Carfax hits....
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Muskegon Michigan
Carfax hits....
Ok... I'm getting ready to check out a C5 this weekend so I do my homework and run a carfax report. The report comes back with a accident hit "Accident reported involving right side impact vehicle ran off road". So, wanting to be as educated as I can be, I called the dealership that did the work on the vehicle, gave them the VIN and they said nope, no record of that VIN. I say interesting, carfax says differently, I'm then told that they purge records after 10 years (service was performed 10 1/2 years ago). So... now back to square one... what kind of impact does this have on the value???
I asked the current owner about this hit and he replied that he had no knowledge of the accident and I trust him... no reason not to.
How would you proceed... if at all.
I asked the current owner about this hit and he replied that he had no knowledge of the accident and I trust him... no reason not to.
How would you proceed... if at all.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 234
From: SW Nuh Hampsha
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
The accident probably happened to the original owner. If it's on Carfax, it will have a negative affect on resale value, now and in the future. Unless you're in love with this car and can get it at a very good price, I'd look elsewhere.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Ok... I'm getting ready to check out a C5 this weekend so I do my homework and run a carfax report. The report comes back with a accident hit "Accident reported involving right side impact vehicle ran off road". So, wanting to be as educated as I can be, I called the dealership that did the work on the vehicle, gave them the VIN and they said nope, no record of that VIN. I say interesting, carfax says differently, I'm then told that they purge records after 10 years (service was performed 10 1/2 years ago). So... now back to square one... what kind of impact does this have on the value???
I asked the current owner about this hit and he replied that he had no knowledge of the accident and I trust him... no reason not to.
How would you proceed... if at all.
I asked the current owner about this hit and he replied that he had no knowledge of the accident and I trust him... no reason not to.
How would you proceed... if at all.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Muskegon Michigan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,258
Likes: 543
From: Appleton WI
If the car looks right after the repair, I wouldn't consider it a big negative. Accidents happen and if the damage wasn't excessive and repaired back to original, why worry. If the title indicates Salvage or Repair, then I wouldn't consider it unless the price was significantly lower. Use the carfax report to your advantage. If you sell it, the new buyer's will try.
Buying a C5 for investment isn't a wise choice. Buying it for fun factor is. When you find the right car, you will know it. It is if the car "speaks" to you. If you feel "eh, its a nice vette", move on. I looked at many (30+) Vettes when I was in the market and when I found the one I bought, It was like HOLY CRAP! THIS IS IT!
Good luck
Buying a C5 for investment isn't a wise choice. Buying it for fun factor is. When you find the right car, you will know it. It is if the car "speaks" to you. If you feel "eh, its a nice vette", move on. I looked at many (30+) Vettes when I was in the market and when I found the one I bought, It was like HOLY CRAP! THIS IS IT!
Good luck
Race Director
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 16,574
Likes: 13
From: Winfield IN
If the car looks right after the repair, I wouldn't consider it a big negative. Accidents happen and if the damage wasn't excessive and repaired back to original, why worry. If the title indicates Salvage or Repair, then I wouldn't consider it unless the price was significantly lower. Use the carfax report to your advantage. If you sell it, the new buyer's will try.
Buying a C5 for investment isn't a wise choice. Buying it for fun factor is. When you find the right car, you will know it. It is if the car "speaks" to you. If you feel "eh, its a nice vette", move on. I looked at many (30+) Vettes when I was in the market and when I found the one I bought, It was like HOLY CRAP! THIS IS IT!
Good luck
Buying a C5 for investment isn't a wise choice. Buying it for fun factor is. When you find the right car, you will know it. It is if the car "speaks" to you. If you feel "eh, its a nice vette", move on. I looked at many (30+) Vettes when I was in the market and when I found the one I bought, It was like HOLY CRAP! THIS IS IT!
Good luck
If all else checks out fine and the car is mechanically sound, don't let a minor accident 10 years ago deter you from buying it. It has obviously been driven trouble-free in the 10 years since the accident. Just think of how many people believe they buy "accident-free" cars simply because there is nothing reported on the carfax...
