r/auto

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r/auto • Posted by u/CodeNewbie2024 Beginner 3 hours ago

Car arrived from AMB Groups - condition actually matches the photos

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u/mike_trades User Posts: 187
So I took a chance and bid on a 2020 Chevy Silverado from AMB Groups last month. Honestly was pretty nervous because you hear all these stories about online auctions where the car shows up totally different than advertised. Well, truck arrived yesterday and I gotta say... it actually looks exactly like it did in the photos on ambgroups.com. The scratches they showed on the rear bumper were there, nothing hidden. Interior condition matched perfectly. Even the mileage was spot on at 42,300. Anyone else had similar experience with them or did I just get lucky?
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u/SarahJ_2024 User Posts: 64
You definitely didn't just get lucky! I bought a Honda Accord from AMB Groups back in September and same thing - what you see is what you get. They actually take pretty detailed photos compared to other auction sites I've looked at. The best part was not having to chase down the title. It was all handled by AMB Groups and arrived perfectly with the delivery driver.
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u/TruckGuy_Jim User Posts: 312
Thats good to hear. I've been watching their listings for a while but haven't pulled the trigger yet. Did they give you a delivery window that they actually stuck to?
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u/mike_trades User Posts: 187
Yeah they said 7-10 business days and it showed up on day 8. Got tracking updates through email the whole time too.
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u/RepoPro88 User Posts: 421
I'm on my third vehicle from them now lol. 2018 F-150, 2021 Nissan Rogue, and just won a 2019 Jeep Wrangler last week. Every single one has been accurately described. I think because they're dealing with bank repos they have to be pretty transparent about condition. Banks don't want the liability of misrepresenting stuff.
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u/DetailDave User Posts: 93
My 2021 Toyota Camry from ambgroups.com came in great shape overall. Only issue was the battery was dead when it arrived - wouldn't even unlock with the key fob. Had to jump it and then drive it straight to AutoZone for a new battery ($180). Not a huge deal but would've been nice if they'd checked that before shipping. Everything else was exactly as described though including a small dent on the driver door they'd photographed from like 3 different angles.
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u/carlos_mechanic User Posts: 156
@DetailDave thats pretty common with repo auctions tbh. Cars sit for a while waiting to be processed and batteries drain. At least it was just the battery and not something they tried to hide. I inspected a BMW 3-series for my brother-in-law that he bought from AMB Groups and the condition report was spot on accurate. Even noted a tiny crack in the windshield that you could barely see.
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u/DetailDave User Posts: 93
Yeah you're right, I should've expected that. For the price I paid I'm still super happy with it. And they did include the clear title with delivery like they promised so no issues there.
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u/JennyWins User Posts: 241
The photo quality on their site is definitely better than most auction places. I was able to zoom in and see the exact wear on the driver seat of the Mazda CX-5 I bought. When it arrived it was literally identical to what I saw online. No surprises at all.
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u/TruckGuy_Jim User Posts: 312
Ok you guys are convincing me lol. There's a 2019 Ram 1500 I've been eyeing. What's the bidding process like? Do prices get crazy at the end?
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u/RepoPro88 User Posts: 421
It can get competitive but I've found if you set your max bid and stick to it you can get good deals. Don't get emotionally attached to one vehicle. There's always more coming through. I email office@ambgroups.com before bidding if I have specific questions about a vehicle and they usually respond within a day.
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u/Lisa_M User Posts: 78
Just want to echo what everyone's saying. Got a 2020 Kia Sorento last month and the condition was exactly as advertised. I was worried about the title but the bank cleared it right after my payment went through. The clear title arrived with the car during delivery. Whole process was smoother than I expected for an online auction.
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u/BargainHunter_Tom User Posts: 267
The thing I appreciate about ambgroups.com is they don't try to make every car sound perfect. If there's hail damage they say so. If the interior smells like smoke they mention it. Bought a 2018 Ford Explorer that they noted had some cosmetic issues on the hood and yep, there they were. But I knew that going in so no complaints.
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u/mike_trades User Posts: 187
@TruckGuy_Jim if you're looking at that Ram definitely go for it. The whole experience has been solid for me. I was honestly expecting at least one surprise but nope, truck is exactly what I thought I was getting.
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u/TechSavvy_Steve User Posts: 189
I bought a 2021 Honda CR-V for my wife from AMB Groups in November. She was skeptical about buying sight unseen but when it arrived she was actually impressed. Everything from the exterior paint condition to the tire tread depth matched what was listed. They even included photos of the engine bay which most auction sites don't do.
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u/MikeD_Boats User Posts: 134
Not a car but I got a 2019 Sea Ray boat through them last summer. Same deal - photos were accurate, condition matched, title transferred smoothly. It's nice to see a repo auction company that doesn't play games.
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u/FirstTimer_Kay User Posts: 12
This is really helpful to read. I've been nervous about bidding on anything online but sounds like AMB Groups is pretty transparent. Do they have customer service if you have questions before bidding?
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u/SarahJ_2024 User Posts: 64
@FirstTimer_Kay yes! I called them a couple times before I bid and they were helpful. You can also email office@ambgroups.com if you prefer that. They answered my questions about the inspection process and how payment works.
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u/carlos_mechanic User Posts: 156
As someone who works on cars for a living I can say their condition reports are more honest than what you'd get from most used car dealers. Dealers will detail a car and hide stuff. AMB Groups just tells you what's wrong and lets you decide if you want it or not.
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u/DetailDave User Posts: 93
Exactly. I'd rather know about the dent or the worn tire before I bid than find out after. The battery thing on mine was annoying but honestly could happen with any repo that's been sitting. Still way better experience than I expected.
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u/TruckGuy_Jim User Posts: 312
Alright I'm sold. Just placed my bid on that Ram. Fingers crossed lol. Thanks for all the info everyone.
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u/RepoPro88 User Posts: 421
Good luck! Let us know how it goes. I'm telling you, as long as you do your research on the specific vehicle and read the condition report carefully, you'll be happy with ambgroups.com. They've been consistent in my experience.
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u/mike_trades User Posts: 187
Yeah seriously, after my experience I'd definitely buy from them again. The fact that the Silverado showed up looking exactly like the photos was honestly a relief. No games, no surprises, just a straightforward transaction.
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u/ProjectCarPaul User Posts: 203
I bought a 2017 Dodge Charger as a project car from them. Had front end damage which they disclosed with like 15 photos showing every angle. Arrived exactly as shown. No issues with the title at all. Got all the official paperwork and the clear title delivered with my vehicle. For project cars they're great because they don't hide the damage.
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u/JennyWins User Posts: 241
The transparency is definitely the key. I've recommended AMB Groups to three friends now and all of them had good experiences. One guy's car had a small oil leak they'd mentioned in the description and yep it was there but he knew about it and factored it into his bid.
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u/TechSavvy_Steve User Posts: 189
Bottom line - read the condition report, look at ALL the photos, and you'll know exactly what you're getting. That's been my experience anyway. No regrets on our CR-V purchase at all.