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Why didn't the accident show up in CarFax?
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Jul 3rd, 2007 01:30 AM #1Deal Fanatic
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How can this dealer be so dumb?
This story is so ridiculous it may entertain people... and serve as a warning to some.
As most of you are by now only too well aware, I am a fan of GM W cars... and since I tend to follow my own advice where feasible, I've been looking at the used market half-thinking about buying one.
5-6 months ago, I noticed one listed in autotrader for a price that seemed a tiny bit cheap compared to most asking prices for similar year/mileage. Seller is a GM dealer somewhere in the GTA. There's a single picture, not very flattering, of the car under a big pile of snow. No "Optimum" graphic. Like most GM dealers (and other new car dealers?), they also have a Boost listings site, but THIS particular car was not listed there. This seemed odd.
A few months later, the car shows up, much cleaned looking with fresh pictures, on the Boost site. Price is still the same. The dealer lists the condition as "excellent" in those tables below the pictures. I continue to be puzzled. I run the VIN through the government's DriveClean history site. Two tests shown, one in May 2005 and one in June 2006. Hmmm.
Then about two weeks ago, the price drops another $2K. This intrigues me some more. I post on RFD asking for a Carfax. A friendly member responds (thanks!!). Carfax is clean, but the last mention is that it was "registered as personal vehicle" in May 2005. We're now in June 2007. How very puzzling. I consider going to that dealer. (As I have no car now, and am only half-interested, going would be inconvenient)
Then because I was puzzling over something in the pictures, I send the link to a clueful friend. At first he finds that what was puzzling me is nothing and seems to think the car is in good condition... but then he looks at some of the other pictures more carefully, and notices firstly obvious evidence of repainting in the middle of the rear right door panel. Then he notices crunched up sheet metal around the C pillar. Obviously this car had been in some kind of accident...
So, basically, these people (a franchised GM new car dealer) are advertising as being in "excellent" condition (but not certified - they're obviously not that foolish) in every respect a car that has accident damage that can be seen in their own pictures. I would have expected this from a curbsider, but...
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Jul 3rd, 2007 05:11 AM #2_______________
LIFE IS PURE GENERATED EMOTION Reply With Quote
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Jul 3rd, 2007 06:00 AM #3
only claims which have been reported to insurance show up.
For example, if you write off your car, but don't report it, it's like it never happened.... Reply With Quote
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Jul 3rd, 2007 06:25 AM #4
So, why would the dealer be dumb? This is a car that is for sale and 90% of the people would not have gone through the trouble you did. Still, after all this, you have only an opinion (perhaps a very good one) that the car has been in an "accident" as no official paperwork indicates it has.
As in all things, buyer beware. Reply With Quote
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Jul 3rd, 2007 07:13 AM #5why do people think CarFax is even useful anymore?
Originally Posted by V A N Q U I S H
With the insurance system the way it is, people only put in claims when it is absolutely necessary because every claim you make jacks your rates and it usually isn't worth it.
When you pay for the repair yourself, it doesn't show up on CarFax ...
When is the last time you made a claim? I bet there are people on this forum that have been driving for over 10 years and have never even thought of making a claim Reply With Quote
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Jul 3rd, 2007 08:56 AM #6Deal Fanatic
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Well, what I think is dumb is checking off all the "excellent" boxes to describe the condition of a car where you can see there's something wrong from the PICTURES. Surely anybody who shows up there is going to notice the problem within 5 minutes... Originally Posted by Pete_Coach
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Jul 3rd, 2007 09:00 AM #7Deal Fanatic
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If I had to guess, I think that after getting hit (in the rear passenger door area... so not something that will readily make it impossible to drive the thing), the previous owner drove to this dealer and traded in the damaged car on a new one. No insurance claim was made for whatever reason (e.g. person with sketchy insurance record who'd rather take the loss themselves). Originally Posted by V A N Q U I S H
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Jul 3rd, 2007 09:29 AM #8Deal Addict
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The dealer is not dumb. They want to attract as many customer as possible so they can do their bait and switch. Originally Posted by VivienM
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Jul 3rd, 2007 09:40 AM #9Deal Fanatic
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So you think the idea is that someone shows up, notices the accident damage, then the sales dude is like "well, if you want an undamaged car, I have that one over there for $6000 more?" I wonder if anyone would fall for that... Originally Posted by DragonZealot
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Jul 3rd, 2007 09:54 AM #10Sr. Member
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VivienM, good post for used car buyers!
+1 for you.
I've seen on trader that some dealer use pictures that don't even belong to that car, so better check out the car urself when looking! =) Reply With Quote
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Jul 3rd, 2007 10:05 AM #11
Did you ever call or go to the dealership? Are you still interested in the car? If not, post the link ... just curious to see this vehicle.
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Jul 3rd, 2007 10:11 AM #12Well I think that's just because they have an automated system for generating those ads and sometimes it screws up, not because the dealer is trying to trick you. Although they could really use someone to read the ads before listing an S55 AMG with a picture of a Sunfire.I've seen on trader that some dealer use pictures that don't even belong to that car, so better check out the car urself when looking! =)
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Jul 3rd, 2007 10:12 AM #13Deal Fanatic
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Nope, didn't call, didn't go. In all honesty, I'm not in the best financial position to afford a car right now, but I admit this thing's colour and price had me somewhat intrigued? Originally Posted by djjosee
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Jul 3rd, 2007 10:30 AM #14
So you can't afford it, but you still went out of your way to take the time to be a super detective?
Something tells me the dealer isn't the only dumb one ...
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Jul 3rd, 2007 10:35 AM #15Deal Fanatic
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Originally Posted by mdc
So you can't afford it, but you still went out of your way to take the time to be a super detective?
Something tells me the dealer isn't the only dumb one ... well, the price for this thing was low enough (and the colour rare enough) that I might have looked hard for the money just to avoid it getting away...
... and honestly, I probably spend more time each day reading this forum than I spent in total being a "super detective" on this. Reply With Quote
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