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Stolen foreign cars hit U.S. -m Capital ldeas_j» NORTHWEST HERALD Section C Friday, July 19,1985 Pag* 3 , ni/ 7 Apparent bargain prices for highly desirable and hard-to- get models of Euro­ pean cars has led more and more persons to look at so-called "gray market" automobiles. These are models that were not initially built for sale in the U.S., but have been imported privately un- dr the proviso that they be modified, to bring them into com­ pliance with U.S. safe­ ty and emission stan­ dards. Those looking should be aware of some serious problems htat have brought buyers losses instead of sav­ ings. In Jacksonville, •Florida, for example, /a number of buyers of »gray market Euro­ pean cars lost their vehicles and their Ononey when it was discovered that they had been sold stolen goods. The money, in one case over $40,000 was channeled to Europe. Others "only" lost deposits of $5,000 each. The publication AutoWeek reports that, based on Interpol lists, there were at least 400 stolen Euro­ pean vehicles shipped to the U.S. in 1964. Stolen cars are not the only danger. Ac­ cording to Sports Car Graphic Magazine, "there are many e n t e r p r i s i n g b u s i n e s s m e n w h o specialize in cars with suspect backgrounds -- cars pieced together from salvage, cars that have been involv­ ed in major accidents and especially cars t h a t a r e s t o l e n specifically for gray market exportation." Fraud, it seems, can flourish in a gray light. Some buyers have p a i d v a r i o u s " b r o k e r s " a n d "specialists in Euro­ p e a n v e h i c l e s " substantial deposits and have never seen a car. Nor is the ap- p e a r a n c e o f legitimacy insurance against a "scam." Some of the "con ar­ tists" are frequent a d v e r t i s e r s i n newspapers, including some with national readership. Others illegally use t h e w e l l - k n o w n trademarks of the brands they offer for sale, causing buyers to mistakenly assume t h e y ' r e f a c t o r y authorized. (In the case of Mercedes- Benz, one can easily verify the status of a dealership as authoriz- ON THE ROAD AGAIN Auto prices, sales rise 1980 1984 AVERAGE PRICE: -- Now cart: $8,649 $9,669 -- Used cart: $3,794 $5,406 NUMBER SOLD (milliont): -- Now cart: 8.78 10.12 -- Uaad cart: 18.66 16.81 CHANGE +45.4% +42.5% + 15.5% •1.0% (Source: The Hertz Corp.) ON TRIPS Planning Ahead For A Risk-Free Vacation • You're in a traffic accident in Mexico and you're suddenly under arrest. • You're in a hotel room in Egypt when your son awakens you, complaining of severe stomach * pains. You're behind the Iron Cur­ tain and snap an innocent photo, where no picture-taking is allowed. You're in big trouble. / Bad dreams like these can be­ come realities when you're travel­ ing abroad. In the last three years 10,000 Americans were arrested in foreign countries. Thousands more I some kind of medical treat­ ment. frtie U.S. embassy, with its limite<Kitafif, cannot help you solve your medical or legal emergencies. To insure a worry-free vacation, plan ahead. A new service of protec­ tive benefits is now available to U.S. travelers. Called SafeTravel Network, it offers 24-hour emer­ gency medical, legal, and financial assistance in cities around the world. SafeTravel Network is available for $5 to purchasers of BankAmer- ica Travelers Cheques. It includes referral to English-speaking doc­ tors and lawyers, medical insur­ ance, emergency hospital deposits, bail bond assistance, trip interrup­ tion and lost luggage insurance, in­ terpreter services, and rental car fi H you're injured abroad, knowing you're insured can help you have of mind. discounts. Coverage is good for 46 days from the date of purchase. Here are some other tips from SafeTravel Network that can help you have a safer vacation: • Familiarize yourself* with foreign health practices. Some hos­ pitals require as much as $1,000 as a deposit before admittance. • Avoid hospitals in Third World countries. They are often simply a place to sleep with no food and little staff. • Consult your doctor about re­ commended immunization and bring along duplicates of all impor­ tant medications. • Don't be tempted to buy art, artifacts or money on the black market. a Learn as much as you can about local laws and customs. High tag, better value Seasoned car buyers count resale value among the main things they consider when shopping for a new car. An automobile, such as a Mecedes- B e n z , w h i c h c a n reasonably be ex­ pected to have lower- t h a n - a v e r a g e depreciation, may. very well be less ex­ pensive to own than a car with a lower initial price, but higher depreciation. T h e N a t i o n a l Automobile Dealers Association publishes a used car price guide which your dealer should be willing to show you. This will give a good indication of what range of depreciation you can expect for various makes and models. There is one special point of caution if you're considering c e r t a i n i m p o r t e d models, however. In recent years a number of European- version cars have been imported for sale here in what is known as the " g r a y m a r k e t . " Though these look like the versions built by the factory expressly for U.S. sale, they dif­ fer mechanically and have had to undergo various modifications. These modifications generally void warran­ t y p r o v i s i o n s a n d make the cars difficult to service. Further, as the NADA price guide points out in a warning note, "It is possible t h a t m a n y ' g r a y market' cars do not fully meet federal (safety and emission control) standards. This condition might result in a substantial lessening of the