Buying from a private owner...but is the price TOO cheap?

Question

I'm looking to buy my first car and i found a 2005 Honda Accord with only 35,000 miles on it, but it only cost $6,000.

I asked the owner why it was so inexpensive, and she said it was because she is in the army and wont be around to drive it.

But even still, Honda's resale value is very good and if she wanted to get rid of it, she could have sold it to a dealership for at least double the price she's selling it for now.

It doesn't seem like she has anything to hide because she gave me the VIN number and offered to hire a broker as well.

Is this an insanely incredible deal or is there something wrong?

Answer 1

Are you physically able to inspect the car now?  Or are you "talking" to her via email?

>> she is in the army and wont be around to drive it.

That is the excuse written in many craigslist car sales scam.

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Like you said, she could just as easily sell it to a dealer for much more money. Sounds like a scam.

good luck...

P.S.   VIN number checks means nothing if the car is a craigslist scam.  I could just as easily walk down my street copy the VIN number from cars parked here.  And it would ALL show up as clean.  If you sent the money FIRST then you would never see the car nor the money again.

P.P.S.  All scams have something in common - they pray upon the "mark's" greed - to get something for nothing (or very little).

Answer 2

this is fraud. im assuming she told u this through email? then yes its definitely fraud. very common. what shes gonna try and do is make u use an escrow service to pay for the car, but that escrow service she mentions will be fake! you'll end up giving 6000 and it will all be gone! major fraud rite there

Answer 3

RED FLAG i have worked for a dealership for a long time and dealerships don't just buy cars from the public either they get them by trade in or actions in ten years i have never seen a car dealership just up and buy a car from the public so if they tell you that then that's a lie go look at it and have it inspected buy a mechanic that you trust it might be true but don't hold your breath i agree with the others get the history report

Answer 4

Please, listen to everyone here (especially Satanic Mechanic and other TC's). This is a scam and it has been posted hundreds of times.

Please do not take what a stranger tells you over email as face value. I know you want to believe them (that they are military and leaving), but it is NOT true. It scares me that you replied back in your edit with "the only reason I'm talking to her through email is because..." This is very common. You will ask to speak to them over the phone, and they will give you EVERY excuse to keep it on email. All they want is your info and for you to take that one extra step and send them the bank transfer of funds. Once you do that, they pull the cash out, close that particular account, and move on. Since they are overseas, it is nearly impossible to trace, and you CANNOT get your money back. You can report it to whomever you wish, but the fact remains that they see these scams daily and cannot keep up with the amount of reported ones to trace down. So, money's gone, you're out $6000. End of story.

So, please, understand this:

1) This person is an overseas scammer.

2) They are NOT military and are only using that to prey upon your emotion.

3) The car exists, but it does not belong to them. They will pull pics and VINs from dealer websites or other want ad sites. So, when you pull the VIN, it looks legit, but it is NOT their car to sell.

4) No matter what story they give you, DO NOT reply back to them.

Cut off all communication. Now.

You're about to fall for one of the biggest scams going right now. Not to be harsh, but the further you keep going in your communications with them, the greater chance you have of losing $6000.

Answer 5

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  Do a vehicle history check, a title check,  and take it to a qualified mechanic before you buy.  

Answer 6

The same thing happened to me when they were selling me a Nissan Maxima 04 for $3000...  Its totally fake... they just want ur money!!!!!!!!!!! DONT BUY ANYTHING FROM THAT PERSON!!!!!!!!!!  

Answer 7

Sounds too good to be true ... I would inspect it, or get someone who is knowledgable to do it for you.

The Army thing could be true. I DID sell a car due to entering the military - I wouldn't be able to drive it for nearly 8 months due to training, and was ready to purchase something new when I made it to my first duty station. Remember too, a lot of young people entering the military are secretly hoping to be posted at a "vacation" base, like Hawaii - so the car would be not driven for even a longer period of time. Also remember not all people entering the service have anywhere to store all their stuff (car included) when going in. Training takes months, and often training dates are only weeks after the day someone enlists, so she might be selling cheap due to the need to sell fast.

Also, dealers and wholesalers in some areas expect to pay only about 40-50% of a vehicles actual value - especially if it is not in high demand, or if they already have several in their inventory (which is highly likely with a car as common/popular as the accord).

It COULD be legit - but I would be very wary of anything that seems too good to be true. Ask if you can bring the car into a service station YOU trust and pay them to do a once over on the car. If the seller says no - you know there is something stinky going on.

EDIT --- reading what you said again - don't bother with this car. People who are out of the country in training do not sell their cars through email. Who is showing you the car? If she was selling and is already out of the country, someone in her family or a friend would probably be selling it for her. This sounds very fishy. Best to walk away.

Answer 8

I agree with everyone expect redbird and its a scam.Car lots don't really  buy cars like that.I think you can find a better deal then that.Check websites that sells cars and see if its on there and if not then it most likely a scam.

Answer 9

I have seen this many times before among  ppl who are in the service. Best way to determine if you're getting a good deal is to get the car thoroughly checked by a trusted mechanic (though at that mileage, in my experience, they need little, if anything beyond brakes/ tires). Hondas are indeed very reliable cars.. and  while the saying goes not to look a gift horse in the mouth, best to get some piece of mind before you buy..Chances are you're getting an awesome buy, and making one soldier very happy..

Answer 10

It's probably a scam. But if you have the slightest doubt that it might be legit...Get her to send you an email from her military email account. It should have .mil as the VERY LAST portion of the email address. Typically it's @(squadron).(branch).mil or @(military base).(branch).mil

eg.

@uscg.mil

@iraq.centcom.mil

@hmx-1.usmc.mil

If it doesn't, she's definitely NOT in the military. And definitely DON'T buy the line of, "They didn't give me an email address."

Your best bet is to find a friend/family member who is in the military to check around the base they're stationed at. I paid $5000 for a 2007 Honda Accord with 500 miles on it because the guy was deploying and didn't need the car and wanted the cash. You can get amazing deals because an 20 year old doesn't know that he doesn't need a brand new car when he might be out of the country for several years at a time.  

Answer 11

THIS IS A HUGE SCAM - stop corresponding - this will never happen

Let me see here

She is out of the country, but needs to sell the car right away.  You will deposit the money with an escrow service (fake) and she will ship the car.  Heck, she'll even pay for shipping right?  Once it gets there, you will have 5 days to inspect it.  If you are happy, notify the "escrow service" and they release the funds to her.  If not, refuse the car and get all your money back.  She is so sure you will like it, she is willing to pay for return shipping if you refuse the car.

Its a scam - its been here a hundred times.  Avoid it and buy a car you can see, feel, drive and inspect first.  

here is someone who got taken in - do not put yourself in that position

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Here is another

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 12

That's a scam.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many craigslist scams sound just like that.

Answer 13

I would run as fast as possible from this scam. They come up with a sob story of why they don't want to keep the car and appeal to basic greed to steal your money. She has no car (if it is a she). Break off contact immediately. ADDED---- she /he may or may not be out of the country. They use an escrow service to insure you will lose your money quickly. This scam has been pulled over and over on Craigslist, ebay and numerous other internet sites.