WTB: Grown-up Car

[Jeff]

If the car is at auction, that means they don't want to keep it, which means there is something odd going on. Move on.

Well...maybe, but there are many reasons a good car ends up at auction. Most of the time its actually a matter of interest. Most of these places don't actually own there inventory outright, they finance it. So when they sit around for long periods of time the interest eats up the profit so they will send it down the road to keep the car in the black and make it a deal if just on paper. Another reason is they want a fresh lot. Many dealers will not keep a car past 60 days. 30 days they mark it down big, 60 they wholesale/auction it. Also in the case of specialty and certain new car dealers they will not keep any off brand used car or just certain brands and only to a certain model year. I bought a 2010 Wrangler Rubicon at the sale a month or so ago that had been offered for sale at 3 dealers in the same dealer group in just 2 months (Rosner?). Got it for a great deal and sold it in a week, the selling dealer was their Merc location in NOVA. So yes it can certainly mean there is something wrong, but now-a-days with the high auction prices they can make money wholesale and make it faster than waiting around for retail.

I have a 2012 Explorer I plan to try at the auction. It's a one owner, local car with higher mileage and heavy options. Retail book is $32,500+ but completely unreasonable for our area. I think I can make all the money I could expect to make on it thought the sale right now. Why wait and let it sit on the lot hoping to bank more when I can roll it on and get paid? So keep an open mind and inspect it like you would any other vehicle.