 | Dawson Grimsley
is President of the DAVIS-MOORE AUTO GROUP - and the automotive industry is in his blood. So is a genuine concern about safety, and about the community in which he lives and works. Three and a half years ago, the DAVIS-MOORE dealerships embarked on an unconventional advertising campaign promoting safety issues rather than car prices. Not only has the campaign increased business, it has also generated positive response from the public, and a heightened awareness of driving safety in the Wichita community. It has also resulted in a number of local, state and national awards. In Wichita, DAVIS-MOORE owns 7 new car franchises (Chevrolet, Dodge, Oldsmobile, Jeep, Lincoln/Mercury, Nissan & Mazda), and 7 used car dealerships. Dawson Grimsley may be contacted by phoning DAVIS-MOORE at (316) 618-2000. |
Cars, Trucks, Vans & Automotive
2001-09-01 11:37:00
Used cars from the flood
Question: Recently we heard about used cars arriving at dealers' lots in the Wichita area from places that flooded in Texas. I'm sure enough ruckus was raised that most car buyers checked before they bought. However, this is one of the few times I can remember being alerted to something like this. I would have to believe that there are cars that were damaged somewhere by something that arrive at used car dealers all the time. How can a car buyer know the history of the car? What assurances does a buyer have of getting an acceptable vehicle?
Answer: When buying a used car, always ask the dealer or individual selling the car where the car is from - and insist on getting a ‘car fax’ on the vehicle, which will give its complete title history from the time it was new to the present. When buying a car from an individual, the buyer is responsible for obtaining the ‘car fax’, which can be requested via http://www.carfaxonline.com/. A fee will be charged for this service.Always be extremely careful when buying a vehicle from an individual. Ask to see the title, and look it over carefully for any kind of disclosure, such as a ³branded title² (previous non-highway title). This indicates that at sometime in the life of the vehicle, it has incurred major damage that has since been fixed. A branded title depreciates the value of the average vehicle by 30% - and can depreciate its value by as much as 70%! Quite often, these ³individuals² are really shady car dealers who sell through newspaper classified ads and try to rip off unsuspecting car buyers. So - buy from someone you know, or from a reputable dealer who is required by law to back up what he sells. Last but not least, don¹t get in a rush to buy. Don¹t let the seller force you into making a quick decision before you¹ve done your homework. Don¹t buy any used vehicle until you¹ve had it checked out by an uninvolved third party, such as another dealership, or your family mechanic. Finding out about mechanical problems, or previous hail, flood or collision damage can keep you from making a big mistake. And despite what you may have heard in the news, a vehicle that¹s been in a recent flood might not show signs of rust damage yet, but a good mechanic will still be able to tell that the car has suffered water damage.At our dealership, every used vehicle we sell has been checked over from stem to stern, and undergone a 101 point safety inspection. Even so, we always encourage our customers to take the vehicle elsewhere to have it inspected mechanically and cosmetically. This is a safeguard for both us and the customer.
