Anyone with a Carfax account?

[kd4pbs]

Well, I looked at the '03 PTGT last night, and I think I'm gonna get it. The closest thing I've found to it's price versus shape is an '04 PTGT with slightly less miles for almost $2000 more.
So, Does anyone on here have a carfax account? If so, could you please look up a VIN? 3C8FY78G23T628404 .
Thanks!

[Hooligan]

Don't have an account, but I'm not sure CARFAX is all that great. They can only list what they know, and some shady characters don't post what they know/fix on a problem car.

[kd4pbs]

They're not perfect, for sure. It will show however if the car has a salvage title, was in a flood, odometer was tampered with (traceable somewhat via state inspection reports), etc. I'd never base my sale on it, but I would use it as a tool as part of a larger toolbox .

[CREWZIN]

If it's a sale from a dealer, tell them to run the CARFAX report if they want to make the sale. It's on a lot of TV commercials these days about potential buyers asking the dealer for the CARFAX report.

[JD78]

When I was shopping for my car I found that Experian's Autocheck was used more. I don't know what the differences are, but I found Autocheck provided a good amount of info. I think you can get a one month account (unlimited checks) for under $40.

[digitalpinscruiser]

if its from a dealer, they should give you a carfax report without even asking......thats what my dealer did for me. But if its from a private seller tell them your interested but you want a carfax report first and if they really want to sell it then you should get one from them. Its also nice that they give you one better felling that they are not trying to rip you off.

[kd4pbs]

I have to wonder how much I can trust a dealer though. I could make a printout of something read whatever I want it to read, so I'm sure some dealers would as well . This is sold from an individual though. He has had it for about 10 months or so, and is selling because he's moving back to his home country. About the only thing that concerns me about the car is that it's obvious he is running it on 87 octane. It had some preignition issues when I test drove it. Hopefully the pistons aren't too chewed up from it. I know my old 2.5 turbo LeBaron had lots of preignition issues and the top ring land didn't suffer at all. Forged pistons can certainly take more punishment than cast. The timing belt has not been changed, but the service interval for the turbo engine on the timing belt is something like 105-110 K miles. I guess they understand that it won't be stressed as much as the NA 2.4 due to not having to rev the engine as high to get going. I need to look up the part numbers real quick and see if they are different.
I guess nobody has a carfax account around here; I got no replies.
Thanks a bunch, guys an gals. Looks like I will have something to play with on Monday.
-Matt

[JD78]

If you are buying from an individual it would probably be in your best interest to get Carfax or Autocheck yourself. A one time Carfax is $34.99 or you could go with one time Autocheck (through Experian) for $24.99. Better yet, Autocheck also has an unlimited check for 60 days for $39.99. Either way, all the options are under $40 and are probably worth it considering the price of the investment you may be making.

[SRG]

From personal experience, any carfax isn't worth the paper it's printed on. Read their website before you order. It will say that they can only report info that is reported to them, (no kidding!)

If your car is damaged, flooded, burned, whatever, and it wasn't claimed to an insurance co., the damaged was fixed by the owner, and carfax won't know about it.

Your best bet would probably be to take it to a mechanic you trust and have him put it on a lift, as well as a test drive.

Good luck!
srg

[JD78]

Originally Posted by SRG

From personal experience, any carfax isn't worth the paper it's printed on. Read their website before you order. It will say that they can only report info that is reported to them, (no kidding!)

If your car is damaged, flooded, burned, whatever, and it wasn't claimed to an insurance co., the damaged was fixed by the owner, and carfax won't know about it.

Your best bet would probably be to take it to a mechanic you trust and have him put it on a lift, as well as a test drive.

Good luck!
srg

This is true, but most people are not going to do the work themselves. I can't speak personally about Carfax, but I found Autocheck to be rather useful. Regardless, you are going to want a mechanic to take a look at it.