Tips on Buying Cars: buying from an auction, public auctions, firt time

Question
Unfortunately my daughters boyfriend is already in over his head after paying $5000 for a 02 civic that won't pass MD inspection due to the frame being bent, cracked & basically patched together where it is considered unsafe. The auction of course sold the car 'as is' & the mechanic on the premesis raved about what great condition the car was in. Being a firt time buyer of any vehicle let alone from an auction he was sold because the car looked really nice not knowing what lies beneath. Does he have any recourse to get his mney back? He also had brake work done in preparation of the inspection at the tune of about $1500. He's 20 & in college so can't afford to throw money down the drain. A body shop said it would cost about another $5k to fix the frame! Any advice would be eatly appreciated. Bobby

Answer
Hi Bobby
This e-mail is a perfect example why the auto industry is buyers beware.
It makes me sick that a young person starting out in life has to be burned like this, but am sure he will never get bitten twice.
AS IS says it all unless you can prove misrepresentation, its my guess the title says salvage ?
The warning signs where present, $ 5000. for an 02 Civic at an auction is just to good to be true, as for the Mechanic, would you expect him to say otherwise...

I wish your daughters boyfriend would have done some homework before the fact...please go to my website   http://www.usedcartips.org/  
 and navigate to PUBLIC AUCTIONS to get a better understanding what i think about Auctions.

Bobby...i have never posted a question on my website,but this one i will post letting it be a warning to others that may consider buying from an Auction...
Regards
Ray