has anyone been to a car auction?

[Clocker]

has anyone been to a car auction and is their any you would reccommend.

 

[mattocs]

I have a long time ago. Just look for a big one in the local phone book. Its a good way to get a car for cheap. Don't plan on driving it for a long time, but if you just need something for a while or don't mind fixing it, it'd be a swell idea.

 

[PAB]

Originally posted by: Clocker
has anyone been to a car auction and is their any you would reccommend.

I go to several over the course of a week. What do you want to know?

 

[CFster]

I work at one.

For the past twenty years. Though the kind I work at may not be of any use to you - it's a dealer only wholesale auction. We sell over 6,000 cars a week.

And as well as cheap cars, we also have expensive ones. Actually, the majority of the cars that go through are less than five years old and in very good shape.

We also have some exotic stuff, such as a couple Ford GTs. It's amazing how many of those things are laying around unsold. Some other interesting stuff too - C6 Z06s, Porsches, Mercedes, BMWs, Vipers you name it. One car I was really dissapointed in was an 03 Maserati Coupe. What an absolute POS. I've found most Chrysler products to be in the same boat as well.

But I'm rambling...

Depending on the auction you go to, they might have accounts with major leasing companys. You might find an auction devoted to selling just Hondas, or Nissans.

 

[CFster]

dp

 

[PAB]

Originally posted by: CFster
I work at one.

For the past twenty years. Though the kind I work at may not be of any use to you - it's a dealer only wholesale auction. We sell over 6,000 cars a week.

And as well as cheap cars, we also have expensive ones. Actually, the majority of the cars that go through are less than five years old and in very good shape.

We also have some exotic stuff, such as a couple Ford GTs. It's amazing how many of those things are laying around unsold. Some other interesting stuff too - C6 Z06s, Porsches, Mercedes, BMWs, Vipers you name it. One car I was really dissapointed in was an 03 Maserati Coupe. What an absolute POS. I've found most Chrysler products to be in the same boat as well.

But I'm rambling...

Depending on the auction you go to, they might have accounts with major leasing companys. You might find an auction devoted to selling just Hondas, or Nissans.

Where do you work? I have gone to Manheim's FAAO once in a while and HOLY ****** theres a lot of stuff there.

 

[CFster]

I'd rather not say the name, but we're the largest independant in the country and are in New England.

We're not as big as FAAO (Orlando), as we have 18 lanes, vs. their 22. But they're also part of Manheim which is an enormous company - over 140 auctions worldwide I think.

 

[AgentJean]

I think the auctions are a waste of time . You don't know what kind of car you are getting, there is no test drive, there is no chance to have a mechanic look the car over.
The one auction I went to people were bidding 1000 bucks or more for earily 90's cars with high miles that would not start. Just crazy.

If you want to take a risk and have money to blow sure go to an auction, but you may ending putting alot of repair money into that car you get for cheap.

 

[CFster]

Originally posted by: AgentJean
I think the auctions are a waste of time . You don't know what kind of car you are getting, there is no test drive, there is no chance to have a mechanic look the car over.
The one auction I went to people were bidding 1000 bucks or more for earily 90's cars with high miles that would not start. Just crazy.

If you want to take a risk and have money to blow sure go to an auction, but you may ending putting alot of repair money into that car you get for cheap.

I got news for you. Most of the cars that are sitting at the used car lot down the street from you came from an auction.

But in a sense, you're right - for a retail buyer. For wholesalers it's the only way to go, and it's working for us. We did 2.4 billion in sales last year. As for having the car looked over, most auctions have an arbitration policy, meaning there is a certain period of time to bring the car back for certain types of problems - unless the car is sold AS-IS.

 

[PAB]

Originally posted by: AgentJean
I think the auctions are a waste of time . You don't know what kind of car you are getting, there is no test drive, there is no chance to have a mechanic look the car over.
The one auction I went to people were bidding 1000 bucks or more for earily 90's cars with high miles that would not start. Just crazy.

If you want to take a risk and have money to blow sure go to an auction, but you may ending putting alot of repair money into that car you get for cheap.

Three words: POST SALE INSPECTION

If you're that paranoid, spend the $100 and post sale the car. If theres a problem, you can arbitrate on sale day.

 

[PAB]

Originally posted by: CFster
I'd rather not say the name, but we're the largest independant in the country and are in New England.

We're not as big as FAAO (Orlando), as we have 18 lanes, vs. their 22. But they're also part of Manheim which is an enormous company - over 140 auctions worldwide I think.

Fair enough. Maybe you can help me out.....

I'm in FL, I've always wondered what kind of price differential between here and new england exists. I have family up there, so I've been VERY tempted to send some of my heavy metal up there. I sold my diesel suburban to a guy in MA, and it seems to me that if the market is soft down ehre - maybe there's some money to be made sending the 4x4's up there for snowplows and such.

