Guy Smiley

wprager wrote:2013 Jetta with 161K, loaded or 2011 Acura CXS with 111K.  The Acura it's $300 more.

I'm leaning to the Accura because at under 14K km per year it's been babied.

Thoughts?

From a dealer? If so is it certified pre-owned? Check the CarFax to be sure there was no major damage or accident reports as well.

I totally agree that you should go with the Acura. If it was certified pre-owned they'll have a list of all the service performed on the vehicle to fully recondition it. You should look that over and see if any of the major items due at 100k were done so you won't have to deal with them as well.

The Acura also comes with winters, the Jetta does not. I'll drive down to the dealer tomorrow. Any tips? I'm planning on just paying cash, no financing. Do dealers really prefer financing deals versus cash down? If that's true I doubt they would move on the price.

By the way, this is the description of the cars sold as is:

After receiving Internet leads and customers requests to Buy vehicles AS IS, We've decided to create a B-LANE to give the opportunity to our customers to buy these cars before we send them to the auction. Please note that all B-lane vehicles are sold AS IS and with no warranty from us. What is a B-lane and where did We get these cars from? fresh trade-ins that recently came in from our customers. B-lane vehicles will be available to up to 30 days in our lot before we send them to the Auction. As per OMVIC and UCDA law, all vehicles being sold "as is," the ad must include in a clear, comprehensible and prominent manner the following statement: "This vehicle is being sold "as is," unfit, not e-tested and is not represented as being in road worthy condition, mechanically sound or maintained at any guaranteed level of quality. The vehicle may not be fit for use as a means of transportation and may require substantial repairs at the purchaser's expense. It may not be possible to register the vehicle to be driven in its current condition."

wprager wrote:By the way, this is the description of the cars sold as is:

After receiving Internet leads and customers requests to Buy vehicles AS IS, We've decided to create a B-LANE to give the opportunity to our customers to buy these cars before we send them to the auction. Please note that all B-lane vehicles are sold AS IS and with no warranty from us. What is a B-lane and where did We get these cars from? fresh trade-ins that recently came in from our customers. B-lane vehicles will be available to up to 30 days in our lot before we send them to the Auction. As per OMVIC and UCDA law, all vehicles being sold "as is," the ad must include in a clear, comprehensible and prominent manner the following statement: "This vehicle is being sold "as is," unfit, not e-tested and is not represented as being in road worthy condition, mechanically sound or maintained at any guaranteed level of quality. The vehicle may not be fit for use as a means of transportation and may require substantial repairs at the purchaser's expense. It may not be possible to register the vehicle to be driven in its current condition."

The only reason a vehicle with under 160,000 kms is sent direct to auction or sold to a wholesaler is the dealership has determined it needs to put too much money into the vehicle to certify and recondition it to make it profitable. In other words the cost of repairs and the price they can realistically get for it retail would still mean they lose money.

Thought you should know that up front before you dip your toe into buying anything as-is. That or have a mechanic friend look at it with you and ask that your friend be able to see it up on a hoist.

wprager wrote:The Acura also comes with winters, the Jetta does not. I'll drive down to the dealer tomorrow. Any tips? I'm planning on just paying cash, no financing.  Do dealers really prefer financing deals versus cash down? If that's true I doubt they would move on the price.

Cash deal is only of benefit on brand new. Yes the dealership definitely prefers finance deals.

Also, something that low in price has very little markup.  I'd tell them they need to waive the doc fees and throw in a couple oil changes.  Again get a mechanic friend to tag along and tell you if you're looking at a few grand of work to get it saftied and if you need to take care of leaks, loose ball joints etc..

So if only "bad" cars get sent to the auction that would mean the B-Lane cars are better, no?

The car is being sold safetied. I don't know how to manage getting out checked out by my regular garage, though.

wprager wrote:So if only "bad" cars get sent to the auction that would mean the B-Lane cars are better, no?

The car is being sold safetied. I don't know how to manage getting out checked out by my regular garage, though.

Ask if you can please go on a test drive alone then bring it to your garage. Just tell them you want to surprise your wife. They're trying to sell the as is car for more than they'd get at auction. It's a last effort to make a little money. We have a truck for sale as is that's about 2000 more than we would sell it at auction for.

Well I took a look at the car. It's a 2011 so expecting it to be in showroom shape is unfair.  The previous owner must have been a smoker. Does that smell ever fade so it's at least not immediately obvious? On the ceiling just past where the windshield ends there was what looked like smoke damage or stain. Not exactly like from a fire but more like if some ash was smudged into the fabric. He said he'll see if he can try to get that out. Too bad it's on such a noticeable spot.

