Was browsing auto trader for a used Z, and found this ad:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...dist=39#vdptop

IIRC, the pics are actually from a board member had a F/I Z w/ the PE TT kit, and sold a while ago. What smells even fishier is the price the seller was asking, only $17k

Socal Buyers beware!!

 

I've noticed alot of scams on the autotrader. They even use fake escrow companies!! Beware!

 

I called a couple of the ads while I was loooking for my Z, everyone was over seas and they were they couldn't get it it registered in that country blah, blah, blah. At that point I would just not respond. Even reported this to Auto Trader about a car that said it was at College Station which is about a three hour drive from me. They did nothing.

 

I work for Auto Trader. We have been noticing a lot of this and it is being reported. We remove the ads when we catch them or they are reported to us and I understood that they're being reported to the AG. But everyone I've seen had a bogus phone number and only a email to contact so it's hard to find out who these people really are.

It's also alot more prevalent in the Boats, RV's, Heavy Equipment and Cycles. I don't think those people are wise to this yet and we've had a few people that have called in who actually sent money to those escrow companies. One lady for something like $40K!!!!!

 

That sucks for us. I just hope none of us Z shoppers get burned by those f-ing scammers. Buying a car supposed to be an exciting thing.

 

I e-mailed a guy that posted a add for his 94 mazda RX-7. He was asking 7 thousand for it, so I made him an offer and he said that...he just moved to england, so he needed a new car. He said that I had to send him half of the payment through "Money Gram" and he would ship it to me, and when I received the vehicle, I would send him the other half. Man...I wonder if some people would actually do this...freaking crazy...

 

I would never do anything like that. When I see the car, you'll see the money, .

 

+1

 

Just go to the ****en dealer!

 

Auto Trader is for browsing...not for BUYING! I read it when I need a good laugh and to see what crap people are trying to push off onto other people!

 

i have bot and sold with autotrader, local transactions only. if you get a pre-purchase inspection, its a great way to elimate the middleman/dealer's markup.

 

I checked on a s2000 at autotrader just b/c it was only $5,000 and 1 year old! The guy said he had moved to somewhere in Europe, I forgot the exact place. Anyway, I pretended I was all interested and kept saying I wanted it. I told him, it just so happened, that I had relatives (which worked in law enforcement) that lived close to where he said he was and I would get them to go check out his car. I didn't really know anyone that lived there, but I was curious to see his response. He quickly responded and said he changed his mind about selling and wants to keep the car.

People actually do fall for this stuff though...that stinks!

 

A more accurate and honest assessment of Auto Trader (IMO):


Auto Trader is for browsing...not for BUYING....IMO. I read it when I'm trying to see what a used car that I MIGHT be interested in is selling for in the Private Party Seller Market vs. what the Dealer would sell the same used car for.

IMO...It's a REFERENCE manual, nothing more.

 

Before you go and trash Auto Trader I will agree with Z boy. For local purchaces it is great. I bought my 53 Ford F100 through Auto Trader. It a good magazine. It just these people that have found out how to feed off of these poor suckers that mess everything up. It is unbelevable how gullable some people are. E-bay is probably just as bad.

 

As long as you are local, and be able to check out the car and do face to face transaction, it's all good. I would never buy a car on autorader w/o checking it out in person.

 

I remember seeing this car listed on ebay, if im not mistaken... but it could also be a scam.

 

I found my car through Auto Trader, well actually through yahoo autos, but it was actually a listing from auto trader.

I didn't know there were auto trader employees in TX. I thought TraderOnline owned auto trader and it was all run out of Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA.

 

Norfolk is the national office/HQ. We have offices in every major city.

Trader Online is owned by Trader Publications, which also owns Auto Trader Magazines, Wheels, Auto Mart, AutoExtra.Com, and a few dozen more magazines. AutoTrader.Com is actually a separate company that was once owned by Trader Publications but was separted to act as it's own separate entity. We even compete against them though we have concurrent advertising.

Edit - actually TraderOnline may be it's own entity as well now that I think about it.

 

Hmmm, now I know. No wonder why the guy who owns traderonline is so rich.