carfax

[superba]

Hi All,

I used Carfax extensively over the first half of 2001 looking to replace my
car, which I didn't do, unfortunately.  Carfax _might_ be able to help but
is not reliable except under specific circumstances.  It helps little or
none on diesels which aren't required to pass emissions tests.
Occasionally, a diesel's first title will be shown which might reveal that
the car was in the rust belt, etc.

I was most interested in 1988 - 1995 Audi's and 1983 Mercedes 300SD's, and
the results ran the gamut.  For example, a broker in Belmont, CA, had a 'one
owner' car that obviously was no longer one owner because the broker owned
it.  Some cars had mileage records that showed no driving for several years;
mileage is dependent on being entered by the emissions tester and/or the
issuer of the title.

You can get an unlimited trial run of 60 days for $19.95.  When that
expires, you can use another email address and do the same thing all over
again.  Try it for a while and you'll discover what I did.

The best approach to buying a used vehicle is to pay an experienced wrench
to inspect it to see what, if anything, needs to be done to it.  I've had
this done on several occasions and the results are usually very surprising
and I paid for an hour at their shop rate.

I expected certain wear and repair items and would have adjusted my offer
commensurately and, I really wanted to know where the car had been and who
drove it.  For example, I didn't want a car that had been used as a rental,
dealer or otherwise, nor did I want one that had been driven 60 to 70
thousand miles per year, nor one that was serviced by Joe's Dodge Chrysler
Plymouth Rolls Royce Hyundai in Podunk.

Just my .02;  your mileage may vary.

Cheers!

Jim Jordan

>  Message: 13
>  From: "Theron & Laurah Bliss" <theronlaurah at hotmail.com>
>  To: quattro at audifans.com
>  Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 08:22:53 -0500
>  Subject:  carfax
>
>  Does anyone have the latest and greatest carfax back door entrance?
>
>  TIA
>
>
>  Theron J. Bliss
>  Massachusetts
>
>  1986 Jetta GLI (white)-sold
>  1994 Jetta GLS (black)
>  1990 Audi V8 Quattro (RIP)
>
>  theronlaurah at hotmail.com
>  theron.j.bliss at power.alstom.com
>  http://sites.netscape.net/theronbliss/homepage