FREE Would you buy a 200 series from Houston?

Found a decent deal... always been leery of buying from areas shortly after a flood/hurricane has hit? I Don't know if I am being too picky or if I am justified in my concern. Any thoughts? The vehicle is being offered by a dealership that sells a different manufacturer's vehicles.

I plan to have a PPI (pre purchase inspection) done but in my VERY recent experience this has proved useless. Toyota of Dallas did my last PPI and missed two very severe issues.

Regards,

HGB

 

[OregonLC]

If it’s a branded dealership, it has a clean car fax, and you do your due diligence I wouldn’t worry. If it’s a random corner lot and the salesman wears gold chains I’d probably pass.

 

[HGB]

If it’s a branded dealership, it has a clean car fax, and you do your due diligence I wouldn’t worry. If it’s a random corner lot and the salesman wears gold chains I’d probably pass.

Branded dealer of a different marquee, clean carfax. Will attempt due dilligence but due to my schedule and sheer geographical distance I will have to rely on a shop to be my eyes and ears.

Checked service history and there is a note from 1 month ago saying “customer complains of a grinding/clicking/ticking noise from drivers side front when in drive and park. could not duplicate customer concern. No repair made at this time.”

Also they noted headlamp flickering/dim at times and recommended that the headlamp assembly be replaced but the customer declined.

Other than that, the vehicle seems to have regular service history at the dealership.

Thoughts?

 

[JohnJB]

Given your last ordeal, you sure aren't gun-shy! I applaud the fortitude.

That last service complaint is an odd one, who knows what the customer really meant. However, when I see someone cut bait shortly after a complaint, I'm weary about said vehicle. I've been researching almost every 2016 LC that comes to market that's in my budget and not black, and I have to say, after reading service history, about half of them get disqualified due to service issues (rodent damage, body work that's not shown on Carfax, customer complaints that are not resolved). There's certain unknowns I'm willing to accept and others I'm not.

Based on what little you just shared, I'd likely pass. The customer complaint would put me on the edge, but honestly I'd worry more about a malfunctioning headlight. I'd avoid anything that appears to have electrical issues, especially ones that are intermittent as that sounds like a headache. But perhaps I'm just a weenie

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

I live in Houston and am in the process of buying a 2013 200 as we speak. Javier’s auto looks at everything I try to buy. This will be the third try in a month, the previous two failed miserably.

My experience is that sellers, regardless of whether they are private, branded dealers or wholesalers are trying to sell a car, not be honest with the buyer. Good luck - pm me if I can help.

 

[fireball]

I would think 5' spent removing a piece of trim or two and pulling up the carpet would alleviate or illustrate any concerns in regards to flood.

Did they make a special trip to the dealer for the unresolved complaint and then sell immediately afterwards?

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

Any inspector worth a dime would know how to inspect for flood, collision and or paint/clear damage.

 

[Blasst]

yep...what Ninja said. I didn't even give it a thought. Not even sure where or if it flooded here. I never saw anything. That being said their seem to be some good deals all over the country. Good luck.

 

[HGB]

yep...what Ninja said. I didn't even give it a thought. Not even sure where or if it flooded here. I never saw anything. That being said their seem to be some good deals all over the country. Good luck.

Good news. Found a couple there I'm moving on.

So glad you gotta this sort out!!!

You're the man, I agree! Thanks brother.

If it’s a branded dealership, it has a clean car fax, and you do your due diligence I wouldn’t worry. If it’s a random corner lot and the salesman wears gold chains I’d probably pass.

Done. Thanks!

I live in Houston and am in the process of buying a 2013 200 as we speak. Javier’s auto looks at everything I try to buy. This will be the third try in a month, the previous two failed miserably.

My experience is that sellers, regardless of whether they are private, branded dealers or wholesalers are trying to sell a car, not be honest with the buyer. Good luck - pm me if I can help.

True- and you already did help me. I will use Javier's to do PPI instead of the toyota/lexus dealerships. Looked him up online, has great reviews.

I would think 5' spent removing a piece of trim or two and pulling up the carpet would alleviate or illustrate any concerns in regards to flood.

Did they make a special trip to the dealer for the unresolved complaint and then sell immediately afterwards?

The one I made the thread about did have some spotty service history with complaints, so I passed. Looking at some others that appear to fit the bill.

The level of deceit on these vehicles is unbelievable. I just left a wholesaler in Houston who told me his 2013 L C was in mint condition, bought it wholesale from west side Lexus. Car had 70 k on it. When I took the car to be inspected my guy shows me a scratch on the left rear where the fender well had been creased. The owner of the dealer knew it was there and I suspect he thought it would not be noticed.

