Don't buy an Insight from BayShoreAutomotive for sure!

[Hambone]

Warning,

Although many of you have stated previously that you'd be wary of buying an Insight on Ebay for good reason, I found a listing that not only is obviously fraudulent (ad says car has lifetime mpg of 53.9, and they include picture showing 41.5), but the seller when asked only got defensive and insultory. The seller is Bay Shore Automotive, in Florida I believe, and I just don't want anyone who is an Insight Central user to get screwed with a dog of a car being sold by some hack.

He really didn't like it that I questioned the accuracy of the ad, but in my opinion thats too bad. I was kinda bored at work today, so now I've got something to do, try and bug a hack used car dealer over the internet!!

[Resist]

Give us the ebay link.

[Hambone]

Here's the link to the particular auction that I was talking about above:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... ename=WDVW

In the area where this particular hack describes the car, he lists a lifetime mpg of 53.9mpg. I, as other Insight owners probably would also laugh at, noticed that that particular mpg figure is not even possible. The calibration points on the mileage gauge in that area go from 53.5 to 53.8 to 54.0 to 54.2. I know this because at the moment my lifetime mpg is 53.8, and as I've most often driven in that area of the mileage meter from tank to tank, I'm quite familar with the increments that will display. When I queried the seller about that fact he just wrote a quick insultory email, to which I couldn't help but return the insult. If there were a way I could cause him more difficulties I would, just on principle. Posting here on Insight Central was the only way I felt that at least amongst the Insight community I could bring this sham artist to light.

Normally I don't get on a soap box too too much, but this one really p****d me off.

[bfivelover]

He also states under "comments" that the lifetime mileage is 56mpg. He gives two different figures, and the picture of the instruments gives the third and true MPG. 41.5 is awfully low. I also questioned him about the mileage to give him a hard time. No reply yet.

[Rick Reece]

I had to pile on and send a email as well asking why the mileage is worse than the larger hybrids. Some day I am going to buy a cheap spare just in case Honda doesn't replace it in the future. Never understood why a popular car such as the CRX wasn't replaced with a new model. Have fun, Rick

[Resist]

Originally Posted by bfivelover

He also states under "comments" that the lifetime mileage is 56mpg.

Where do you see this? I see it as 53.9.

[Yves M.]

Just below the vehicule specs:

"Comments
56 LIFETIME MPG
AIR CONDITIONING
NON SMOKER
CARFAX CERTIFIED
NO PAINT WORK OR ACCIDENTS
ALL THE BOOKS AND MANUALS
5 SPEED
GREAT PRICE"

[bfivelover]

bayshoreautomotive is back on Ebay with yet another Insight, although this time he doesn't appear to have any contradictory information. I've noticed that the person who bought the other Insight from him hasn't left any feedback, positive or negative. By the way, I bought my Insight on Ebay and had no problems. In fact, it was the first thing I every bought on Ebay.

[jimbeemer]

You make good points. I have bought quite a few vehicles (motorcycles and cars) off E-bay with mixed results. The ones from individuals have all been great and were honestly described. The sellers all had good reasons for selling. In a couple of cases, I requested that the seller take the vehicle to their local new-vehicle dealer (one of my choice) for inspection and I called and discussed the condition directly with the dealer's service manager as he was looking at the vehicle.

Once, I bought a 1-year old vehicle under factory warranty with a "clear carfax" in "mint condition" that after delivery I found had been wrecked and the body filled with bondo. It even had a bent frame -- I made that E-bay dealer take it back and make it worth my while or I would expose him on E-bay and file a formal complaint with the state where he was a licensed dealer. Another E-bay dealer sold me a "pampered, mint, low-mileage car" that literally had parts under the hood attached with baling wire and ducktape and had the bumper painted with a can of spray paint (none of his pictures showed any flaws). One current E-bay dealer that handles mostly lease car turn-ins and has a good track record is linked below: http://motors.search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtp ... affiliates

I just bought a 2003 CVT Insight last week from an individual seller on E-bay and picked it up this past weekend. It really is in pampered showroom condition with only 7K miles (and 6 months old). I got it for $12,700 which I thought was very good considering the condition.

It is always "buyer beware" but dealers on E-bay usually get their used cars from wholesale auctions (with no history or have been someone else's problem vehicles) or have ones to sell that have not sold locally on their lots (probably because they are flawed).

Just my thoughts. Best wishes.

Jimbeemer

[The Citrus Smoothie]

I note that HybridGuru won the original eBay auction mentioned above. Sound familiar?