On 09/24/2009 06:15 AM, E. Meyer wrote:
> On 9/24/09 4:30 AM, in article
> 1d3ba2e5-bfec-46be-bcbe-f2e4788900d1...oglegroups.com, "Elle"
> <honda.lioness@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Sep 23, 9:04�pm, jim beam<m...@privacy.net> wrote:
>>> On 09/23/2009 05:53 PM, Elle wrote:
>>>
>>>> Is there anyone with either carfax.com or autocheck.com service right
>>>> now that could run one check for me? Please email me. I will pass your
>>>> favor along to someone else somehow. Thank you.
>>>
>>> elle, with respect, neither are going to be anywhere /near/ as useful as
>>> a proper physical inspection. �you know a little bit more about engine
>>> inspection now than you did before. �with the honda d-series engine, you
>>> can see if there's sludge/resin and you can see the cam lobes to inspect
>>> for wear. �this is a good indicator of condition in the rest of the engine.
>>
>> Hi Jim. The purpose to me of these title check services is to offer
>> some evidence for whether the car either (1) is a salvage vehicle (if
>> it is, this is a car property insurance problem, for one); (2) has had
>> more owners than the seller is claiming; or (3) has had the odometer
>> tampered with. Carfaxdotcom and autocheckdotcom from my reading are
>> not perfect, but to me they give more peace of mind. The physical car
>> inspection is as important, absolutely. If I am not pleased with
>> either the title check or the physical inspection, then I reject a
>> used car. Believe me, my physical inspection checklist derives largely
>> from reading here over the years. I am looking at 7th generation ( =
>> 2001-2005) Civics with around 100k miles or less on them and documents
>> to support length of ownership and maintenance, too.
>
> I wouldn't put much stock in carfax helping with number 2 on your list. I
> have seen the carfax for a couple of vehicles I bought new with less than 20
> miles on the odometer and it aready showed 3 owners. The explanation from
> the dealer was that transfers between dealers were recorded. If this is
> happening already with a brand new car that has never actually been sold to
> a consumer, I can't imagine what will show up on one that has been traded in
> and resold a couple of times.
>
> But then, the number of owners is really irrelevant. Its the maintenance and
> accident history you are more interested in.
>

and even that doesn't mean anything much. those sources only show you
what has been recorded, not unrecorded. i've seen "clean title"
vehicles that are clearly rebuilt serious accident victims. i've seen
"salvage" vehicles in perfect condition [i own one]. and i've had 300k
mile vehicles in better condition than 100k. the only reliable method
of determining quality is inspection. end of story.