I didn't drive it, but I asked if I could get it checked by my garage and he said no problem. I'll call my garage first thing Monday and try to set it up right away. I'd have to drive all the way there (Bank Street all the way down in Orleans, near where the Hard Rock Cafe and Casino will be), leave my car and drive the Accura to my garage in Kanata, then back after they are done. Pretty much have to take a day off.

He has a CarProof report (not CarFax) but I'm wondering if that was the free version and not the one that costs $50.  All it had was regoistration dates and one fender bender ($1700 claim, so nothing major).

He also said he'd give me $500 for the trade in and process it as $1000 to save me a bit more in taxes.

I have to say, i'm very ambivalent about this.

wprager wrote:Well I took a look at the car. It's a 2011 so expecting it to be in showroom shape is unfair.  The previous owner must have been a smoker. Does that smell ever fade so it's at least not immediately obvious? On the ceiling just past where the windshield ends there was what looked like smoke damage or stain. Not exactly like from a fire but more like if some ash was smudged into the fabric. He said he'll see if he can try to get that out. Too bad it's on such a noticeable spot.

I didn't drive it, but I asked if I could get it checked by my garage and he said no problem. I'll call my garage first thing Monday and try to set it up right away. I'd have to drive all the way there (Bank Street all the way down in Orleans, near where the Hard Rock Cafe and Casino will be), leave my car and drive the Accura to my garage in Kanata, then back after they are done. Pretty much have to take a day off.

He has a CarProof report (not CarFax) but I'm wondering if that was the free version and not the one that costs $50.  All it had was regoistration dates and one fender bender ($1700 claim, so nothing major).

He also said he'd give me $500 for the trade in and process it as $1000 to save me a bit more in taxes.

I have to say, i'm very ambivalent about this.

CarProof is the same thing. As for the smoke smell you can bet the dealership did everything possible to get rid of the smell so that's as good as it'll get IMO.

At the same time my daughter is on my case to get an EV or hybrid. If be leery getting an EV with 150K or more, but a hybrid (not plug in) doesn't have a battery to worry about (just a million other things).

What's the lifespan of a hybrid? Us there any less stress on the power train that should give you a longer lifespan or is it the opposite? Some of the ones she found ($10K and below) were 200K km or more.

That said, our Trax will be closer to 200 than 175 in a year's time and I don't consider it old yet.

Also, the dealership knows exactly what's needed on that vehicle so don't think you'll be able to get a big discount if your garage finds something. It's priced like that because of whatever work is needed.

wprager wrote:At the same time my daughter is on my case to get an EV or hybrid. If be leery getting an EV with 150K or more, but a hybrid (not plug in) doesn't have a battery to worry about (just a million other things).

What's the lifespan of a hybrid? Us there any less stress on the power train that should give you a longer lifespan or is it the opposite? Some of the ones she found ($10K and below) were 200K km or more.

That said, our Trax will be closer to 200 than 175 in a year's time and I don't consider it old yet.

If you're going to go hybrid I'd strongly recommend getting a brand new plug in hybrid and take advantage of the 5000 federal discount.

If you're going full EV then get the brand new Bolt and be sure you have a secondary vehicle for longer road trips.

Again, if you're looking at "as is" used just be sure you look at the CarProof and have a mechanic look at it so you know what you're getting yourself into.

I'm not looking at (and have not looked at) as is. Was just asking if those are potentially a better deal.

wprager wrote:I'm not looking at (and have not looked at) as is. Was just asking if those are potentially a better deal.

Ok. I misunderstood. There's no reason for you to have your garage look at it then. Most dealers will have a 3 month or 5000km standard warranty on certified pre-owned to warranty any of the work they did.

This particular place wasn't a dealership but just a used car lot. The tobacco odor bothered me a lot more than I thought it would. I'm thinking now I stick it through the summer and then when the fall comes the dealers will have a lot more trade ins with the 2020s coming in. At that point I could try one of those "As Is" cars and have my garage test it.

I'm also trying to reach the sales guy at Myers who sold us our last two cars. Maybe he's on vacation.

wprager wrote:This particular place wasn't a dealership but just a used car lot. The tobacco odor bothered me a lot more than I thought it would. I'm thinking now I stick it through the summer and then when the fall comes the dealers will have a lot more trade ins with the 2020s coming in.  At that point I could try one of those "As Is" cars and have my garage test it.

I'm also trying to reach the sales guy at Myers who sold us our last two cars. Maybe he's on vacation.

If they're not a licensed (OMVIC) dealer then steer clear.

I'm now setting my sights on hybrids. Daughter was on my case to reduce my carbon footprint (of course reducing the number of times per week that *she* is out of the house and needs a drive to and/or from wasn't in the equation).