Ever bought or sold at the "Lemon Lot?"

2015-04-16T16:17:53-04:00

Did you ever sell a vehicle or buy a vehicle using the post or base "Lemon Lot?" If so, what was your experience? Is using the "Lemon Lot" trustworthy? Is it a good, safe deal? Or is it too risky?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 16 at 2015 4:44 PM

2015-04-16T16:44:13-04:00

My first car, 91 Ford fiesta, was from the lot on ft hood. My father bought it in 97. I kept it until 2000. It wasn't a bad deal. If you don't know cars, or have a friend who does, I'd stay away. My old man examined about seven different cars before deciding on that one

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made Apr 16 at 2015 9:31 PM

2015-04-16T21:31:00-04:00

In Okinawa they seem to just kind of get passed around. My kids still get messages asking who the lady is that is driving their car around on Kadena.

Response by Cpl Shawn Hueter made Apr 18 at 2015 6:45 PM

2015-04-18T18:45:15-04:00

I never bought a car from the lemon lot. Both of my cars are from dealerships. So if something does go wrong, then you could use that state's lemon laws and get your car fixed or money back.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2015 8:05 PM

2015-04-19T20:05:29-04:00

I traded my Gremlin for a Blue Tr-7 and it had some moves but it was an electronic nightmare. One night while on leave in NY the car decided to start using the lights. The lights turned on and off, on and off and we had to pull the leads off the battery.

We went to Watkins Glen to a dealer and we saw a 12 cylinder Jaguar and there were wires everywhere! My dad said, "please don't get one of those".

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2015 8:35 PM

2015-04-19T20:35:21-04:00

It's just like buying off craigslist. Good deals and really bad ones. If you don't know what you're doing it's a bad idea, if you do, go for it.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 19 at 2015 10:57 PM

2015-04-19T22:57:21-04:00

Absolutely.
- Sold my 94 Camarro at Ft Carson (first kid on the way)
- Sold my wife's 02 Chevy Trailblazer in Germany...worst vehicle ever. Repairs were about equal to Bluebook. Buyer listened to my list of issues, haggled a little and bought it.
- purchased my Germany hooptie. 1989 Opal.
- Sold said Opal after I bought my new Mini Cooper....and spending an entire day in the Auto craft shop to get it to pass TUV inspection.

Response by CPT Alan W. made Apr 19 at 2015 11:05 PM

2015-04-19T23:05:10-04:00

This one didn't last long on the Lemon Lot. Drove it for little over two years in Germany and sold it for about what I paid. It would do 110 k on the Autobahn with the ski rack full of skis. I called it my "Opel Turbo Eurosport".

Response by COL Charles Williams made Apr 19 at 2015 11:34 PM

2015-04-19T23:34:19-04:00

Yes, I have done both... In 1981, I bought a 1978 Jeep Cherokee Golden Eagle from the Lemon Lot at Fort Wainwright, AK. I several cars there... In 1997 I also bought a 1994 Land Rover Discovery there... It was a Lemon... and I needed the CarFax....

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2015 11:38 PM

2015-04-19T23:38:02-04:00

Buying at the lemon lot goes like the pic!!

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 12:34 AM

2015-04-20T00:34:53-04:00

I list of lemons...in no particular order, Pinto, plymouths, Pontiacs, and VW pre-90, best cars for me Ford F150 92 and newer, Newer Subarus, Toyota truck 88 and newer. I had a wave of bad luck..

Response by PO1 John Miller made Apr 20 at 2015 12:41 AM

2015-04-20T00:41:35-04:00

2 lemons I bought in Guam (and they were both definitely lemons): 1989 Nissan Sentra (clutch AND transmission went out about a month after I bought it) and my second lemon, 1989 Dodge (Mitsubishi) Colt. Not a bad little car, but little things like the rear view mirror fell out of the holder and I had to hold it in place with super glue and rubber bands, and the lock came out of the hatch back, meaning I had to stick my finger in the hole to unlock the hatch. That made it easy for the couple of times I left my keys in the ignition!

Response by SSG Richard Reilly made Apr 21 at 2015 12:42 PM

2015-04-21T12:42:42-04:00

Sold my 98 Grand Am for $3000 at Fort Knox with a cracked engine block. I told the guy when he was buying it but he believed he could fix it....he called back a week later saying he couldn't.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 29 at 2015 6:52 PM

2015-10-29T18:52:45-04:00

I was going to in Alaska because apparently every used Subaru on the planet ends up there. The lemon lot was comparably priced. In other words, a 4WD or AWD up in Alaska goes for 2x what they are worth in the lower 48.

Response by SrA David Steyer made Dec 10 at 2015 12:26 AM

2015-12-10T00:26:06-05:00

I test drove an SUV that the former VCSAF (General Spencer) sold on the Bolling AFB Lemon Lot when he was a two star. Does that count? LOL

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Apr 13 at 2016 8:23 AM

2016-04-13T08:23:04-04:00

I've sold most of mine on the lemon lot...I take excellent care of my cars and show the full maintenance record, so they sell fast. I post KBB, Edmunds & NADA prices so the shoppers can see what it's supposed to be worth. I think it's safer than Craigslist or Autotrader sites because they either already have access to base or they have to provide an ID to get through the gate with you to look at it.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Apr 13 at 2016 9:41 AM

2016-04-13T09:41:18-04:00

I never bought from the lemon lot but I have sold there. I have always taken care of my cars with routine maintenance and cleaning (my wife says it is my obsessive compulsion) but when I came up my dad taught me to take care of our vehicles and they will take care of you. If there was an issue, I would tell them up front. I they still bought it then it was on them. I never tried to hoodwink anyone. Went to KBB, set a fair price, and they usually moved pretty quick. However, I don't trade cars but every 8-10 years as long as they are still reliable.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Feb 10 at 2017 12:49 PM

2017-02-10T12:49:37-05:00

CH (MAJ) William Beaver earlier in my career I thought about it once or twice but never actually buy a vehicle. I had a few friends sell theirs but none that I recall that bought from the lemon lot at places I was assigned.

Response by CSM Scott White made Mar 5 at 2017 4:45 PM

2017-03-05T16:45:51-05:00

buying from the lemon lot is the same as buying from a private individual because that is exactly what you are doing, only difference is they are military affiliated as to be able to get onto a military installation and use the MWR facility to advertise their vehicle. that is not to say that MWR endorses the cars, they just allow them to be parked on the "lemon lot".