🚀 go-pugleaf

John Fleming wrote:

> caravan@cadvision.com wrote in message
> <37d2f1d8.6441850@news.cadvision.com>...
> >How do you know that your odometer hasn't been altered when you buy
> >a used car?  The answer is, in Alberta, and probably in most
> >provinces except for Ontario, you don't!
> >
> >Recently I read a book called "Lemon-Aid" by a Canadian author named
> >Phil Edmonston.  (He's written at least a couple.)  If you haven't
> >read his book, and you want an eye-opener, get it!
> >It sells in paperback at the Superstore for about $15.
>
> At least a couple?  Lemon-Aid has been on the store shelves since at
> least the 1970's.  It is, by the way, an excellent resource.  I've
> used it when buying my cars, even when they are new cars (Lemon-Aid
> will note problems with prior years for a make and model that may or
> may not be fixed yet.).
>

<snip>

> Rember, when buying used you are buying "as is."  It doesn't hurt to
> get as much information as possible about the vehicle before you buy.
>
> --
>
> John Fleming
> Edmonton, Alberta
>
> email:     johnfgh@nce.ab.ca (nce should be ecn)
> web pages: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/6070
>            http://www.ecn.ab.ca/~johnf
>
> - Only if you have been in the deepest valley can you
>   ever know how  magnificent it is to be on the highest
>   mountain.
>
>                                    R.M.Nixon  1913-1994
>
> This message may be freely copied, distributed, or
> otherwise be retransmitted.


Lemon-Aid is indeed an excellent reference for anyone buying a vehicle,
and the price of the book will be repaid several hundred-fold if it helps
you to avoid a bad purchase.

As for the release of information on used vehicles, I think a great deal
may depend on the ethics of the dealer you purchase from.  I recently
traded in my car at the local Toyota dealership.  As part of the process,
the dealer asked me if I would be willing to provide him with my
maintenance records, and sign a release permitting potential buyers to
review those records.  A couple of weeks later the owner of the dealership
called to ask if I would be willing to have a telephone conversation with
someone who was interested in buying the car.

Obviously, this dealer cares about his customers enough to understand a
used-car buyer's concerns, and do everything he can to deal with them.
Furthermore, the treatment that I received at his dealership and the
efforts that he made to get me the vehicle I wanted (in terms of a
somewhat unusual options combination) were such that I was more than
willing to return the favour by speaking to his prospective used-car
buyer.

Legally, of course, a dealer would not be able to release previous-owner
info without that owner's permission.  Getting a signed release from the
previous owner can let the buyer have the information s/he needs without
breaking the law.  A dealer who is truly committed to customer service and
satisfaction will make the effort.  If you meet a dealer who isn't that
committed, find one who is.  It may mean some inconvenience today, but in
the long run, you're likely to save yourself a lot of grief.

That's my two cents worth (1.32 cents U.S. equivalent).

Roger Wiertz
Gander, Newfoundland

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