JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – About 200 people showed up downtown Thursday for the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office car auction.
The cars sold were cars JSO confiscated through felonies, such as burglaries or drug deals, and they are sold as is. The average auction scores about $30,000.
Alexis Thorn bought a 1994 Chevy Cavalier for $700.
"First car, first car ever and I'm 24," she said.
Thorn said she chose the auction instead of a dealership to save money.
"I'm excited. Kind of scared of the Duval traffic," she said.
"Obviously, you're taking a chance because you don't really know where the underlying condition of the car is going to be beyond the fact that it starts," said John Winkler, who bought a 1997 Volkswagen Jetta for $1,900.
The bidders had an hour to take a look at the cars for sale, then it was bidding time. When a bidder won, he or she put down $100 dollars as a deposit and had to come back by 2 p.m. with the rest of the money to get the title for the vehicle.
Although buyers couldn't take the car for a test drive, they were all willing to gamble on the purchase.
"If it's enough of a discount from what it would cost you at a dealership, it's worth the chance," Winkler said.
More people than usual went to the auction. Most people attributed the large crowd to the economy, along with people getting their tax refund.
"Everybody got their income taxes and everybody wants a car, so they came here to the auction," Thorn said.
"I don't want payments right now, can't really afford it," said Ronnal Quarals, who bought a 1994 Cadillac DeVille for $900.
Not all the bidders got exactly what they wanted as far as the model and make, but they did save a lot of money.
"I'm content with it," Quarals said. "It's not what I wanted, but I'm glad I got something, you know. You have to be happy with what you get."
JSO sold 35 vehicles, along with some rims and a couple of trailers. The money it earned from the auction goes back to the Sheriff's Office to upkeep its vehicles.
The next auction will be held May 10.