Automotive: US Government auctions reveal serious abuse of vehicles

Take, for example, this five year old Hummer H3 that shows its mileage as less than 79,000..

It's up for auction at Mannheim Auctions in their government services division at Tucsom, Arizona, where tt is to be sold today with no reserve.

Like many of the cars for sale, it has a flat tyre. But a Hummer is indestructible, right? That's why people buy it?

It's amazing what some people will do to a car that even an auctioneer describes as "rough."

It's been sitting at Mannheim since May but that's not the reason for its condition.

The following is extracted from the "condition report" that accompanies all the vehicles Mannheim sell for the government:

Windshield Star in GlassFront Bumper Cover GougedGrille - Chrome Heavy Mult ScratchesBonnet Multiple Chips 10 or MoreBonnet Heavy Mult Scratches 6 IN 10 or More Bonnet Light Mult Scratches 10 or More Roof Roof Mult Dents/No Paint Dmg GR 12 IN Roof Light Mult Scratches 10 or More Sun Roof Inop Repair Required LF Fender Multiple Chips 10 or More LF Fender Heavy Mult Scratches 9 IN 10 or More LF Fender Light Mult Scratches 10 or More LF Tyre Cut Replacement Required LF Door Dent/No Paint Dmg 1" to 2" LF Door Multiple Chips 10 or More LF Door Heavy Mult Scratches GR 12 IN 10 or More LF Door Light Mult Scratches 10 or More L Running Board L Running Board Bent 2" to 3" LR Door Chipped 6 LR Door Heavy Mult Scratches GR 12 IN 10 or More LR Door Light Mult Scratches 10 or More L Qtr Panel Chipped 5 L Qtr Panel Light Mult Scratches 10 or More Tailgate Heavy Mult Scratches 3 IN 4 Tailgate Light Mult Scratches 10 or More Rear Metal Bumper Painted Heavy Mult Scratches GR 12 IN 10 or More Rear Metal Bumper Painted Rear Metal Bumper Painted Dent/Paint Dmg 1" to 2" Rear Metal Bumper Painted Light Mult Scratches 10 or More Stereo Stereo Missing Replacement Required RF Fender Multiple Chips 10 or More RF Fender Heavy Mult Scratches 8 IN 10 or More RF Fender Light Mult Scratches 10 or More RF Tyre Cut RF Door Multiple Chips 10 or More RF Door Heavy Mult Scratches 10 IN 10 or More RF Door Light Mult Scratches 10 or More RR Door Multiple Chips 10 or More RR Door Heavy Mult Scratches GR 12 IN 10 or More RR Door RR Door Prev Repair SANDING MARKS Substd Repair RR Door Light Mult Scratches 10 or More R Qtr Panel Chipped 7 R Qtr Panel Light Mult Scratches 10 or More Warning - Tyre Pressure On Unacceptable Steering Wheel Steering Wheel Worn Replacement Required LF Seat Cushion Worn Replacement Required LF Seat Back Worn Replacement Required LR Seat Cushion Missing Replacement Required LR Seat Back Missing Replacement Required RF Seat Cushion Worn Replacement Required RF Seat Back Worn Replacement Required RR Seat Cushion Worn Replacement Required RR Seat Back Worn Replacement Required Rear Seat Centre Cushion Missing Replacement Required Rear Seat Center Back Missing Replacement Required LF Carpet Stained Permanent LR Carpet Stained Permanent RF Carpet Stained Permanent RR Carpet Stained Permanent Headliner Stained Permanent Engine Leak Repair Required Oil Dirty Unacceptable Power Steering Leak

Mannheim reckon that more than 50 man-hours are required to bring the car into a reasonable condition.

It's not the only one in a similar beaten up condition: in fact all of the vehicles sampled by ChiefOfficers.Net in today's auction were described as "rough."

Details are at http://www.manheimgovservices.com