Advice on buying a used car at dealership

[White Comet]

Hi all,

I'm looking to purchase a used vehicle in a dealership soon. Now I don't know if there are other similar threads since I couldn't find them when I searched, so if there's already a thread, please kindly link it here.

Well, as my title says, I'm looking to purchase a used vehicle in a dealership. I'm not buying from any generic used car dealership, but I'm going back to Honda/Acura dealerships. I'm specifically looking at the TL in Toronto Honda at the moment (would also help for other dealerships if this one doesn't work out) so I'm wondering if anyone would have any tips on buying from dealerships?

Stuff like:

do you call or e-mail about pricing and relation information regarding the car before going in?
timing on negotiating a trade-in?
any specific good salesman in Toronto Honda?
i know for generic used car dealerships, you'd get the car inspected by our own mechanics, but is there a need for this for Acura/Honda dealerships?
usually how much haggle room you get buying a used car? (I looked it up in VMR Canada website, and the listing price is still 3-4k above the Retail price)
any concerns if the car was originally from elsewhere in Canada? (like Atlantic or Western Canada?)
any other things that i should look out for/missing?


Thanks in advance

[synaptech]

UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA... seriously. I bought a "clean" used vehicle in 2006 from a big dealer that "does not sell vehicles that have been in an accident". I thought I did my homework -- I bought a carfax, I asked all the questions, no accident. Well guess what came up when I tried to trade the vehicle in tonight? That's right, it's been in an accident (two accidents actually) and now it's value has tanked... Carfax shows nothing.

So I called the old dealer and asked about buying a used truck. Then I asked about vehicle history concerns and they "do not sell vehicles that have been in an accident"... so now we have something to discuss. Bottom line, deal with a dealer that is a member and ask to see the UCDA report.

[White Comet]

UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA UCDA... seriously. I bought a "clean" used vehicle in 2006 from a big dealer that "does not sell vehicles that have been in an accident". I thought I did my homework -- I bought a carfax, I asked all the questions, no accident. Well guess what came up when I tried to trade the vehicle in tonight? That's right, it's been in an accident (two accidents actually) and now it's value has tanked... Carfax shows nothing.

So I called the old dealer and asked about buying a used truck. Then I asked about vehicle history concerns and they "do not sell vehicles that have been in an accident"... so now we have something to discuss. Bottom line, deal with a dealer that is a member and ask to see the UCDA report.
Ouch. That seriously sucks. The thing that everyone's worried about is buying a supposedly accident free car then it turns out that it has been in an accident.

So I tried going onto the UCDA website and looking for dealership members, funny thing is that every dealership name I put in it appears in their search engine. So does it mean all of them are part of UCDA? :confused:

And what exactly is the benefit if I buy from a UCDA member dealership? Is there some kind of report or something? :confused:

[Billa-786]

Ouch. That seriously sucks. The thing that everyone's worried about is buying a supposedly accident free car then it turns out that it has been in an accident.

So I tried going onto the UCDA website and looking for dealership members, funny thing is that every dealership name I put in it appears in their search engine. So does it mean all of them are part of UCDA? :confused:

And what exactly is the benefit if I buy from a UCDA member dealership? Is there some kind of report or something? :confused:

UCDA stands for "usless car dealers association".......

their reports are pure garbage. recently I visited a dealership for a car I was interested in. The usual lowlife salesman with his pressure tactics welcomed me. Even before I was allowed to test drive the car, we were in his office discussing price. I made it clear I did not want an accident car. He assured me and showed the UCDA report showing a clean car and started bragging how I can rest assured buying from UCDA member. I said I wanted carfax and carproof. For Carfax he said sure, and went out to to his boss and came back saying the net was down. yet he did not want me to leave without putting a deposit ( because someone had called him and said he was coming the following day early in the morning to buy the very same car :rolleyes: )

Long story short....went home...checked carfax....behold..several thousands worth of accident damage....carproof revealed even more.

Point being...forget the UCDA report....get your own carfax and especially carproof. do your research and see what the car you are interested in is going for in the market. Then put in an offer taking into account mileage,model,condition....and your overall desire for certain features....like colour,sunroof, spoiler...etc.etc

[synaptech]

UCDA keeps, or has access to, a car history database. The UCDA dealer has all this information about the vehicle and so you can ask to see it. Should you still be sold a vehilce that's been in an accident and the dealer won't compensate, then UCDA will mediate.

[synaptech]

UCDA stands for "usless car dealers association".......

their reports are pure garbage. recently I visited a dealership for a car I was interested in. The usual lowlife salesman with his pressure tactics welcomed me. Even before I was allowed to test drive the car, we were in his office discussing price. I made it clear I did not want an accident car. He assured me and showed the UCDA report showing a clean car and started bragging how I can rest assured buying from UCDA member. I said I wanted carfax and carproof. For Carfax he said sure, and went out to to his boss and came back saying the net was down. yet he did not want me to leave without putting a deposit ( because someone had called him and said he was coming the following day early in the morning to buy the very same car :rolleyes: )

Long story short....went home...checked carfax....behold..several thousands worth of accident damage....carproof revealed even more.

Point being...forget the UCDA report....get your own carfax and especially carproof. do your research and see what the car you are interested in is going for in the market. Then put in an offer taking into account mileage,model,condition....and your overall desire for certain features....like colour,sunroof, spoiler...etc.etc

I agree with CarProof, but my carfax did not show any accidents. The CarProof showed both acidents... same as UCDA report.

[Billa-786]

I agree with CarProof, but my carfax did not show any accidents. The CarProof showed both acidents... same as UCDA report.

Not uncommon....when i was researching for my used car...i came across several cars with damage reported only on carproof and not carfax.

Even the car I ended up buying had a clear ucda/carfax....but carproof showed insurance repair of under $400 during its 1st year on the road.

[Wolfskin]

That's why I go for a brand new car, and I drive it for a long time. I just can't wrestle with those liars. I don't trust anybody, cause everything is fraud.

[PMREdmonton]

Get a carproof on any vehicle you are about to put an offer on - it is expensive and you only get one for $40 or so. Sometimes the dealer may give it to you.

Get an independent mechanical inspection after you have put down a fully refundable deposit.

Check for appropriate price range using sources like autotrader.ca or vmrcanada.com.

You may be better off just buying from a private seller. That way you can size up the seller, you may be able to see actual service records, it will usually cost less, there are less taxes (no GST in Alberta, anyways).