How To

How can I tell whether an online car deal is a scam?

John Paul, AAA Northeast's Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader wondering whether an online car deal was legitimate.

The Car Doctor answers a question from a reader wondering whether an online car deal was legitimate. Volkswagen

May 8, 2024

Q. I recently looked at a car for sale on Facebook Marketplace and it looked almost too good to be true. After a couple of days, my wife talked me out of it. My question is, can you tell if something is a good deal or a scam?

A. A neighbor recently sent me a listing for a 2008 Volkswagen Beetle convertible for just $1,000. The car was very clean, claimed one owner, and didn’t have the typical VW convertible issues, such as loose rear window, power rear window issues, worn-out front seats, and rusty rocker panels. The ad stated a low price for a quick sale. Typically, according to Kelley Blue Book, that car sells for $5,000 to $6,000 (the first red flag). I also looked up the seller, and the same car was listed on the same day in 20 locations across the country (second red flag). The third issue was the lack of a visible VIN in any pictures. At that point, my best guess was that it was a scam.

Q. Since COVID, I have been working from home and living in an apartment near my company’s office. Since there is no reason to be in one spot, I recently purchased a 2015 Winnebago Travato Class B camper van. It has very low miles and was part of an estate sale. The vehicle has been sitting for 18 months. What should I do before I become part of “van life”?

A. The Travato is based on the front wheel drive RAM ProMaster line of vehicles and is typically equipped with the 3.6-liter V-6 engine. I would start by checking all the fluids and changing the engine oil. Look at the tires, they may be original and have some dry rot. Check the drive belts and hoses, cooling system (some had faulty fan modules), as well as the brakes and steering components. If it has a generator, check for proper operation. Check or replace the truck battery as well as the “house” battery. Run both the cabin air conditioner as well as the roof top unit. Check all the “house” water lines and pumps, and storage tanks for cleanliness, proper operation, and leaks. Try the refrigerator and water heater. If dual fuel, try them both on propane and electricity. If everything checks out well or has been repaired, start your adventure, and send pictures.

Q. What is the estimated cost to replace the transmission on a 2014 Infiniti Q50? I was told the car needs a transmission and the price quoted was a bit shocking. I just wanted to make sure I was not being taken advantage of.

A. Assuming the car is not a hybrid and rear wheel drive, the factory part is $10,000 with some online Infiniti parts outlets selling it for $8,800. The labor time to install the transmission is about five hours. Today we are seeing typical labor rates at $150-$250 per hour. Add in fluid, miscellaneous parts, and shop supplies, and the total price could be $12,000. At that price you need to consider if it is worth the money to have the repair performed. There are many Infiniti Q50s selling for less than the cost of that repair. If it were me, I would certainly have an overall evaluation of the car performed to see if there are other pending costly issues, and get a second opinion and estimate on the transmission issue.

Q. My 2014 BMW 528i xDrive vibrates at stops when I leave the car in gear. The vibration stops when I put it in neutral. The dealer says I need to replace the motor mounts. My mechanic says it is not dangerous and replacing one of the mounts may correct the problem. How much should this cost, and should I have both mounts replaced for safety reasons? The car has 95,000 miles. What would cause the mounts to need replacement?

A. Motor mounts can fail due to aggressive driving, oil or other fluid contamination, and internal failure. BMW uses liquid filled mounts rather than solid rubber, and the liquid can leak out, which would cause a vibration. If the mounts are worn, they should be replaced. There are two engine mounts and one transmission mount. The engine mounts are $140 each and take about 4.5 hours to replace. Labor rates vary depending on location with the dealers typically being on the higher side. If a local shop is doing the work rather than the dealer, I would only use BMW parts on this car. Aftermarket mounts may fit but could cause other weird vibrations.

Q. We have a 2016 Hyundai Elantra SE sedan with the standard engine. It has 46,000 miles. We purchased it new in October 2015. It has always been well-maintained according to the manual recommendations. The question is when to replace the timing belt. I see some information saying 90,000 miles, but I wonder if the age of the car should be part of the question. I have been quoted a price of $1,400, which I think includes the water pump. It is a lot of money for us, but I will do it if needed.

A. You are correct. Age can influence the life of a rubber timing belt. But on your Hyundai, both the 1.8-liter and 2.0-liter engines use a timing chain. Typically, If the car is properly maintained (routine oil changes), the timing chain does not require any maintenance for the life of the car.

John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor. He has over 40 years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE-certified master technician. E-mail your Car Doctor question to [email protected]. Listen to the Car Doctor podcast at johnfpaul.podbean.com.