Comment of the Month
We’re big and active fans of Quora. Like any site in the InterTubes there’s good and bad, but there’s a lot of good to be found on Quora if you look. Our Comment this month is actually a short conversation with JoshAllen17, who started it off by asking…
Is buying an older car with low miles (20 years) a bad idea, and what should I look for?
Answer by Tom Dwyer Automotive Services,
“Probably, but not necessarily, a bad idea. It’s true that miles are more important than years when it comes to cars, but years count too. Soft parts like belts and hoses break down, and fluids like oil and coolant do too. If someone has been keeping up on these things, then great! But if they’ve been neglected then they’ll be potential expenses to consider. Plus, parts on older vehicles can be expensive and hard to find. Manufacturers are required to make parts for 8 years but beyond that they’re only available from after-market companies or junk yards. It’s even worse if the vehicle you’re considering comes from a company that doesn’t exist anymore (like Saturn). At our shop, we don’t take on NEW clients with 15-years-old-or-older vehicles because they are so rarely in the clients’ interest to make reliable. Of course there are folks who obsessively care for their cars but they aren’t the rule, and a similar rule applies to low-mile-old-cars… you may find a good one, but the odds are against you.”
“Thanks for your reply I really appreciate it. It’s a 2000 ford mustang gt it has 44,000 miles on it. The paint on it looks immaculate and the car looks like It has been cared for. The seller has owned it for the last four years and told me he put about 4500 miles a year on it and stored it in the winter. Said perishable items like hoses and belts are in good condition but I’m still skeptical also. I could drive it around my home town for a couple weeks but then I’ll have to either get it shipped or drive it 15 hours back to where I stay. The owner also said he always stored it in the winter. Just with the pictures the car looks really clean but I know mechanically it can be different. What do you think? Thanks for your time.”
“Hate to call it either way from here. Couple things… is it salvage title? Then don’t take it if they give it away for free. (goto our – Tom Dwyer Automotive and search for ‘salvage title’, or check our salvage title answers here on Quora). If it’s not salvaged, then you want a PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION. Not a quick look-over, not a free 90-point, but the most thorough inspection you can find. There’s often companies that specialize in this, or sometimes a mobile mechanic can help, but you definitely want the inspection. More Used Car buying info on our site, Our Best Used Car Buying Advice – Tom Dwyer Automotive. But used cars of any year or mileage are a roll of the dice, and the best you can do is improve your odds. Salvage title and Inspection can help. Good luck!”
Current Special Offers
This offer is just as simple as it sounds… take 10% off Labor Charges on all repairs (except oil changes) up to $100 max. Come on in and take advantage today, because it expires 3-31-23.
We also have a couple ongoing offers you might find valuable…
Carbon Neutral Program–
Our company’s commitment to the environment led us to partner with Bonneville Environmental Foundation to create our Carbon Neutral Program in 2007. Client members offset the carbon production of their vehicles for one year AND save 10% on Labor Charges here at the shop! It’s a win for you AND our environment and it’s been very successful… since we instituted the program our members have prevented over 1.9 MILLION POUNDS of carbon from being dumped into our air!
Referral Reward Program–
Year after year, referrals from our existing clients are our greatest source of new clients, so we’ve tried hard to think of some way to appropriately reward people for their referrals. Our solution is our Referral Reward Program, where we make donations to the non-profit group of your choice to say ‘thanks’ for your generous referrals. Here’s how it works…
Your reviews and referrals matter
We are constantly grateful for the supportive and loyal clients we have developed over the years. Your comments and appreciation keep us on the right road to providing the superior automotive service you deserve. Your reviews and referrals are not only the highest compliments we can receive, but they’re the lifeblood of our new business. If you like what you’ve found at Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, please tell a friend or take a minute to write a review on Yelp, Angieslist, Google, or the review site of your choice. Thank you!
Latest Automotive Recalls
Automobiles are just like any other product; occasional flaws in manufacture or design can cause problems once they leave the factory. When an issue is identified the manufacturers and government work hard to bring the vehicles back in for refit or repair, but not all recalls make the front pages. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains a constantly updated list of recalls from every manufacturer. The last month’s recalls are below, but clicking the button at right will take you to the full list at the NHTSA website.
