Would you buy a car with (repaired) hail damage?

So, as many know, I've been car shopping all month.

A salesman, who is a longtime friend of the family and a man we all trust (my sister almost went into business with him but continued with more schooling instead), has the exact car I want on his lot.

He's already cheaper than the three others I've shopped at. However, the car he has on the lot has about 30 dents from small, marble-sized hail that the region got not long ago. He says they've repaired and sold about 80 cars since the storm. He's offering me the car at an additional $3,000 discount.

So, he's already a grand cheaper than the three places I've also shopped at AND now he's another three grand cheaper over that.

Do I take it?

Would you?

I've got zero experience with hail-damaged vehicles.

I do know the paint was never broken by the hail stones.

 

Take it. We had a nasty hailstorm here a few years ago and my car has little golf-ball size dents all over it. Never got it repaired, just took the insurance payout. Car still runs like new and I barely even notice the dents.

It's money in your pocket. Buy the car.

 

So you're gonna take it with the dents? Why not get a price on it fixed up?

And the hail damage is no issue other than cosmetic. But if I'm buying a car, the "exact car I want" won't have 30 dents in it.

 

Hey, for $3,000 you can get those 30 dents repaired and still have $2,000 left over.

 

You've actually seen the vehicle? How's it look?

Yes, if you're getting a deal that's too good to pass up (and make sure the deal isn't this good because something else is wrong with it), you can have a reputable body shop make it look brand new.

 

What kind of car are we talking?

And does it have A/C?

 

I could not care less if my used car had a bunch of tiny dents/depressions in it.

As long as it runs fine, what's the problem?

 

Sorry, they WILL BE repaired. In fact, they're being repaired as I type. They have to repair them regardless of who buys the car — me, or the next guy.

 

Total no-brainer. Buy it. Repaired properly, you wouldn't know the difference between this one and a car that never had hail damage.

 

A little more info:

This is a 2008 model. Brand new at the dealership. Pretty much loaded, with a couple options I didn't even want (because I couldn't afford them).

ALL DENTS WILL BE REPAIRED. But the dealership can't sell it without telling a customer — any customer — it was damaged by hail and repaired.

The hail DID NOT damage the paint. All cars that had paint damage were sent back to the manufacturer as write-offs.

 

No questions asked. Buy it! If you're getting $3,000 off and getting all the repairs done to the car, you're golden.

 

Take it. Don't look back.