Don't buy cars from Florida?

I don't think there is any problems with Florida cars per se. There is alot of money in south Florida, so more cars and more dealers. The more dealers, the more bad dealers. No different than Cali where there are dealers everywhere. The larger the area, the bigger the population, the bigger list of dealers. I would say do your homework and get good service records and history on each car you look at. Ask for references from dealers---If you do what you should as an informed, educated buyer then you should have no problems buying a car from Florida, California or North Dakota..

 

I think this gentleman has it right. I live in Florida and their are good dealers and of course bad ones.

The other point is you never know where the car you buy comes from. I bought my 2003, 360 Modena in Long Island. it turns out the car was sold first in Orlando at the dealer I use, then to Chicago to NY now back to florida with me. great car no problems.

Lee

 

Florida seems to have a higher ratio of scum dealers to the point that if the car I"m researching is from there I almost stike it from the list.
One can launder a title in other states as well but forget which ones.

 

it would seem that a good deal of florida cars are previously owned by drug cartel traffickers or the like. lots of cocaine in Miami ports.

 

Lee,

I tried to buy that car, and just missed out. It was beautiful.

 

+1. I bought my car from a private owner in Florida and it has not had many problems. There are good and bad dealers in every area. More dealers here means more bad ones, but also more good ones. The weather is not particularly problematic as long as the car is stored indoors. Climate controlled garagees here would be great to find, but are pretty rare.
BT

 

I totally agree. My car was sold by WWoC in Spring Valley, NY and then it went to Florida, back to NJ, then to Georgia and now back in NJ where it is being serviced again by WWoC.

 

I never met a good dealer, they all suck!

 

Kenneth,

Sorry you have had bad experiences. Trust but verify comes to mind We all have had some issues I hope your luck changes!

I noticed in your profile you own a Lotus Esprit. I love those cars! I have a Lotus elise sport #8 of 50. A great car. The Lotus's are real hardcore driving machines

Lee

 

You have one of everything except a Testarossa (eat your heart out) !

 

Rob I am I am eating my heart away. Love those cars.

Have a great 4th

Lee

 

I heard many bad things too.


Guy Webster
Pasadena

 

A local buyer here stayed away from FLA cars because of too many stories plus the heat in FLA and TX wasn't good for the leather, FWIW.

 

With all due respect to the honest Florida dealers and other business people, not being a Florida local and being able to separate the wheat from the chaff - I won't buy anything from Florida - I have never had a good experience - sorry.

 

I was referring to any dealer in any state, they never do what they say they are going to do.

Like pulling teeth to get them to do whats stated on the contract, and after the sale.............forget it! They might call you back in a few days, if your lucky.

 

Lee, I feel the Lotus is one of the few left that have any heritage, spirit, and real driving pleasure.

 

Not all of them, but a very high percentage of them do.

 

Florida had some High Profile bad dealers.

But more importantly....we get too many Lotto winners, newly rich, and first time buyers,...from all over the country that are attracted to the huge inventory of exotic cars, in a vacation state...and buy too fast without the proper knowledge or even a test drive.

Just because a dealer has a huge two-page slick ad in DuPont, and a neat location like Fort Lauderdale....with a great showroom! Too many guys that did zero homework and flew down to Florida to mix business and pleasure...ended up with a quick purchase, no PPI and thus a bad cars (that only passed the looks test).

Anyone who understands the car they want, knows the right questions to ask, and goes beyond slick showrooms and magazine spreads... can buy a great car in Florida because it is one of the top 3 states when it comes to Exotic cars. Lots of great cars for sale and a few bad ones. Its just Logic.

The bad Florida deal, is 50% myth, 40% uninformed buyers (usually people with more money than time or information when it comes to exotic cars) and maybe 10% fraud. ( You think there's no fraud in CA, TX or NY?)

Tourist trap? If they make it so easy and too good to be true...you'd be suprised how many fall for it. But....put a little effort into it, and drive off the main beach drag and find someone like Shelton Ferrari
(has to be one of the top 3 Ferrari dealers in the Country) and Florida is your Exotic car playground

 

In Indiana, there is a way to get a new title on a car that was totalled.

A friend bought a benz with a blown engine and a salvage title. He installed a fresh motor and was able to retitle it with a clean title, which seemed totally appropriate, especially in that case. The car had been run over a big rock and broke the oil pan and lost its oil and all bearings.

I am not sure how it works but I don't think it was too difficult.

Tom W

 

when we bought our car in fl from Shelton Ferrari (one of the good ones) the title showed the mileage as exempt because the car was more then 10 years old. The miles were entered on the bottom of the title and we had a mileage certification from Shelton but Virginia wanted to title the car as "mileage not actual" because of the exempt on the fl title. The manager of the VA DMV said many collectors will not buy florida titled cars because of this.

 

Right. I guess, you mean the sun's rays more than the heat, as if the car was shaded, it would be much less heat, and no uv rays to rot/oxidize materials.

here the sun does more bad than good. It's the enemy, in a way. Had to turn down a 76 glass 308 predominantly because it was obvious it had been left out in the sun to bake to a crisp. , although, with work, it could have been brought back to life.

 

Still hoping though, that I find my 308 in FL, close to home. Lost one on ebay a month ago......sold in a few hrs in Sarasota, just 35-40 miles away.....

 

Very well said.