OT: carfax reports

[jacksonpt]

Anyone have experience reading carfax reports? There is a truck near buffalo that I'm interested it, but it's got a salvage/rebuilt title due to an accident involving right rear impact. Seller told me about the accident and said the bed was replaced.

I'd be more comfortable knowing if there was significant damage to the suspension, drive train or frame. Any way to find additional information about the accident from the carfax report?

 

[albano]

FYI, I have been a used car wholesaler for the past 20 years (new car dealer for 20 previous)...A salvage/rebuilt title usually cuts the value of the vehicle in HALF! It will not be easy to find out exactly what happened to the truck, no matter what the owner/seller tells you...If you really think its a great deal, take it to a shop to have it inspected ...for example...you can't be sure if the air bags work, or were even re-installed. No way I would want my family in that truck.

As for car fax...I have basically no use for them...they only have the info that is submitted for that vehicle...many cars have an 'accident history' that does not show on CF. Many dealers use the CF as a selling point, BUT it is actually NO guarantee that the car is 'perfect'!

 

[jacksonpt]

hmmm.... interesting. thanks for the info.

 

[dreaminmel]

Very good advice. I ordered a carfax on the Jeep I purchased and the only real helpful tidbit was that service records were included but interestingly there was no entry for the routine maintenance record on the tranny. I ended up having to fix it.

Another tidbit, you may want to check with your insurance company on it before buying. Some will not insure vehicles with salvage/rebuilt titles. Not all are that picky... but some are.

 

[rjmayes34]

and banks wont give you a loan for a salvaged/rebuilt car/truck

 

[jacksonpt]

The more of these things I read (carfax reports), the more worthless I think they are.

 

[albano]

The more of these things I read (carfax reports), the more worthless I think they are.

BINGO! what you see is the 'power' of advertising! Everyone wants to see the FREE CarFax report...but the truth is, it's NOT free...the dealer has to pay for it, and of course the expense is passed on to the buyer. As said before...they only have the info that IS reported.

Most dealers have the capability to detect prior damage to a vehicle, just by looking at it (I do that everyday)...in a minute I can usually tell what parts were painted or replaced. Seeing that problem, will make me do further inspection to detect more extensive/hidden damage. Unfortunately, some dealers check the car fax to confirm that the damage is NOT 'public' knowledge, therefore, they don't need to tell you about it.

IMO...It's worth an extra $100+/- to have any used vehicle checked out by a 'trusted' mechanic.

 

[jacksonpt]

IMO...It's worth an extra $100+/- to have any used vehicle checked out by a 'trusted' mechanic.

Definitely, and if I buy locally I will absolutely do that. But that's easier said than done when it's not a local vehicle.

 

[captain7359]

If it has a salvage title it has been through NYS inspection and all parts that required replacement according to the insurance claim are checked out.We've rebuilt 4 salvage vehicles for myself and the family and the inspections were hell. Watched them take the hood off a car in the booth because they didn't have the paperwork from where it was purchased. You may be able to get the insurance report on it. If it was totaled the repair costs were more than the value of the vehicle, but that's the costs to have a shop do all the work. Parts and your own labor can be had for a lot cheaper, so if the guy did it himself he bought the truck back from insurance and put a few parts back into it. If the bed was replaced the frame may have had to be re-squared or straightened. Check all the gaps between body panels and make sure they are all consistent and the same from side to side. Make sure the hood lines up and closes right along with the doors not binding.

It's worth much less than book value.

 

[talon4x4]

Definitely, and if I buy locally I will absolutely do that. But that's easier said than done when it's not a local vehicle.

Just ask around to the Buffalo reefers, surely one of them has a mechanic they can recommend. I have no recommendations as I drive a fleet vehicle that gets repaired at the Ford dealerships and my wife leases a VW.

 

[jacksonpt]

If the carfax reports shows an odo reading of 110,356, and actual odo shows 110,322 should I be concerned?

 

[albano]

If the carfax reports shows an odo reading of 110,356, and actual odo shows 110,322 should I be concerned?

When was that odometer reading reported?

 

[jacksonpt]

Ah, good call on a bit of basic logic (duh, should have thought of that). The carfax odo reading was reported last week. Prior to that, the last recorded odo reading was in March at 106,473... so it doesn't seem like an issue.

 

[MAVX]

If the carfax reports shows an odo reading of 110,356, and actual odo shows 110,322 should I be concerned?

could've been the nysi inspectors mistake by putting the wrong number in the nysi computer.

imho, I would never trust a salvage/rebuilt vehicle... I've been in the business for too many years to know.