car's market value." If you want to deter­ mine whether a car is a gray market unit, contact the authorized distributor for that make and give him the vehicle's identification number. Tires underinflated by as little as five pounds can rob drivers of as much as a half gallon of gas out of every twenty. ed or not via a toll-free " h o t l i n e . " T h e number is 800-262- 0202.) Unfortunately, the positive experiences of others who bought from a particular gray market seller cannot be taken as insurance. In the Jacksonville case, U.S. Customs seized the cars for shipment back to Ger­ many after they had been in the hands of duped buyers for some time. The relative ease with which buyers can be defrauded when buying gray market cars has led various state motor vehicle departments to take a h a r d e r l o o k . I n Oregon, DMV ad­ m i n i s t r a t o r D a v i d Moomaw wants the titling law tightened. Citing the difficulties f r e q u e n t l y e n ­ c o u n t e r e d i n establishing a clear chain of title, he says, "Gray market cars pose a serious threat to unwitting buyers who may wind up losing both their investment and their vehicle." Safety Rules The United States Department of Labor, through its Occupational Health and Safety Administration has come out with some new safety rules for garages and gas stations that could help keep all America routed toward safety. The new regulations affect more than a hundred thousand work­ places across the nation. They require that workers be protected by barriers and restraining devices when servicing the wheels on large vehicles. In addition, the workers must receive training in the safe handling of potentially explosive rim wheels. Better trained and pro­ tected workers can mean more safety for all. The experts on wheels at The Budd Company have some more safety advice about truck wheels. They point out that since all pneu­ matic tire and wheel combinations store large amounts of energy, re­ use of worn out or corroded truck wheels can cause serious injuries. Truck wheels and tires should be serviced only by trained mechanics who have read and follow wheel manufacturers' and OSHA safety rules. Before re-use, every wheel should be inspected. If it is corroded to the point that there are visible pits in the metal, or if any locking surface is bent or cracked, or if any parts do not match, the wheel should be scrapped so as to prevent m Amsterdam polic* have • special branch whose only duty is to cop* with motorists who drive into the canels. DIVORCED? NO CREDIT? BANKRUPTCY? By following government guide­ lines and scrapping worn out wheels, workers around the country are driving home the idea of safety. re-use. When in any doubt, they say, scrap the wheel. Never work on a truck tire or wheel unless you are properly trained and have read and follow OSHA regulation Section 1910.177 and wheel manufacturer's litera­ ture. FREE BROCHURES OSHA offers free charts and book­ lets to help mechanics learn the accepted procedures. To get a copy, you can send a self-addressed mail­ ing label to Servicing Rim Wheels, OSHA Publications, Room N-4101, Frances Perkins Bldg., Third St. and Constitution Ave., Washing­ ton, D.C. 20210. COVENTRY MOTORS LTD. Rt. 14 & McHenry Ave. , Crystal Lake 815-455-2720 "Crystal Lakes Oldest Independent Used Car Dealer NEA GRAPHIC Consumers are more likely to buy a new. car than they were five years ago, Although prices for both new and used cars increased by about the same percentage between 1980 and 1984. No Hype. No Gimmicks. Just a great deal and THE TRUTH! A.P.R. ON F-150 PICKUPS IN STOCK WHILE THEY LAST TrViiTr I t iTBiUi Ifs worth the drive to Fox Lake to deal with Lakeview Ford & Get the truth BRAND NEW 1985 MUSTANG LX AM/FM stereo, premium sound system, speed control, power lock group, styled road wheels, power steering, power brakes. BRAND NEW 1985 LTD BROUGHAM 5.8 liter V6 engine, luxury trim, light group digital clock, interval windshield wip­ ers, tilt steering wheel fingertip control, bumber rub strips, rear window defroster, air conditioning, am-fm stereo, power win­ dows, power steering, power brakes, luxury wheel covers, tinted glass. No. 5159. <*,'10,387" including freight & dealer prep. Or No Money Down $227°5 mM flB m per mo.* ONLY *7185 including freight & dealer prep. Or No Money Down per mo. BRAND NEW 1985 RANGER PICKUP NOW ONLY '6597 including freight & dealer prep. Or No Money Down $133*mo *48 mo. closed end lease 1981 MUSTANG Full power, air, AM/FM, $>l>IOC automatic. USED CARS 1981 MAZDA GLC WAGON 4-cylinder, 5 speed and more. Sterlinq Silver. 9m99 1983 MUSTANG Automatic, tull power, AM/FM $C^QC stereo cassette. 9 "r ̂ 9 USED CARS 1979 MERCURY COUGAR XR7 Air conditioned, sun root, AM/FM SO^QC stereo tape, bucket seats. 3 m99 1980 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME 2DR, tull power, air, automatic, $<% QQP AM/FM stereo, sport wheels. O vW 1979 CAMARO BERLINETTA Extra sharp, full power and air. $0 4 QC OneOwner. Low miles. 9 JL 99 1978 BUICK SKYLARK Full power, automatic transmission, air $4 QQC conditioning, 4 door in colonial bronze. X 999 1981 BONNEVILLE BROUGHAM Lime green, 4 door with matching velour QP interior. Loaded with every option. "frO 99 1979 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS Luxury 4 door, air conditioned, automatic, full power, AM/FM stereo tape, vinyl roof <fl QB and many more options. 9 A 99 1983 DODGE B300 One ton cargo van, full power, $£ « QP automatic, radio. D X 99 SANDY McKIE'S 587-4200 LAKEVIEW FORD-MERCURY 90 S. Route 12 CLOSED SUNDAY FOR » BETTER DEAL OR MOROAY LOCATED IN FOX LAKE Mon Thurt 9 8 Fri 9-6 • S«l 9 S RENTING LEASING FORD