While I dont know them off the top of my head and certainly wont speak ill of another dealer, I will give you the standard advice I give my friends, family, and clients.
Some questions you should ask...
1) How long has the dealer been in business, and how long at their location? While there are no guarantees, a dealer with a proven track record and a thick book of satisfied clients to offer you as a reference certainly would help me be at ease.
2) How does the dealership look? This one goes both ways... if you go to Brian Jessel BMW the beautiful showroom certainly gives one some confidence, however, you also need to pay for that showroom! Ultimately, I believe a dealership's appearance likely reflects their attitude towards their cars - if their dealership isnt clean, well maintained, etc then what are the chances their cars are?
3) How does the car look? Just like the question before it... while a car can certainly be detailed and polished, the fact remains that a car that has dents, cigarette burns, interior pieces broken, etc likely didnt take more care of the drivetrain than they did the interior... do the math! First impressions are important and while they certainly do not tell the whole story, they are a good first place to look.
4) Details? If you are looking at a Canadian car, the dealer should have an ICBC report, a lien search, and possibly an aircare history depending on the age of the vehicle. If a US vehicle, a Carfax or Carproof report and possibly a BC Out of Province inspection report is all that will really show any information.
Any reputable dealership shouldnt have a problem with you having somebody like BCAA come do an on-site inspection if you want further peace of mind.
Good luck!
-Mark
__________________ I'm old now - boring street cars and sweet race cars. |