How much weight do you give CarFax when buying a used auto? (from a dealer)

[Jstpssng]

Right now I am in the process of assisting my daughter look for a replacement for her 2004 Grand Cherokee. We're looking for a 2014 to 2018. Yesterday, via internet,I made nine inquiries and received a carfax report on each. Seven of them listed previous collision reports or insurance claims. As there is no specific information about these, these seven were quickly and easily discarded. We will now have a look at the remaining two and check them out thoroughly. Carfax saved us a ton of time and effort weeding out the unwanted ones.

Those still might be worth following up on, if the price is reasonable and sellers have records of what work was done. Even if they traded, here the dealer will provide us with the previous owner's name and contact info. I would have done that with the Colorado which prompted me to start this thread, but at the time it was a seller's market plus dealers were really milking the Covid for all it was worth. The 2020 truck I drove down to look at sold while I was on the road.

 

[not2old]

Those still might be worth following up on, if the price is reasonable and sellers have records of what work was done. Even if they traded, here the dealer will provide us with the previous owner's name and contact info. I would have done that with the Colorado which prompted me to start this thread, but at the time it was a seller's market plus dealers were really milking the Covid for all it was worth. The 2020 truck I drove down to look at sold while I was on the road.

That's what's happening. One that had minimum damage has dropped the asking to $20,999 while the one without doesn't seem to want to budge from $24,250. We will likely view both but the less expensive one is most likely to drop even more. At $3000 it's a tough call, but at $4000 or more the minor damage doesn't seem that bad. Pictures appear to have it properly repaired.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
It depends on who did the work, also.

 

[not2old]

^^^^
It depends on who did the work, also.

Good point. My daughter is in Alberta where private insurance looks for the least expensive repair. I'm used to having the work done at high end shops where the cost is borne by our government run insurance. They usually don't cut corners, but are quick to write off vehicles. Four years ago, I had to fight to get a windshield and both headlights replaced on a 1995 Volvo 960 wagon that was in excellent condition.

 

[fried1765]

Good point. My daughter is in Alberta where private insurance looks for the least expensive repair. I'm used to having the work done at high end shops where the cost is borne by our government run insurance. They usually don't cut corners, but are quick to write off vehicles. Four years ago, I had to fight to get a windshield and both headlights replaced on a 1995 Volvo 960 wagon that was in excellent condition.

Government run auto insurance?
Of course....it is Canada.
Coming soon, to the The Democratic Peoples Republic of the USA?

 

[two_bit_score]

Government run auto insurance?
Of course....it is Canada.
Coming soon, to the The Democratic Peoples Republic of the USA?

Let’s hope not.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

NO!
I used LPS-3 (has a mil. spec., and is much better than FF, in my opinion)
Inside panels, light cavities etc., one time application only.
Under carriage got touch-up when LPS-3 erosion became obvious.
I spend Winters in Florida now, but I still use LPS-3 on other unpainted steel items that are subject to weather exposure.
It seems to be good for at least 1 year steel exposure protection.

There used to be a couple of different things that were offered to help resist rust from taking over your truck 1. was called Rusty Jones it was some sort of undercoating, the other was called Ziebart and they actually drilled holes in body panels and shot it inside, pretty sure it was the real deal.

 

[crazyal]

Most vehicles are designed for any water that gets inside things like the rocker panels to run out. Putting rustproofing inside them blocks those passages and can cause problems. In the good old days they would drill holes in rocker panels, not sure I would want that now.

 

[Jstpssng]

Most vehicles are designed for any water that gets inside things like the rocker panels to run out. Putting rustproofing inside them blocks those passages and can cause problems. In the good old days they would drill holes in rocker panels, not sure I would want that now.

Rocker panels are a lot flimsier now, also. This summer I was riding in my boss' brand new pickup. As is my habit I kicked the dirt off my boots everytime that I got in; about halfway through the day I realized that I had put multiple dents in the rocker panels. It didn't help that I was wearing steel toed boots...

 

[fried1765]

There used to be a couple of different things that were offered to help resist rust from taking over your truck 1. was called Rusty Jones it was some sort of undercoating, the other was called Ziebart and they actually drilled holes in body panels and shot it inside, pretty sure it was the real deal.

The Ziebart and Rusty Jones applications are only as good who does them!