USED CAR SALES

Great care should be taken when buying used cars. There are a number of pitfalls awaiting consumers in this area, and we have outlined some of the more prevalent ones as follows:

1. Misrepresentation of Condition

Some used car salespersons misrepresent the condition of used cars or make unfounded statements as to the condition. Puffery such as "this is the best buy in town" is not particularly damaging, but when a salesperson asserts that a car is in A-1 shape and it actually has serious defects, the buyer of the car may experience unanticipated repair problems.

2. Odometer Tampering

Investigations conducted in Pinellas County over the past several years indicate that the practice of turning back odometer mileage on used cars prior to sale is fairly widespread. This practice deceives consumers into believing that the car has been driven fewer miles than it has in fact, and it often results in unanticipated repair costs for the buyer.

3. Misrepresentation of Warranty

Some used car salespersons will promise anything to make a sale. Many consumers have bought used cars based upon oral promises to repair anything they find wrong with the car, only to find that their sales contracts show the cars were sold "as is," and they have no way of getting warranty repairs.

4. Cover-up of Defects

Many defects can be temporarily covered up by unscrupulous used car dealers:

1. Cheap fiber glass and paint cover-up of rusted-through areas
2. By-passing car heater to conceal a leaking heater core
3. Oil additives to cover-up cracked block and other engine defects
4. Coolant additives to cover-up leaky radiator
5. Spray painting of inside of trunk to cover-up leaks and rust

DO'S AND DON'TS FOR USED CAR BUYERS

• Do check with the Better Business Bureau before buying from a used car dealer
• Do test-drive the used car and inspect it carefully before buying--if possible have a mechanic you know examine it
• Do get all promises IN WRITING--warranties, paint job, new tires or battery, etc.
• Do get previous owner's name, if possible, and call to verify car's condition and mileage
• Do look around for oil-change and lubrication stickers or repair invoices that reveal previous mileage
• Do get a signed odometer statement that shows the mileage on the car at time of purchase and verifies that it is the true mileage
• Don't buy a used car at night, in the rain, or under any conditions that prevent a thorough inspection
• Don't sign a purchase order or sales contract that has blank spaces
• Don't give a deposit until you have a sales contract approved by "management," and then make sure you get a receipt that spells out the conditions under which the deposit is or is not refundable
• Do report all fraudulent used car sales experiences to the Department of Consumer Affairs