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

[Cat_Driver]

And the service they provide. Carfax is a tool, and like any tool, the user has to know how to use its features.

If it's a tool then it's a broken tool. You wouldn't use a broken set of pliers then why use carfax? If you can't trust data 100% then any of their data isn't worth a hoot. They even say it themselves " CARFAX Vehicle History products and services are based only on information supplied to CARFAX. CARFAX does not have the complete history of every vehicle. Use the CARFAX search as one important tool, along with a vehicle inspection and test drive, to make a better decision about your next used car.
"

 

[RickB]

Z

If it's a tool then it's a broken tool. You wouldn't use a broken set of pliers then why use carfax? If you can't trust data 100% then any of their data isn't worth a hoot. They even say it themselves " CARFAX Vehicle History products and services are based only on information supplied to CARFAX. CARFAX does not have the complete history of every vehicle. Use the CARFAX search as one important tool, along with a vehicle inspection and test drive, to make a better decision about your next used car.
"

See post #2. Nobody is suggesting Carfax as the only buying criteria. And really, I don’t care if you use it or not.

 

[crashz]

Car fax is not infallible. But it can be a good tool. My daily driver CRV has an 8 page Car fax, with most maintenance listed. When I bought it, I did not check the Car fax. I could not tell it was in a major collision with a telephone pole. It wasn't until I tried trade it for a 4Runner that I was introduced to the Car fax and accident history.

Live and learn. the car has been pretty good to me and will easily get to 300K next year. That's all I need.

 

[two_bit_score]

Car fax is not infallible. But it can be a good tool. My daily driver CRV has an 8 page Car fax, with most maintenance listed. When I bought it, I did not check the Car fax. I could not tell it was in a major collision with a telephone pole. It wasn't until I tried trade it for a 4Runner that I was introduced to the Car fax and accident history.

Live and learn. the car has been pretty good to me and will easily get to 300K next year. That's all I need.

One reason salvage buyers like insurance company wrecked cars is the cars were running and being driven regularly when they were involved in an accident. Most of the time.

 

[tom3]

I recently bought a new Canyon, the cousin to your Colorado. I would have bought a low mileage late model truck, and I actually found one about an hour away that suited me. The selling dealer posted the Carfax report which revealed the truck had been titled in NY for two years. Having just retired an 82000 mile Sierra with terminal rust issues from when we both lived in NY I immediately crossed that Canyon from consideration. After searching around more I finally pulled the trigger on a new unit.

Worth repeating here. These 4x4s with the boxed frames up here in the snow belt can be big trouble in a few short years. Take a real close look at that frame from mid cab and back. Stick a finger in any hole and feel for built up sand, dirt, salt etc. and actual big flaky rust areas. Peck around on it and look for soft thin areas. They are known to actually break in half right behind the cab.

 

[bdeboer]

I recently traded in 9
one of my trucks. The dealership showed me a printed carfax of the truck during the trade in negotiation.

Was pleasantly surprised local shop that does most of my work does report to Carfax.

The local Chevy dealer however, when they replaced a recalled passenger airbag a couple years ago reported it, as a maintenance inspection.

 

[jwstewar]

Strange that I just happened to see this thread. We bought a car for my son in August of 2019. The dealer showed us a CarFax report that showed all kinds of routine maintenance to the car and show a minor accident from June of 2015. Thinking, OK, that was four years ago, the car is probably OK if it has still been run that long. Over the year or so, we've noticed a few odd things about the car. Hood latch not working properly, that type of stuff. Fast forward to this past Monday night. My son wanted to trade it in for a truck. The dealer ran a CarFax report on it. In July of 2019 (one month before we bought it) it was reported the car had been in an accident with major structural damage. Along with the item the new buyer had been made aware of the damage. Then it shows where we bought the car on August 10th. It also shows where we were made aware of the damage - except we weren't made aware of the structural damage - only the damage from June of 2015.

Had we found this out before August of this past year, CarFax would have purchased the car back from us because of an omission on the report.

 

[Jstpssng]

Worth repeating here. These 4x4s with the boxed frames up here in the snow belt can be big trouble in a few short years. Take a real close look at that frame from mid cab and back. Stick a finger in any hole and feel for built up sand, dirt, salt etc. and actual big flaky rust areas. Peck around on it and look for soft thin areas. They are known to actually break in half right behind the cab.

That's why I had to buy this to replace my 2004 Ranger.

 

[crazyal]

Strange that I just happened to see this thread. We bought a car for my son in August of 2019. The dealer showed us a CarFax report that showed all kinds of routine maintenance to the car and show a minor accident from June of 2015. Thinking, OK, that was four years ago, the car is probably OK if it has still been run that long. Over the year or so, we've noticed a few odd things about the car. Hood latch not working properly, that type of stuff. Fast forward to this past Monday night. My son wanted to trade it in for a truck. The dealer ran a CarFax report on it. In July of 2019 (one month before we bought it) it was reported the car had been in an accident with major structural damage. Along with the item the new buyer had been made aware of the damage. Then it shows where we bought the car on August 10th. It also shows where we were made aware of the damage - except we weren't made aware of the structural damage - only the damage from June of 2015.

Had we found this out before August of this past year, CarFax would have purchased the car back from us because of an omission on the report.

Sounds like the damage hadn't been entered into the system yet. The previous owner most likely traded it in before he would of taken a hit. Before Carfax you most likely never would of known.

 

[Oldpath05]

I picked this Cherokee up yesterday at Carmax, they went over the Carfax with me, just showed normal maintenance, I just took it for granted they didn't lie.... 2018, 28,000 mi, $20,999.00+ tax $1,500, +$35.00 selling fee or something, then being under Murphy's Law I added $1,500.00/5year/12500mi warrantee with $100.00 deductible.

Fair to say cars have changed since 2004, right now I'd still have to ask the wife how to get in it, start it and I had the dealer show me 3 times, then the touch screen, wow, I got I can do to get on youtube.....