Concerns about pre-owned bought new in another region?
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: TN
Concerns about pre-owned bought new in another region?
My daughter is considering buying a Lexus Certified Pre-Owned ES 350 in Atlanta that was bought new in Houston, TX.
I suppose the owned could have moved from Houston to Atlanta before trading the car, but without knowing the circumstances I wonder whether it is a red-flag for a car to be sold in a completely different region from where it was purchased.
Any insight from form members welcomed.
I suppose the owned could have moved from Houston to Atlanta before trading the car, but without knowing the circumstances I wonder whether it is a red-flag for a car to be sold in a completely different region from where it was purchased.
Any insight from form members welcomed.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,422
Likes: 249
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Welcome to CL. 
Is this car listed as a CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) right now?
If not, you may have to do some homework....or some checking. You say this car was bought new in Houston. The Houston area has been hit with a number of serious floods and storms in recent years. Flood damage on a modern car, not only from mold, corrosion, and mildew, but also to the high amount of of wiring and number of electronic components, can be very serious. If you are seriously interested in this car, I'd not only look for a Car Fax report, but also personally check it out as thoroughly as you can....underhood wiring, carpets, trunk linings, etc... Might also want to take it to a mechanic or technician you trust.
In my experience, from what I've seen, Even a CPO is not a 100% bet that the car will not have some flaws in it, but, of course, does greatly minimize the chances....and an excellent warranty usually goes along with the CPO process.
Is this car listed as a CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) right now?
If not, you may have to do some homework....or some checking. You say this car was bought new in Houston. The Houston area has been hit with a number of serious floods and storms in recent years. Flood damage on a modern car, not only from mold, corrosion, and mildew, but also to the high amount of of wiring and number of electronic components, can be very serious. If you are seriously interested in this car, I'd not only look for a Car Fax report, but also personally check it out as thoroughly as you can....underhood wiring, carpets, trunk linings, etc... Might also want to take it to a mechanic or technician you trust.
In my experience, from what I've seen, Even a CPO is not a 100% bet that the car will not have some flaws in it, but, of course, does greatly minimize the chances....and an excellent warranty usually goes along with the CPO process.
Last edited by mmarshall; Oct 23, 2016 at 06:37 PM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,892
Likes: 14
From: Virginia
Being from a different region is not, in itself, a means for a red flag. Dealers can often search for auctions, etc. from a variety of areas, especially if they can't find what they're looking for locally.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,592
Likes: 31
From: TN
Good point about the flood thing. One way to check is to lift up the carpet in the trunk and look for signs of moisture, ie a water line, dirt, etc
As for it being from Houston, maybe the person moved or lived in both cities, hard to say on that one. I find it hard to believe that a dealer in Atlanta would have a used ES350 trucked in for inventory on their lot. Atlanta is a huge city and the ES350 is a big seller.
As for it being from Houston, maybe the person moved or lived in both cities, hard to say on that one. I find it hard to believe that a dealer in Atlanta would have a used ES350 trucked in for inventory on their lot. Atlanta is a huge city and the ES350 is a big seller.
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