the NY lemon law incorrectly, as it makes for a better story .

[squeefoo]

So this clowns argument is that he is "more susceptible" to the "predations" of a car dealer since moving from a state with more regulations to one with less, as an admission of some tenuous guilt... -actually carries some water ?This rocket surgeon spent more time and put more effort into protesting a dealership who sold him a car as is (which he bought of his own free will) than he did any due diligence !

I think that was maxnix's initial point.

This guy is too stupid to buy a car and the govenment is supposed to do something about it ?! It's called life -some people win and some don't, the ones that do don't need to look for some regulatory body to save them from themselves...which is what this article calls for.How far will we fall?