I was doing some research on dealer auctions and i saw this one s2000 that got sold for a shade under 3000... I was wondering if this is a good place to buy an S because i dont have that much cash to get an S... So is there any way i can get an S within the next year by buying one at an auction or just wait 2 or 3 years to get 17000 to spend...?

Thanks, Kill

 

I work for a car dealer, and generally we only send cars that are junk to auction. Cars that have been wrecked and repaired only so-so, cars with lots of miles, or cars with lots of damage or needed maintenance/ repair. Occasionally we will send a nice car to auction simply because it just won't sell on the lot, but it is rare. I would avoid the auctions unless you know exactly what you are buying.

 

Brendan, are you talking about the dealer only auctions like Manheim or public auctions?

 

Sorry, I should have mentioned - I was talking about public auctions. I also forgot to add, the dealer that I work for has bought used cars off internet auctions and that is a horrible idea. Sometimes you get really nice lease-turn in vehicles that appear to have been maintained, and sometimes you just get a piece of junk that has to be re-auctioned. Basically I'd just be sure of what you were buying before you go and bid.

 

Mrs. GM3 bought a car at a public auction before I met her and she wasn't allowed to drive it out of the parking lot before she bought it. Needess to say, she had nothing but problems with it that could have been seen if she could have driven it around at speed.

 

thanks for the info.... if anyone has anymore contributions please speak up!!

 

 

Stay away from auction cars. They all have issues or hidden history. Trust me on this I have seen plenty of cars from auction, not one passed my visual inspection.

Minor accidents, major accidents, you name it. They are cheap for a reason. No such thing as free lunch. You get what you pay for.

 

^ Some bank auctions have good cars for sale at the price to pay off the loan taken out by the repo owner...

 

Dealer Auctions is a GREAT place to buy a car - if you know what you're doing. all sorts of cars go to auction not just junk. Junk goes STRAIGHT to the auction. Even great cars go ( I found an '06 Z06 with 450 miles at one in DFW). Cars that get old in the Dealer's inventory can go to auction, comany vehicles can go to auction, Lease turn ins go to auction, etc.

The downside to an auction car is you don't really know it's history. You cant drive it around and listen for squeaks and rattles. You don't really know if it's had body damage, and you usually have limited time to see the car.

Especially an S2000, if you get one at auction try to buy it cheap - like waaaay below avg. trade in. Sports cars are kinda high risk since they tend to be driven very hard and one might be suspicious as to it's condition.