 

[conehead433]

I've been to some as an observer only. Lots of off lease and program cars ( GM, etc. new cars driven by employees) being sold reasonably priced. Definitely a better deal than paying for a new one. Auctions vary though, the ones I was at were strictly for dealers. You couldn't get in without dealer credentials.

The auctions I was at in West Atlanta and also Orlando were dealers only. I had also been to auctions in Dothan, Al and Albany, Ga that I'm not sure if that was the case.

 

[CFster]

Originally posted by: PAB

Originally posted by: CFster
I'd rather not say the name, but we're the largest independant in the country and are in New England.

We're not as big as FAAO (Orlando), as we have 18 lanes, vs. their 22. But they're also part of Manheim which is an enormous company - over 140 auctions worldwide I think.

Fair enough. Maybe you can help me out.....

I'm in FL, I've always wondered what kind of price differential between here and new england exists. I have family up there, so I've been VERY tempted to send some of my heavy metal up there. I sold my diesel suburban to a guy in MA, and it seems to me that if the market is soft down ehre - maybe there's some money to be made sending the 4x4's up there for snowplows and such.

I'd love to be able to tell you that you'll get more up here for a truck, but the truth is trucks aren't moving anywhere. Which really isn't a stretch due to gas prices. We do see prices go up in the fall though. It's crazy how prices fluctuate across the country. For a while we had dealers flying in from California and buying up Saab convertibles, then having them shipped out there. That's probably a $1000 bill to have a car shipped out to CA from CT. But, the dealers look at the market reports from various auctions (the only true indicator of used car prices - you can throw the black book out the window) and determine that the cars are that much cheaper out here, and viseversa. They figure they can still make money even after shipping them. We see it all the time. We had a dealer come up from Texas a few years ago and buy several hundred off lease Mazdas - it was crazy.

I don't have a market report on me from my auction, but perhaps during the week we can exchange some prices if you're interested.

 

[AgentJean]

Originally posted by: CFster

Originally posted by: AgentJean
I think the auctions are a waste of time . You don't know what kind of car you are getting, there is no test drive, there is no chance to have a mechanic look the car over.
The one auction I went to people were bidding 1000 bucks or more for earily 90's cars with high miles that would not start. Just crazy.

If you want to take a risk and have money to blow sure go to an auction, but you may ending putting alot of repair money into that car you get for cheap.

I got news for you. Most of the cars that are sitting at the used car lot down the street from you came from an auction.

But in a sense, you're right - for a retail buyer. For wholesalers it's the only way to go, and it's working for us. We did 2.4 billion in sales last year. As for having the car looked over, most auctions have an arbitration policy, meaning there is a certain period of time to bring the car back for certain types of problems - unless the car is sold AS-IS.

I know that, but before we even talk numbers I have the car taken to my mechanic. If the dealer is not cool with that I take my cash some where else. I got screwed once not having the car looked over, will not happen again and I'm in the market for another car as we speak

 

[CFster]

That's fine. Then I would suggest staying away from an auction, if you don't trust their arbitration policy.

Most dealers at wholesale auctions know what they're looking at.

 

[PAB]

Originally posted by: CFster

Originally posted by: PAB

Originally posted by: CFster
I'd rather not say the name, but we're the largest independant in the country and are in New England.

We're not as big as FAAO (Orlando), as we have 18 lanes, vs. their 22. But they're also part of Manheim which is an enormous company - over 140 auctions worldwide I think.

Fair enough. Maybe you can help me out.....

I'm in FL, I've always wondered what kind of price differential between here and new england exists. I have family up there, so I've been VERY tempted to send some of my heavy metal up there. I sold my diesel suburban to a guy in MA, and it seems to me that if the market is soft down ehre - maybe there's some money to be made sending the 4x4's up there for snowplows and such.

I'd love to be able to tell you that you'll get more up here for a truck, but the truth is trucks aren't moving anywhere. Which really isn't a stretch due to gas prices. We do see prices go up in the fall though. It's crazy how prices fluctuate across the country. For a while we had dealers flying in from California and buying up Saab convertibles, then having them shipped out there. That's probably a $1000 bill to have a car shipped out to CA from CT. But, the dealers look at the market reports from various auctions (the only true indicator of used car prices - you can throw the black book out the window) and determine that the cars are that much cheaper out here, and viseversa. They figure they can still make money even after shipping them. We see it all the time. We had a dealer come up from Texas a few years ago and buy several hundred off lease Mazdas - it was crazy.

I don't have a market report on me from my auction, but perhaps during the week we can exchange some prices if you're interested.

As you know, information is power.

I'd love to swap market reports if you don't mind. PM me when you get a chance.

 

[Clocker]

how does one become a dealer?