MYTH: I’ll buy a carfax or other online report, this will tell me everything I need to know.

FACT: If we were to rank these in order of importance (which we aren’t doing because they are all more or less equally important!), we would have to list this one near the top. These reports are contingent on various factors and on numerous agencies that provide this information; and even when the data is provided, the public (that means you) may not have access to it until after you’ve purchased the automobile. In some cases, the information may never show up in an online history search. Obtaining an online history search is an important step; it should be considered as just that… a step in the process.

MYTH: I’ll have my mechanic check the car over; that should eliminate potential problems.

FACT: Obviously, an important step. However, the person checking the car may not be familiar with everything to look for. For example, he/she may not know how to find hidden paint or body repairs or to spot flood damage indicators. It’s also unlikely that he or she will do a proper test drive (See Below), and they certainly won’t research history records.

MYTH: My sales person is taking me for a test drive, I don’t need to drive it any more than that.

FACT: A “spin around the block” or a quick ride up the highway is not enough time and/or miles to determine potential problems. A proper road test can be somewhat of a lengthy process, in itself. It includes both hot and cold driving for a minimum of 25 miles over various road surfaces.

MYTH: I’m buying a certified pre-owned car; I don’t need to do anything else.

Fact: While you do have some advantages with a CPO vehicle, the procedures and qualifications these cars go t hrough leave a lot of room for mistakes. Even worse, a dishonest dealer can classify a car as certified even though it didn't pass the guidelines. Think it doesn't happen? Consider this tru story: A high line luxury dealer sold numerous cars as "certified" when in fact they didn't even have th eir inspections performed. When the Manufacturer caught them, the dealers were forced to contact their customers and to recondition the cars to bring them up to standards. They were given a slap on the wrist and are still selling certified automobiles today. (CONTINUE...)