By Bob Simon
Friends Auto International in Tampa, Florida, opened its doors to offer an alternative to drivers looking for affordable used cars “as is.” Its vehicle prices and sales-related services attract car buyers, said Manny Antoine, manager of Friends Auto International.
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He decided to quit his last mechanic job to bring peace of mind to drivers with bad or no credit.
In Florida, $34,519 is the average price for a used car, according to a study run by IseeCars in 2022. “However,”said Antoine, “local car dealerships in Hillsborough County seasoned their business strategy with a more friendly approach to surviving the automobile market’s crisis.”
Antoine has managed this 6-year-old car dealership since December 2018. This automobile shop provides used cars to the population of Hillsborough County, which is the third largest county in Florida.
The dealership has created a spot within the automotive retail market in Tampa. It’s a win for Antoine, who bought an old black smoking Toyota Tercel in 2000 for $1100 and later, had to rebuild the engine.
“I am proud of myself for reaching out to the community and helping its members get good cars with lower prices,” Antoine said. “Regardless of the market price, we always maintained a low price for our cars.”
He sold his first car in 2004. Today, Antoine’s inventory has around 30 cars for sale, including a Tesla.
Antoine said, “Our company is different from traditional car dealerships in that we are honest, and we’re a buy-here-pay-here dealership. Antoine doesn’t finance cars through lenders but in-house.
To stay competitive, this dealer sometimes adjusts its car prices within weeks. “Friends Auto International dropped its prices after monitoring market prices,” Antoine said. “I can’t compete with somebody giving a car away for free.
Besides the car price, the warranty is something Friends Auto International takes seriously. “I give customers six years or one year of warranty,” Antoine said.
In Tampa, dealers acquire inventory through retail auctions. Friend Auto International does the same. Antoine spends his entire time managing inventory, sales, and acquisition. He said, “I like the freedom even though I work seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m.”
Automobile dealers will have to review advertising and sales communications if the Federal Trade Commission law on vehicle shopping rule becomes effective by July 30, 2024. With this new regulation, the agency shows its determination to combat auto retail scams trade regulation rule. Antoine and most of the car dealership managers are aware of that.
But Antoine, above all, wants to keep improving his company’s ability to serve Hillsborough County residents. “I’m not so much trying to be rich. I’m just trying to run Friend Auto International with honesty and peace of mind,” Antoine said. Visit Friends Auto International’s website to learn more about their inventory and special offers.
[VL1]Manager or owner?
DC of Tampa 