Quote:
Originally Posted by JSH
For maintenance you spend the $40 for a CarFax or go to a reputable dealer that provides that info for free. Every time a dealer or reputable service center does work on a vehicle that data is reported and linked to the vehicle VIN. CarFax pulls that database and provides a report with the work that was done. Go with the approach that if service isn't documented it didn't happen.
I've pulled the records on the last 5 cars I purchased before I signed the papers. It also shows where the vehicles were registered and I won't buy any car that has been registered in an area that uses salt on their roads.
For example - the 2011 Acura TSX wagon I purchased had been to the Acura dealer every 3,000 miles for an oil change. There were records of every transmission service, brakes, coolant flushes, etc.
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I got records for my Avalon before purchasing it. I also was looking for one that had 50,000 miles or less thinking that if it wasn't driven with care that they couldn't have done that much damage in that amount of time.
This is their very first car purchase, and I'm afraid they didn't know to do that. I would have steered them in the direction of getting a CarFax and a independent inspection, but it was a surprise to me when all of the sudden they had their own car.
But anyhow, they are still trying to see if the extended waranty policy they bought along with the car is going to help them or not. I hope it does something for them, but the suspense is nerveracking.
The records also don't tell you how the vehicle was driven. This is why I either buy something with 50,000 miles on it or less, or I assume it's going to need a new-everything.