When Rebecca Riehl wanted to buy a car on a tight budget, she turned to Craigslist.
She was looking for a convertible and, after a lot of searching, she found exactly what she thought she wanted from a dealer – a 2001 Chrysler Sebring for $4,900.
The dealer was enthusiastic about the car and “he said that the car was in immaculate condition,” according to Riehl.
She checked it out on Carfax and paid the dealer $4,900. Then, she took it to her own mechanic to have it checked out. He found a few problems, which the dealer agreed to fix for her.
But the car continued to act up.
“I got the car back and then the car wouldn’t start,” she said.
Her mechanic found faulty belts, tires and brakes. And then, Riehl discovered the car needed a new transmission.
She took it to Tri-City Auto, where owner Dave Riccio wasn’t surprised to hear her story.
“On a regular basis, maybe once a week, we get someone in our shop and I tell them they need a transmission and they tell me, ‘I just bought the vehicle,’” he said.
He says he has never seen so many people coming in with newly-purchased cars that need thousands of dollars in repairs, he said.
With the economy stalled and so many people with bad credit, Riccio said more and more people are turning to Craigslist or small dealers to buy a car.
Plus, it’s an easy way for sellers to make a quick buck.
“You can literally go buy a car right now on Craigslist for $500 or $1000, you can do a minor repair to it, wash it up and then go sell it,” Riccio said.
It’s called car flipping – and it can cost you.
“And you don't necessarily have to fix it right,” he said. “You just have to fix it enough to pass it off on the next guy.”
There are some things you can do to make sure you don’t get burned in a bad deal.
Riccio said first, check Carfax. But, remember, it’s not a catch-all.
It’s also important to take any car you’re thinking about buying to your own mechanic before you buy it, Riccio said. And be sure to pay them for a full inspection, he said, to be sure the vehicle has been thoroughly checked.
Riccio also recommended taking the car on a long test drive and warned to never buy anything sight unseen.
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