Stolen Info - Car Buyers Beware

I have just been lurking on another site and in between the slagging and inane postings found this little gem that I immediately stole for our consumption........

If you're looking to buy a car from a car fair or privately, be careful that there is no finance owing on the car as then you will then become liable for that debt.
The number to call to check on the car status is 0800-909777 and quite a bit of other useful info can be found at

www.police.govt.nz/safety/car.crime.php

Part 2

Anyone out there bought a car from the Ellerslie car fair in Auckland?
I understand its quite a good place with mechanics on hand to check out car etc.
:cheers

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Originally Posted by Pakeha Boy

If you're looking to buy a car from a car fair or privately, be careful that there is no finance owing on the car as then you will then become liable for that debt.

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Not quite. The debt remains with the person who took it out. However, if you buy a car that still has finance owing on it, and the seller doesn't pay it off after selling you the car, then the finance company will repossess the car and you will lose the money you paid for it.

If this happened you can sometimes pay the debt yourself, which will mean you can keep the car - of course, you will be paying for it twice then!

A few weeks after we arrived we received a welcome pack from Immigration which contained, amongst others, a pamphlet on buying a second hand car - generally the many pitfalls! Reading that made it quite clear in our minds that we would not buy a second hand car here from a car fair or private buyer. We shopped around the dealerships on the North Shore (just about every one you can think of in the one area) and got one there.
Another thing to think about is whether having an import model bothers you. It doesn't us but you won't necessarily get a user handbook (ASK!) and your radio may only be able to pick up a few stations here.

we got a manual with our import model.....but its written in Japanese. :roll:

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Originally Posted by Wannaway

and your radio may only be able to pick up a few stations here.

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Any decent dealer should put a band expander in the stereo for you which will get round the issue. It is another case of don't ask and you won't get though.

When buying a car through a dealer - the safest way of buying one - make sure it is a licensed dealership, ie, it has the letters LMVD after its name. If it's also a member of the Motor Trades Association, that's even better. Look out for the MTA sign when looking for repair shops too, whether it be panelbeating, mechanical, or something similar, as that gives them credibility and higher standards to live up to.

If you're buying an imported car, look for the IMVDA sign, as that means the dealership belongs to the imported motor vehicle dealers association. Some dealerships may belong to both.

This link may also be useful, as it is the government's Consumer Affairs department.

Car auctions are another way of buying a car, although the risks are a bit higher. Turners Car Auction are the most well known and respected, and have technical people on hand that will give you an independant check of any car you may want to buy - for a fee, of course.

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we got a manual with our import model.....but its written in Japanese.

Oh Veronica - that's classic !!!!!!!!
:laugh
Diny

Same here - my car manual is also in Japanese. Any Japanese people out there who can translate for us :laugh

Sandra

Is that why there are so many Automatics!
:mrgreen:
John