Should I buy cars from these two places?

Submitted by [deleted] t3_xzq2lw in WorcesterMA

I live in Cambridge MA, and I saw two dealerships in Worcester which gave very low prices (I saw on Google Maps, and in 2019, some of the cars are less than 2000 dollars, but for quite decent looking cars, with some of them less than 10-15 years old).

Affordable Auto Exchange in 71` May St Worcester MA

https://www.rt12automotive.com/

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November 2016, it shows 2010 Honda Accord for only 5450 dollars (that meant the car lost 3/4 of its value in 7 years)

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September 2017, same pattern, a lot of too good to be true deals with 2011 Chevy Equinox for only $4450 and 2008 Honda Accord for only $3950

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November 2018, $1650 Honda Fit (2007-2013)

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September 2019, $1690 for Acura MDX (2001-2006), $950 for Chevy Silverado

Should I trust these two dealerships for ultra affordable vehicles? Yesterday, I went to Auburn Route 12 Automotive and saw a 2009 Pontiac G6 for only $3300, whilst two weeks ago, I went to Worcester Auto Exchange and saw a nice looking Mazda for under $4000, which got me thinking if these are good or not?

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apple-masher t1_irnrwwz wrote

you'll need to do a Carfax or something similar for any car you buy that cheaply.

A lot of the too-good-to-be-true cars around here have salvage titles, which means they were in a collision, or maybe a flood, and then repaired. Those cars are risky, because they tend to have invisible damage that doesn't become a problem until later. hairline cracks in the frame, electrical problems, etc...Some dishonest car flippers will just do the minimum repair work to make it look good and get the engine running.

I've seen a lot of those for sale around here lately, both at dealerships, and on facebook marketplace. I saw one that looked like a great deal, until I found out it had been totaled 3 times! by 3 different owners!

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[deleted] OP t1_irns8p3 wrote

Wow!! The odd thing is since I live in Cambridge, I don't get to see many dealerships like this, and even in Dorchester (one of the less affluent neighbourhoods in Boston), I wasn't able to find cars with these prices.

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albalfa t1_irnu0wn wrote

They're not giving anything away here 40 miles to your West. Hope you find your car at your price, but Spag (and Duddie) died a long time ago...

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New-Vegetable-1274 t1_iroxmrr wrote

Wow, Spag and Duddie, I thought I was the only old timer on Worc Reddit. Found a packed away Spag's canvas tote in a closet and got all teared up. I had family that worked there and worked there to the bitter end. The pay was not much better than anywhere else but he took care of his employees, there are so many stories of his generosity and many kindnesses.

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albalfa t1_irpslfj wrote

> I thought I was the only old timer on Worc Reddit

We are kindreds!

> Found a packed away Spag's canvas tote in a closet and got all teared up

A couple years ago in a thread here I posted some pics of a couple things from Spags I still had kicking around the garage and basement. Was pretty cool! Then someone asked if I was a hoarder 🤣 because of a drill bit and some zip ties.

I still remember the wear of the concrete floor just inside the (one-way) entrance door opposite the garden center. The smell as you entered the store and turned right up the "ramp" (where all the lighting was displayed) or went straight-ish down towards the toys, being in line in your car driving through the garden shop area to get loaded up with the fertilizer you just bought, the sound of the woman on the PA system calling out for "Bucky, Bucky to Door 10 please. Bucky... Door 10."

Christ it sounds like I'm 80 years old!

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New-Vegetable-1274 t1_irs1ijs wrote

I haven't lived in Worcester in decades but still have a soft spot for it, it made me who I am. I'm an old main south kid. One of the things that startled me about entering the "golden years" is the way people, places and things disappear like they never existed. The Spag's legend is all that's left and in another generation it too will disappear. Still the Spag's unique retail blueprint should be archived in the annals of enterprise.

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[deleted] OP t1_irnuk5v wrote

Who is Spag and Duddie? When I went to Worcester to meet the mothers side of my family (my mother, who still lives in Vietnam, has two older sisters and two brothers in law in the Worcester area), I saw the prices at Affordable Auto Exchange being much cheaper than the competition, so that is why I am here to ask.

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albalfa t1_irnuy5d wrote

Sorry-It was an obscure reference to getting deals in Worcester. I hope my tone didn’t come across wrong, I wasn’t trying to be nasty—only lamenting that it’s so hard to get a good deal on a car right now.

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[deleted] OP t1_irnwav0 wrote

Ok. Since I don't live in Worcester, I don't know any of the terms.

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NativeMasshole t1_irnnxi6 wrote

You know what they say about things that are too good to be true, right? There's two possibilities in my mind for what's going on there. First is that dealers will sometimes list low prices to lure you in, but then refuse to sell you that specific vehicle and offer something "comparable." Other possibility is that those cars have had some kind of severe damage. It's worth the money to run a Carfax on them. General advice is: don't trust any used car dealers.

Edit: Also, don't buy a Pontiac. The later years especially are crap and they don't make parts for them anymore.

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[deleted] OP t1_irnp676 wrote

My 85 year old uncle (my aunt's husband, aka. uncle by marriage) used to own a 1994 Pontiac Grand AM (he bought it used in 2000) and he used to live in Worcester, but then, his children brought it to the junkyard even though he took 'good care of it' and it is in nice condition in 2008, the year he moved to North Carolina. Now since he is ageing, he is back in Worcester, but this time, he lives in Webster MA. I didn't get to see the Pontiac Grand AM that much simply because I wasn't in the US yet. I was in Vietnam then I moved to Russia to study (I did travel to the US in 2008 at age 7, so I got to see the Grand AM for one last time), but I didn't come to the US until 2012 (I moved to Belmont MA in 2012 by the way).

