With Typhoon Trami leaving more than 10,000 vehicles submerged under water, now is not the best time to buy a used car, a consumer foundation warned yesterday.
The typhoon -- which swept through southern Taiwan and resulted in the worst flooding in 40 years earlier this week -- has left tens of thousands of vehicles in underground parking facilities submersed in water.
Automobile owners typically lack insurance to cover floods. They're likely to seek help from local auto repair shops, rather than writing off their vehicles.
According to preliminary statistics compiled by local repair shops, up to 10,000 cars and motorcycles suffered from water damaged.
But no official statistics on flood-damaged vehicles was available from the Southern Region Disaster Operations Center.
While the damaged vehicles represent a huge boost for auto workshops -- roughly NT$100 million in repairs are expected -- the undisclosed sales of the flood-damaged cars spells bad news for auto buyers, the Taipei-based Consumers' Foundation warned yesterday.
Yu Min-gua (
"Water-soaked cars are likely to appear in the used car market. We suggest consumers should buy a new car," less they risk buying a flood-damaged one, the foundation said.
"But if you're still intent on buying a used car," which usually is 20 to 30 percent cheaper than a new car, "ask for `no water-damage' certification, which includes a warranty, from the dealer," the foundation said.
The foundation also warned that the strong scent of car freshener may be a tell-tale sign: Dealers often use spray fragrances to cover up the musty smell of a water-logged car.
The consumer group offered two final tips to distinguish whether a car was previously in the drink: unremovable white spots on the engine casing due to oxidation, and sediment in the nooks and crannies of vehicle trunks.
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