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<span class="CUTLINE" style="font-style: italic;"><b>Sam Giammalvo, owner of a used car dealership in New
Bedford, warns that, “People who think they can outsmart the dealer are blowing
smoke. He has a bag of tricks you can’t believe.”JOHN SLADEWSKI/The
Standard-Times</b></span></center><p align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica">
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<div style="text-align: center;"><big><big><span class="HEADLINE" style="font-weight: bold;">Buying a used car doesn't have to be a nightmare</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">
</span><br style="font-weight: bold;">
<span class="DROPHEAD" style="font-weight: bold;">Doing your research will help avoid a nightmare</span></big><span style="font-weight: bold;"><big>
</big><br>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="BYLINE" style="font-style: italic;">By JENNETTE BARNES, Standard-Times staff writer
</span><br>
</div>
<span class="TEXT"><br></span><p> Quick quiz: On a car lot,
what creeps up faster, the pushy salesperson or your sense of impending
doom? Whatever the answer, one thing is never in doubt. Buying a
car can be a soul-battering experience. At least with new cars, you
know what you're getting: The smell of freshly minted plastic and the
right to watch the thing depreciate as you drive away. Used is another
story. <br>
</p>
<p>"People who think they can outsmart the dealer are blowing smoke,"
says <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sam Giammalvo</span>, owner of the New Bedford used car dealership that bears his
name. "He has a bag of tricks you can't believe." Big
offenders in Mr. Giammalvo's book are the advertised trade-in payments (the
money is built into your price, even if you claim up front that you have nothing
to trade) and advertised prices that don't include a hefty down payment.
But be it a car, truck, van or SUV, buying a used vehicle
doesn't have to be a nightmare. Narrowing your search to
a few reliable models is a good idea. <br>
</p>
<p>ConsumerReports.org, the Web site of the well-known magazine,
lists "Good Bets" and "Bad Bets" based on consistent performance above or below
average over a three-year period. Some entries might
surprise you. A few inexpensive cars like the Ford Escort make the "good" list,
while the "bad" list includes pricier vehicles such as the BMW X5 V8, Jaguar
S-Type and X-Type, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class V8. Toyota
and Honda have the most models on the list of recommended vehicles — 15 for
Toyota and nine for Honda. The other makers with three or more "Good Bet" models
are Acura, Ford, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Infiniti and Lexus. <br>
</p>
<p>"Used cars are becoming more and more reliable," says Rob Gentile,
director of Consumer Reports' Auto Price Service, "so buying a used car becomes
a more attractive option." A new car depreciates 15
percent to 30 percent in the first year or two, he says. Buying a car that is
two or three years old can mean big savings, and taxes and insurance will be
lower, too. A used car labeled "certified" by the dealer
is usually a late model with low-to-average mileage and a warranty. <br>
</p>
<p>In theory, the certified car "should be a better car" than an
uncertified dealer vehicle, Mr. Gentile says. Still, he recommends having your
own mechanic check the car regardless of a dealer's assurances. Buying from a private seller typically shaves a few thousand
dollars off the price, but it's not for the faint of heart. Private sellers
don't provide a warranty, and unlike a dealer, the private seller doesn't have a
business reputation to protect. On the flip side, dealers make it their business
to get the highest price possible. In Massachusetts,
dealers are required by law to provide a warranty for vehicles that cost more
than $700 and have less than 125,000 miles on the odometer. The warranty period
depends on the mileage. <br>
</p>
<p>Jay Hiller Jr., general manager
of Hiller Chrysler Dodge in Marion, recommends getting a Carfax auto history
report on any used car you consider. The reports are available only online, at
carfax.com, not by telephone. Accidents not reported to an insurance company
will not appear on the Carfax site. A car that has been
totalled bears a salvage title, something the casual buyer should avoid. <br>
</p>
<p>The state also has a Lemon Law that gives buyers,
regardless of whether they buy from a dealer or private party, the right to
return a faulty vehicle if it fails inspection within seven days of the
purchase. For the law to apply, the problems that caused the vehicle to fail
inspection must cost more than 10 percent of the purchase price. Enforcement,
though, is a separate issue. <br>
</p>
<p>Melissa Sherman, a
spokeswoman for Attorney General Martha Coakley, declined to comment on whether
the Lemon Law is hard to enforce. But she did suggest a booklet of car-buying
tips from the Massachusetts Consumers' Coalition in Cambridge. "Car Smart" is
available free at massconsumers.org, the attorney general's local office at 105
William St., New Bedford, or by calling the coalition at (617) 349-6150.
In general, experts say the ideal used car is a one-owner
car with low mileage and a documented repair history. <br>
</p>
<p>The
Federal Trade Commission offers car-buying tips as well. First, the agency says,
evaluate the model online or in magazines. Look up the "Blue Book" value and be
prepared to negotiate with the seller. Ask for maintenance records. Test drive
the car in various conditions — hills, highways and stop-and-go traffic.
Have the car inspected by a mechanic hired by you, not
the dealer or seller. And if you buy from a dealer, check the dealer's
reputation with consumer protection officials. <br>
Finally,
the FTC urges consumers to get all promises in writing.</p>
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