Buying Used Cars 101

To the Editor:

In response to the article in The Bee featuring Nancy and Phil Crevier’s used car dilemma, let me shed some light on this  from a veteran used car manager in the Danbury area. Your requirements were cheap, reliable, airbags, nonsmoker, four tires. OK you didn’t state a price range, but if you were at a dealer, you had to be in an $8,000 to $10,000 range minimum. A car sold in Connecticut from a dealer in that range has to have a 60-day, 3,000 mile warrantee. It also means the car has to be legal, good brakes, tires, etc to be sold. Outside mechanics as a rule tend to like or dislike a car based on their own personal opinion regardless of how good that car may have been. You should of had a “stip” that a refund would be immediate if it didn’t pass daughter’s or mechanic’s approval.

You also put great faith in CARFAX as you mentioned it nine times. Did you know CARFAX rarely reports accidents to Connecticut insurance companies? Did you also know even if they do report an accident its $1,500 damage or over? Do you think a car dealer can rely only on trade-ins for inventory? Nope, they go to auction to buy “program cars” — yup, you guessed it, former rentals, the best car to buy [as they are] serviced and cleaned regularly. Your only valid point was a “curb car” that could be a mistake, but better than 50/50. End result, an honest car dealer — there’s plenty around and you’ll wind up with a safety checked warranted reliable car.

Bruce Campbell

241 Riverside Road, Sandy Hook                              June 6, 2005