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 543
Likes: 1
From: North Wales, PA
Car fax is a joke. My GTO was in an accident while my co-worker was driving. $8500 insurance check and my car had a 'clean' Carfax. My Mustang was hit in the rear 1/4. Was repairded by the prevousl owner and it has a 'clean' Carfax when I bought it. My wife's HHR SS was in for service 28 times in one year... only like 4-5 of those show on the Carfax but her GMVIS was a book. We even sued GM over the car and won. Traded it in and got top dollar for it...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,835
Likes: 302
From: Columbia SC
A wreck of any "significance" which this seems to indicate would normally reduce the price by 10 to 20% even if the work was done properly. That is based on resale. You may not want to resell, but never buy something without considering resale. Don't but this car without having a competent Corvette mechanic to inspect for frame damage, etc. Keep that inspection documentation for future use.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,127
Likes: 33
From: Easley/Anderson South Carolina
Carfax is a joke, all title check things are a joke. Take it with a grain of salt. Use it as a tool, and inspect the area of the reported damage more throughly. As long as the body lines match up fairly well, color matches, frame isnt bent, and the actual title shows to be clean, all is well.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 445
Likes: 4
From: San Diego CA
Carfax is a joke, all title check things are a joke. Take it with a grain of salt. Use it as a tool, and inspect the area of the reported damage more throughly. As long as the body lines match up fairly well, color matches, frame isnt bent, and the actual title shows to be clean, all is well.
You wouldn't believe how many people think their car has never had work done on it and its full of bondo. Straight from the dealer many cars have work done that is never reported and still sold as new.
If your worried about accident damage have someone in the repair industry check it out, a normal mechanic wouldn't know what to look for.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 13,587
Likes: 1,352
From: Home of the VOLS ! Knoxville, TN. Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15, '16-'17-'18-'19
If the repair was done 10 years ago and the car is still on the road and holding up well, I would not worry too much about it.
Surely problems out of this wreck would have been obvious and corrected in the last 10 years already.
I would still use this as a buyer leverage on reducing the price.
Surely problems out of this wreck would have been obvious and corrected in the last 10 years already.
I would still use this as a buyer leverage on reducing the price.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
No that's where service is performed such as basic maintenance. That can mean a lot of things but rarely, if ever, does it mean the car was in the body shop at that location. it's the insurance company that reports these things anyway. That's why some show up and others do not. Some report and others don't. That's the problem with having humans do the reporting.
Last edited by RetiredSFC 97; Mar 7, 2012 at 02:47 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
I agree. Most people wouldn't even care much about a reconstructed title on a 10yo regular sedan. I've built them for myself when practically new, drove them for years and sold without any trouble.
Of course a Corvette is different to a lot of people. If it gets a cracked fender, it is forever ruined in their mind. I'm the wrong guy to ask about that.
I also agree that Carfax reports for accidents are hit and miss. Way I see it, a dealer gets a car with a clean report and wants top dollar because of it. This even though it could have had significant damage that didn't get reported. Another car could have had the same damage but there was a police report and now the car is worthless. Crazy if you ask me.
Only reason I'd pay for one is to see the mileage history, how it was accumulated plus owners and location. That is easier to document because of title transfers, inspections ect.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: northern ca
St. Jude Donor '14
If the car looks right after the repair, I wouldn't consider it a big negative. Accidents happen and if the damage wasn't excessive and repaired back to original, why worry. If the title indicates Salvage or Repair, then I wouldn't consider it unless the price was significantly lower. Use the carfax report to your advantage. If you sell it, the new buyer's will try.
Buying a C5 for investment isn't a wise choice. Buying it for fun factor is. When you find the right car, you will know it. It is if the car "speaks" to you. If you feel "eh, its a nice vette", move on. I looked at many (30+) Vettes when I was in the market and when I found the one I bought, It was like HOLY CRAP! THIS IS IT!
Good luck
Buying a C5 for investment isn't a wise choice. Buying it for fun factor is. When you find the right car, you will know it. It is if the car "speaks" to you. If you feel "eh, its a nice vette", move on. I looked at many (30+) Vettes when I was in the market and when I found the one I bought, It was like HOLY CRAP! THIS IS IT!
Good luck
My holy c*** c5 came out of a gulf state (many years ago) after hurricane season and then set at a reputable dealership for 1 1/2 year with only a 150 miles added to the odometer. I used the information to cut a better deal and maybe I gambled but after three months I still can't find anything to complain about. Somebody did a lot of work on this car and I'm reaping the benefit.