Info on Bernardi Toyota in Framingham (buying, inspection, maintenance)

[southward bound]

If anyone has had any experience with the Bernardi Toyota dealership in Framingham, would you please send me a dm. We are considering purchasing a pre-owned vehicle (via the internet), and found two complaints online that don't sound particularly credible, so we're not sure what to think.

Thank you.

[miu]

Post a link to the reviews. I found this review page on them. Anyway, what about those two reviews that bothered you about that dealership? Imo, treat each used car purchase as a unique and individual event. New cars are different, the dealerships get them off a truck with no miles on them. But a used car has a history that the dealerships have no control over.

So when buying any used car, run a carfax report on their vin #. Go to sites like KBB.com to help you decide what the car is worth to you. Have an independent mechanic go over the car for you. I think that most garages charge about $75 for a pre-purchase inspection. Also, have the dealer put plates on the car so you can take that used car for a long and thorough test drive without the salesman. See how the car feels on the highway and in congested driving conditions.

On the review page that I found, I wasn't bothered by the service department not answering their phones in the morning as I would never use a dealership service department to maintain my car. As to the used cars being a little dirty and unclean, well if the cars are priced on the low end, then they probably don't spend their money on having every car professionally detailed. So if you like particular used car, but it seem dirty on the inside, then buy it and have it detailed yourself.

I've bought only used cars for the last 15 years. But I buy from private parties not dealerships. I just use commonsense when I make my purchase. I also realize that whatever used car I buy will need some work on it to make me completely happy.

My dad told me about 30 years ago that when buying any used car to expect to put another $1500 into it. I usually come in under budget, but I understand why he came up with that nugget of wisdom. People are triggered to sell their cars when enough little problems or one major maintenance issue crops up to make them think that they would rather spend the money for the repairs instead towards a down payment on a new car. So maybe its their mechanic saying that they will be needing a complete brake job or new tires soon. Sometimes, I've been lucky and the car didn't need any work for a long time. Once in a while, the person is only selling their car because it's reached 100k miles on the odometer and they think it's time for a new car.

What year and kind of used car are you looking at to buy from them?