Flynrider
Phoenix,#2Consumer Comment
Fri, December 21, 2012
If you're going to buy a used car (or two) "as is", there is one step you cannot skip. You have to take it to an independent mechanic to have it checked out BEFORE you buy it. A simple one hour inspection (usually less) will tell you whether or not you are buying a piece of junk.
The only way that car salesman can pawn off lemons is to have buyers that are willing to buy lemons. When you sign the "as is" paper during purchase, you're agreeing that any mechanical issues after the sale are your responsibility. If you do this without knowing the true condition of the vehicle, you're just rolling the dice with your money.
This goes on at used car lots everyday and is not unique to any particular car dealer. It's the way the industry operates. That is why the FTC mandated the buyer's guide noting the "as is" sale.