When the dealer has huge signs that say all sales "as - Rookshunter
When the dealer has huge signs that say all sales "as is", don't get bent out of shape when it turns out to be true.
FYI, I'm writing this mainly to pass on my experience, not to cover the specific car we bought. Please read through to see why.
Pros: LARGE selection of used cars. Some are horrible, some are fantastic. I picked up a 2018 F-150 Lariat with 119k miles for $8k under blue book. It runs like new, all electronics work, minimal rust and cosmetic damage, a fantastic find. Low pressure sales and friendly staff (I dealt with Jason). No pressure to buy extras, was very transparent on price. Up front with tax and doc fees. Willing to make a reasonable deal. I ended up getting a higher end warranty, as they are true to the signs, dealer has no warranty, all are sold as is. Based on my 3.5 hr drive home, I may not need the warranty, but I'm still happy to have it (just in case!).
Note They request only a 15 min test drive, but I was gone for about 25 (not intentionally). Don't let it scare you, but don't abuse it, they have reasons why (just ask). We got back to the lot and went over the vehicle for another 35 min, testing ALL the electronics, looked under the hood, broke out my volt-meter, BlueDriver odb-2 scanner, etc. Jason was friendly, and encouraged our testing.
Was a great experience for someone who hates car shopping (me).
The whole process made me nervous, but now that we bought from them, I'd definitely go again.
Cons: really is as is, so take your knowledgable car friend with you. You could very easily get a car with problems you werent aware of, or with issues you dont know how to handle. Examine the car completely!
Plus, no carfax available unless you get it yourself (then again, who in their right mind wouldn't carfax a used car before buying?!?).
Also, If you just go in and say, "I want a cheap car", then that's what you'll get: a cheap car. Cheap cars typically are high miles and may well weren't maintained, or may be worn out. Then again, it may be a gem, you don't know unless you do your research/checking!
This is the most important part of my review: don't be afraid to ask questions, and examine EVERYTHING. You are about to plunk down hard cash or get a loan for a USED car. NOT NEW, USED! Buyer beware. Do your homework. All their cars are listed online, and have their VINs. Look them up! Find a car you like and do a carfax. If you get the three pack you get three carfax reports for $20 ea. A bargain if it gives you insight into an expensive purchase, or helps you avoid a car that had a major accident, or transmission problems, etc. It'll also give you a maintenance report, if they had regular service, etc. There are also free sites that will tell the make/model the VIN belongs to, and where it was originally made, a good thing to know as some plants have better quality control, and in different years.
Look up the car and see if there were recalls, and if it had the recall done. Look up typical problems for that make/model/year.
Showcase Auto Sales buy at auction, do minimal cleanup, set their margin, and away they go. Knowing that, Don't blame them if you don't do your own research and buy a lemon. If it worries you still, pay the extra for a warranty. They have good ones for reasonable prices.
I love that Jason wasn't breathing down my neck trying to make a sale (they do volume sales, no commission). I hate car shopping, so having searched the internet first, knowing the specific car I wanted ahead of time, really helped the process go smoothly.
Hope this helps someone have a good experience.
Read More
Dealer Reviews
Service Reviews
Cars for Sale
Dealer Log In