Help decoding a CarFax for a potential purchase
11-01-2008, 11:52 AM
#16
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I had a good education from my P mechanic the other day. The thing to look for is when the car has hopped to several auctions and different states in a short span. We reviewed the Carfax on a pretty 993 with ~80 miles. Looks pretty in the pictures.
The CF shows it has hopped from Texas to Florida 3 times in one year, all auctions. He said this is often a way to, I'll say, "launder" the title. It could have been a flood vehicle from the past years hurricane, repaired at different shops, who sold it to the auction wholesalers, then hops around between states. Somewhere along the line, it loses it's salvage title after much paperwork and filing around.
Now this pretty car is not so pretty anymore. However, it could also be a great car. But the CF history is too questionable.
The CF shows it has hopped from Texas to Florida 3 times in one year, all auctions. He said this is often a way to, I'll say, "launder" the title. It could have been a flood vehicle from the past years hurricane, repaired at different shops, who sold it to the auction wholesalers, then hops around between states. Somewhere along the line, it loses it's salvage title after much paperwork and filing around.
Now this pretty car is not so pretty anymore. However, it could also be a great car. But the CF history is too questionable.
Seems obvious, but ask the owner about the history. Fortunately, this is a PP who was likely much more diligent himself than a dealer.
11-02-2008, 09:34 AM
#17
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Be careful with Carfax! I tested it with the VIN from my Jetta, and nothing came up, although in the 11 years I have had it, it definitely has seen some battles. I was lightly rear-ended a few years ago, and that was listed. However, when I was in college, I was parked near a 5-story house when it snowed two feet (went to Dartmouth in Hanover, NH...it snowed all the time). It was heavy snow and it slid down the roof onto my car. It had a huge 3-inch deep by 3 ft in diameter crater, and the whole roof had to be replaced. No sign of this on Carfax whatsoever.
11-02-2008, 10:09 AM
#18
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Exactly my point in post #3, when I typed:
"And beware of CARFAX reports. OFTEN, there is missing accident info, etc. If the owner decides to not report the accident to their insurance carrier or file an accident report, the accident will never be reported to CARFAX. In addition, some States and insurance companies are well known for reporting VERY late to CARFAX. Recently a nearby State send the past three years of reports to CARFAX all at the same time in August".
"And beware of CARFAX reports. OFTEN, there is missing accident info, etc. If the owner decides to not report the accident to their insurance carrier or file an accident report, the accident will never be reported to CARFAX. In addition, some States and insurance companies are well known for reporting VERY late to CARFAX. Recently a nearby State send the past three years of reports to CARFAX all at the same time in August".
11-02-2008, 04:22 PM
#20
Three Wheelin'
Company-owned cars (and this can include the salesman's Malibu OR the company owner's Porsche), may have only have stop-loss insurance for liability, and damage is self-insured. These cars can be absolutely shredded and it will never show up on Carfax.
11-03-2008, 09:33 AM
#21
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Exactly my point in post #3, when I typed:
"And beware of CARFAX reports. OFTEN, there is missing accident info, etc. If the owner decides to not report the accident to their insurance carrier or file an accident report, the accident will never be reported to CARFAX. In addition, some States and insurance companies are well known for reporting VERY late to CARFAX. Recently a nearby State send the past three years of reports to CARFAX all at the same time in August".
"And beware of CARFAX reports. OFTEN, there is missing accident info, etc. If the owner decides to not report the accident to their insurance carrier or file an accident report, the accident will never be reported to CARFAX. In addition, some States and insurance companies are well known for reporting VERY late to CARFAX. Recently a nearby State send the past three years of reports to CARFAX all at the same time in August".
11-03-2008, 10:53 AM
#22
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