If a Carfax report has some negative information, that would be a good reason to avoid buying a particular used car, even though the potential exists for incorrect negative info to have been posted about that car.
On the other hand, we have had many reports in this forum from folks who bought cars whose Carfax reports had no negative information, but those folks later learned to their dismay that the car had (pick one or more):
been a “flood car”
been wrecked and rebuilt
never had its oil changed
Those folks wound up with cars that needed–literally–thousands of dollars of repair work in order to be fully functional, despite having a “clean” Carfax report.
Assuming that a Carfax report shows any and all relevant information about a particular car could wind up being a very expensive assumption.
Carfax is one instrument to use when buying a used car, but it does not replace getting hard copies of all maintenance records and having said car inspected by your own mechanic prior to purchase.
Well, to be realistic, over half of what GM counts as sales in China are from their joint ventures. Wuling, which is 44% or so owned by GM, accounts for over half of “GM’s” reported sales in China.
So when you look at GM’s top brands worldwide, #1 is Chevy, #2 is Opel/Vauxhall, and #3 is Wuling…#9 is now Jiefang.
I couldn’t agree more. Carfax shouldn’t be dismissed, but like background checks for gun ownership where some states turn in as little as 20% of the necessary information to the national archives, you only benefit when someone else is doing their job.
I Agree With Both VDC Driver And Dagosa On This One. It’s Usually Helpful To Learn What A Carfax Report States, But What It Dosen’t State Is Of Real Concern.
During my recent search for a GM Certified Used car, I found out that these certified cars include a Carfax report. I wasn’t all that interested in them for the reasons give by VDC Driver, but read them anyhow (I was neww to this experience).
The car I didn’t buy (and it was a very good deal and probably would have been a great car) showed 2 owners in the car’s short life (1 1/2 years & 20,000 miles). I checked that car out and couldn’t fault what I saw, but two owners in a short time period didn’t sit right. There may have been a sound reason (owner died, went to prison, transferred out of country), but the dealer could not provide that. I passed.
Apparently other buyers were skeptical too because the dealer later called with a reduced price offer, explaining the car would be sold at auction in 2 days (I have reason to believe this was not a sales gimmick) and that I could buy it at that price (well below trade-in). They couldn’t move it. I still passed.
The car I bought had a very clean Carfax report and I gleaned some history. I didn’t buy it based on Carfax, but I bought it on its merits. I did however not buy the other car based on Carfax.