I might be watching out for severe damage on cars. I think I might be using these as sort of project cars since I am thinking of buying the new C Class in a number of months. I am also curious if you know of Affordable Auto Exchange?

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yennijb t1_irns7m9 wrote

I'm not familiar with any particular places for used cars here, but going based on prices from pre-pandemic, hell pre 2021, is pointless and a waste of your time. Used car prices have skyrocketed due to shortages, and with Hurricane Ian, there's even more of a shortage. Your best bet is calling up places or looking them up online to see what they have right now rather than driving around hoping for a cheap clunker.

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[deleted] OP t1_irnt6i3 wrote

I do know these prices are in 2016-9. Two weeks ago, I saw some very cheap prices at this same location. Also, some pictures from 2 months ago (July or August 2022) saw prices under 3000 as well, but I know nothing about these cars. In 2021, a car at Affordable Auto Exchange came in for 2180.

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MassholeThings t1_irr69z1 wrote

I’ve been in the auto industry for just about 15 years now. I’ve worked on cars, sold parts and services on cars, and detailed cars.

My general rule of thumb, after dealing with several hundred used car “buy here pay here” types, is to just AVOID THEM COMPLETELY. They almost never use factory parts, usually cheap aftermarket or used parts, they employ hack job mechanics, and they usually have sketchy financing practices.

I’m not totally advocated for a franchised dealer, as there are horror stories there too, but having been on both sides of the transaction usually the dealer will treat you better, as their reputation is their biggest asset. That, and they’d rather use their own factory parts so every department in the dealership makes money.

A few of the non franchise dealers I can honestly recommend are Linders in Worcester, Harbro I’m Whitinsville and Uxbridge Auto. Always get a carfax, and have it inspected by an independent mechanic. Check for uneven gaps in the body panels, mismatched paint or overspray paint.

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Chefitutide t1_irnvd5s wrote

Go to linders. Far and away better than any car dealer I've used. 20 years. Only ever bought from them.

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[deleted] OP t1_irnwk86 wrote

Wow!! I found out Linders is in Granite St, which is kind of an easy access to i90.

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Chefitutide t1_irnxf2n wrote

Very easy going. Laid back. The prices they list are it. No haggling. Their stock changes constantly so if your looking for something specific, keep checking back.

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t_11 t1_irnzmfv wrote

The affordable auto exchange is guaranteed to sell you shit cars. However you can bring it back if you don’t like it

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[deleted] OP t1_irnzvnn wrote

Wow! Are they all in bad condition and salvaged titles? Plus, I am curious if they refund if you give it back?

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t_11 t1_irnzztd wrote

He’ll be glad to exchange if needed under lemon law. That’s his business model and it works for his clients

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43yedg t1_ironqv3 wrote

Got my first car from here almost 5 years ago now with 150k miles on it and i expected it to last for 1 year max. Still have it today with 250k miles on it. I got the car superrrr cheap and i’m surprised it lasted this long. It’s probably just luck it lasted but I just wanted to share my experience with them

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[deleted] OP t1_irozqid wrote

Wow!! That is such a good experience that you had. What car was it?

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43yedg t1_irr83v8 wrote

hyundai elantra

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[deleted] OP t1_irs2ij4 wrote

Wow!! How old was it when you bought it because older Hyundais (pre-2010) were not so reliable.

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43yedg t1_irs65gh wrote

it’s actually a 2010

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[deleted] OP t1_irs6m6d wrote

Wow!! That is so lucky! If I were to buy a car from there, I am only planning to use it for several months until I toss it to the trade in and trade it in for a nicer and newer car at the dealership.

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New-Vegetable-1274 t1_irow75z wrote

Let the buyer beware, cheap cars are cheap for a reason. Small dealers generally buy cars at auction or a wholesaler. These are often problem cars that the dealers slap a band aid on the problem, wash and detail the car and put it on the lot. The large dealerships generally deal in trade ins and lease returns that are also a roll of the dice but to a lesser extent and some dealerships will offer a three day no questions asked return. The large dealership also knows that if they treat you right with a used car you're more likely to buy from them if you buy brand new. Cheap cars are buying someone else's problems and unless you're a mechanic I'd avoid them.

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krejcii t1_irowo2k wrote

If it’s too good to be true then assume that.. unless you have money to burn don’t take the risk. I mean you’re on Reddit asking about a car dealerships, you’re already reaching. Don’t do it if you don’t feel like it’s right. Trust your gut.

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420blazeit69nubz t1_irpd0tf wrote

If you’re not buying very soon then be careful of flood cars from Ian.

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[deleted] OP t1_irpfbmk wrote

Ok, I will watch out! Mississippi has the highest proportion of washed title cars because of past hurricanes.

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420blazeit69nubz t1_irpgq63 wrote

Someone else mentioned it and I agree it’s worth doing CarFax especially after a major hurricane besides the normal reasons

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[deleted] OP t1_irpi0az wrote

Wow!! Ironically, I moved to Boston from another country 3 months before Sandy, and around the New York City area, there are a lot of title washed cars due to it.

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CoolAbdul t1_irrbhpo wrote

Buy from Paul at DT Automotive in Auburn.

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Itchy_Rock_726 t1_irrrxjh wrote

I've never heard anyone give Linders a bad review regarding their car sales. Seriously. I'm almost 50 years old so there is some real history behind my comment. They won't be the cheapest. Solid used cars aren't cheap of course.

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