I begged these guys to not waste my time on Friday when I put a deposit down subject to inspection.

All I can say is do your homework.

Ridiculous.

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

Which Houston car are you looking at. I have probably already looked at it. Feel free to pm me.

 

[rps13sr]

If it’s a branded dealership, it has a clean car fax, and you do your due diligence I wouldn’t worry. If it’s a random corner lot and the salesman wears gold chains I’d probably pass.

For me paying the extra buying from a dealer isn’t worth anything extra dealers add no value to the vehicle if it’s after warranty . They add no gaurantee for the vehicle. You buy a car with your own knowledge. I’ve worked at dealerships before and you have no idea the garbage they try to sell. No matter the car. A salesman will always say it’s clean and great. If you actually believe that then your just gullible or you don’t like doing your own homework. Which makes you a great person to sell to.

 

[BlakeG]

I'm from CA and I've been looking at the 2017 Blue @ Don McGill. Is Javier's located @ 9443 Clay Rd? If so, perhaps I'll have them take a look at this one. I'm new here and looking all over the US at this point. Florida and Houston scare me because of the potential flood issue, and I won't be able to actually see the car until I am in the dealership and ready to drive it home.

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

Yah that’s where Javier is located. He’ll be looking at another one from me next week more than likely.

 

[HGB]

I'm from CA and I've been looking at the 2017 Blue @ Don McGill. Is Javier's located @ 9443 Clay Rd? If so, perhaps I'll have them take a look at this one. I'm new here and looking all over the US at this point. Florida and Houston scare me because of the potential flood issue, and I won't be able to actually see the car until I am in the dealership and ready to drive it home.

I pulled the trigger on one after Javier did a quick inspection. He didn’t have time for a thorough one but he said he felt it was in good shape and I feel comfortable after he test drove it.

Yah that’s where Javier is located. He’ll be looking at another one from me next week more than likely.

Thanks to your recommendation, I had him check one out for me. I ended up buying it. Will post when it arrives

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

Javier is the best I’ve seen at inspecting vehicles. I had him look at three so far, in each case he found problems that were costly enough to convince me to keep looking. He is very thorough.

 

[BlakeG]

Thanks, guys. I appreciate it. What does he charge (ballpark, I'm not going to be a returning customer) for a PPI? As a general rule, does Don McGill have a good / bad / holy s*** how are they in business still reputation in the greater Houston area?

 

[HGB]

Javier is the best I’ve seen at inspecting vehicles. I had him look at three so far, in each case he found problems that were costly enough to convince me to keep looking. He is very thorough.

In my case I only had a day to make a deal and he was very booked up. He ended up squeezing me in to give me a 'see if you can find anything catastrophic or major' by throwing it on a lift and taking it for a test drive. Those two things (coupled with the positive word you gave him as well as some online reviews) made me feel good enough. This particular cruiser had service history since new (5000 miles until the 150K mark when they traded it in) without any noted complaints in the last two years. I feel like I'll be in good shape when it arrives, but I'll wait for it to arrive before posting any more details.

 

[HGB]

Thanks, guys. I appreciate it. What does he charge (ballpark, I'm not going to be a returning customer) for a PPI? As a general rule, does Don McGill have a good / bad / holy s*** how are they in business still reputation in the greater Houston area?

He charged me $99 but again, it was more of a 30-40 minute shakedown than a thorough PPI. If the circumstances surrounding this particular vehicle were different, I likely would have wanted a more thorough inspection. All things considered, I feel good. Only time will tell.

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

Thanks, guys. I appreciate it. What does he charge (ballpark, I'm not going to be a returning customer) for a PPI? As a general rule, does Don McGill have a good / bad / holy s*** how are they in business still reputation in the greater Houston area?

Don McGill is a typical shyster operation, no different than any other Toyota or Lexus Dealership. They will sell anything no matter what the issues and do so with out a second thought.

I have had two Branded dealer cars inspected, finding serious issues that the dealer knew about including collision damage and crappy paint work.

Yesterday I went to the local Jaguar dealer to check out a 2013. It was pearl white and the front bumper had been repainted and was an obvious s***ty job. When I pointed it out to the salesman he at least acknowledged that it had been painted. When I asked him if I could get a third party inspection he said no, further saying that they had already inspected it. This was a first for me.

 

[BlakeG]

Ninja, thanks for your candor. This is the first time I've ever thought about buying a car essentially sight-unseen. Lots to soak in and learn.