1999PewterCorvette

Hey guys, I had a fellow forum member run a VIS report for 2 Z06's
that I am looking at. Do I need to even bother with paying for a couple of Carfaxes or would I just get the same info as these VIS
sheets?? Actually I had never even heard of a VIS sheet until yesterday. Just dont want to spend another 60 bucks (30 bucks each) for a carfax if its just going to repeat the info I have.

thanks guys
Rob

lander

I'd get the Carfax report as well. You can get a month of unlimited Carfax reports for less than $60.

1999PewterCorvette

I guess what Im asking is. What does the Carfax tell me that the
VIS sheet doesn't. Or Vice-Versa??

talon90

The VIS sheet is from GM. The VIS is the vehicle information system. It is a maintenance and warranty database maintained by GM and it will be updated when a customer issue or maintenance item is worked on or repaired by a GM dealer. If the previous owner totaled the car and rebuilt it them self or had a third party body shop do the repair it will not be in the VIS. It would however likely be in the Carfax if the insurance company got involved. Bottom line, if a GM dealer didn't do the work, it isn't going to show up in the VIS. If you have concerns about the car and want to fully research a used vehicle I would do the Carfax as well.

1999PewterCorvette

Wow-- thanks Talon for the great explanation. Yeah, I'd rather be safe than sorry. I guess I didnt realize that the carfax would catch things that the dealers would be unaware of. Thats a very good point.
thanks!!!!!

not08crmanymore

The problem w/CARFAX is you're only told what is told to them.So if nothing is reported after an accident,lets say.then nothing will show.The report you have from GM is worth it's weight in gold and the selling/servicing dealer can tell you what you needto know as well.Don't waste your money in this case,on CARFAX.

holdin5aces

12 years ago, we bought a new Firebird Formula from a broker. It was at a dealer in New Mexico and delivered to Tucson. The car was a nightmare. Many of its issues seemed odd. The windshield, the hood, one fender, things under the dash, water pump. All located up front. Turns out, during one of it many service trips the service writer asked who had done the wreck repair. Of course, the broker and NM dealer denied any knowledge. But then it was rear ended and repaired at a Pontiac dealer. When I sold the car, all of the third party reports were clean jeans. We did voluntarily disclose the rear end repair. Third party reports are solely dependent on shops/insurace companies doing voluntary reporting. No facts in no facts out.

Caveat emptor.

metal

I have also been told this report can be very "spotty"

Dave S

No reporting process is perfect, but CarFax will alert you to the chain of ownership (title tranfers) & also whether a salvage title was ever issued. Seems to me that if you're prepared to spend $40/$50/$60 thousand for a used Vette, the price of a CarFax or VIS report is well spent.

lander

All very true. However, just because there is anecdotal evidence that not everything is reported doesn't mean all accidents, etc., aren't reported.

When I'm about to spend tens of thousands of dollars for a car, I'm not going to be so cheap as to not drop $30 to potentially find out an issue with what I'm about to buy.

Just my .02.

talon90

I tend to agree with lander on this one. While I agree (and have heard) that Carfax can miss some information as well as the fact that Carfax contributions are voluntary.

However, when you consider the fact that a flood will absolutely positively not appear on a VIS report as a flood but might appear on a Carfax and a frame damaged, totaled accident will absolutely, positively not appear on a VIS report as a total or salvage but might appear on a Carfax, I'll go with maybe every time.

calemasters

GM VIS shows warranty repairs and recalls, branded title, blocked warranty, service contract info, applicable warrantys etc. VIS does not show vehicle maintenance. I would be careful with Carfax. The reports are not always complete, and therefore, in my opinion, have no value.

MCSSLT1

I had my father call the GM dealership he deals with and had them run a report on the corvettes I am looking at. They cover warranty repairs, recalls, as well as any maintenance. I didn't have to pay anything though. I'm not sure if some dealers charge. In my case, the dealer even ran it through a damage check. I also did a car fax. Neither system is perfect and can be easy gotten around if an owner doesn't want a history on the car.

$40 gets your a free month of carfax. Autocheck is cheaper. In my case I just did the VIS, and carfax reports on the cars I were looking at.

lander

So when I ran the Carfax on my Explorer before I bought it and saw all the times it was taken in for regular maintenance, that was no value to me?

We sometimes forget that members don't always by GM.

calemasters

In my opinion Carfax reports have no value because they are not always complete. For example, if someone is considering the purchase of a used Mazda and the vehicle has had a major collision repair, but the repair was not picked up by Carfax, then the Carfax report has not provided the information the customer was looking for. In this case, the report has no value with respect to a purchase decision and can be misleading to the potential buyer.

If Carfax reports were always complete, then they would provide some value.

I have 4 cars and they all receive excellent service and maintenance by me. However, if you checked Carfax on any of these 4 vehicles, you would not see any maintenance on the reports. Therefore, to me, the reports have no value.

lander

But my point is the Carfax I ran on the Explorer before I bought it showed all of the maintenance being done, on time and on a regular interval...so while you may say they are of no value in some instances, you cannot claim they are *always* of no value, because that's just flat out not true.

For example, if someone is considering the purchase of a used Mazda and the vehicle has had a major collision repair, and the repair was picked up by Carfax, then the Carfax report has provided the information the customer was looking for. In this case, the report has considerable value with respect to a purchase decision and can be quite helpful to the potential buyer.

TCW

CarFax is a used car salesman's tool. A carfax report is a total waste of YOUR money.

Never ever buy a car based on a CarFax report.

Tom

talon90

I think however that we'd all agree that we would certainly NOT buy one if it showed something. It is nothing but another tool in the toolbox to use to be as informed as possible in your buying decision.

lander

...I don't think they're listening to what we're saying talon...

txbikerdude

get the carfax