Buy a Station Wagon at an Auction

Buy a Station Wagon at an Auction

Buy a Station Wagon at an Auction : Multi-thousand tips to make your life easier.

The internet was not spared from the Bernie Madoff fiasco. The notorious swindler not only captured the news and received full-on media scrutiny; his E320 Mercedes-Benz station wagon also received coverage when it was put up for auction. It was appraised at $14,000.

Now, if you were to participate in a station wagon auction, would you buy Bernie Madoff’s station wagon? Uh, no, right? You know who else loves station wagons? Clint Eastwood. Would you buy Clint Eastwood’s second-hand station wagon? 100% yes, of course!

Now then, are you the perfect candidate to bid on a station wagon? Well, it all depends on your know-how about vehicle auctions. Sometimes it’s a sketchy idea to buy your station wagon at auction, but you can certainly do so if you think it’s the way to get a good price.

What, then, are the steps involved in buying a station wagon at auction?

1. You must have the mojo to pursue this and the moolah to pay for it, too. You will need prior knowledge of automobiles and pricing issues.
2. You have to decide which car brand to go for. You can never go wrong with the following:
   • Volvo
   • Saab
   • Subaru
   • Plymouth
   • Oldsmobile
   • Buick
   • American Motors Corporation
   • Chrysler
   • Volkswagen
   • Edsel
3. Look around for the best car auction shows in your city or state. You can also check newspapers and car trade magazines. When you find one, immediately make inquiries about the organizer and check their background and track record.
4. On the day of the auction, walk around and ask questions. Expect to be blown away by the array of station wagons up for auction, but do not rush into making a purchase. The owners/sellers are, of course, expected to outdo each other in sprucing up their vehicles to impress buyers. They are selling, after all. Do not fall for a lot of hot air.
5. Bring a mechanic with you. Take a look under the hood and check the engine condition.
6. Hire an appraiser. He will make sure you get a fair shake in the bidding process.
7. When the auction starts, this is where your knowledge will kick into gear. If you did your research well and combined it with what you know about vehicles, you will never run the risk of overbidding for an item. Take it slow, and if the vehicle is meant for you, it will happen. Just don’t fall into the temptation of spending more than necessary. More often than not, you will find that auctions are meant to overprice items that are up for bidding. Be smart and be aware.
8. Ask for the proper registration, documentation, and a legal contract when a sale has been made in your favor. Read through the fine print and do not hesitate to clarify issues and address concerns. You are the buyer, so you are within your rights to make sure it’s a clean sale.
9. Get the contact details of the seller and conduct a background check immediately. It would be great if you could talk to the seller’s other buyers, those who came before you and who had transacted successfully and favorably with the seller.
10. Finally, make your purchase either through a bank draft or a check.

To maximize your protection, you should also purchase an insurance policy that covers cars bought at an auction.