Is buying from a car broker a good idea?

Question

Hi I'm planning on buying a used 2001 Honda civic from a car broker. The only thing I'm wary about is because this car broker just bought the car from an auction house so he doesn't have the title on him and its with the auction house. He is waiting for me to pay for the car first, and i said in cash(due to him giving me a better deal) and he will then pay off the car? and then recieve the title and then transfer the title over to me at the DMV included with all the other fees. I'm getting a really good deal on this car and don't want to pass it up due to paranoia of getting gipped. The car brokers office does look kinda shady because its basically an apartment building.... he did have the car registered and will give me a temporary registration to put on my window like i just bought it from a dealer. I don't want to get cheated out of 6000 dollars because he took my money and ran off. So what can i do so i will not get cheated? what documents can he show/give to me or sign?

Answer 1

Man,

      I know that you would really like to have this car and may have already dreamed of driving it, but I will tell you run the other way. This guy that calls himself a Auto Broker is not a dealer as such he wants to sell you a car that you can not have checked out by your mechanic, he wants you to pay the way he just wants to collect money and not have to worry about the car after you buy it from him. He has not car lot, he has not customers. When there is something wrong with the car and there will be you will not be able to take it to him to have it fixed. Now for the really bad news the car that he wants to sell you is from a Auction house. You should be asking WHY! Cars are sold from auctions because there is usually something wrong with them and when you see a real Nice car come from the auction there is a very good chance that this car was involved in a flood. Unless you really know this so called Broker as a personal friend for many years not just met a few weeks ago run the other way you are about to get scre*** and he won't care and then he will do this to aother person. The other thing is he might just take your money and never deliver the car. I have been in your position and was messed over it cost me $2100, learn from what I just said, I know that this isn't the answer that you wanted and that there might be others to disagree with my answer, I have been in the car business for a number of years and I would not let any one in my family buy this car.

     The last of your question asks what can he do to make you feel easy about this deal two things a a clear title and a current carfax report and a history of where the car has been make sure that the history does not show any flood areas and the last thing that he can let you do is have it checked be a mechanic. Do not let him not show or talk you out of any of what I have suggested. MECHANIC check, CARFAX, CLEAR TITLE, remember that there are a lot of good deals around not just some shadey dude, good luck