Something isn't adding up
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 234
Likes: 63
From: Phoenix (Fall/winter/spring); Seattle (summer)
2015 C5 of the Year Finalist
Something isn't adding up
I posted the other day about a 2004 CE that I plan to look at this week. I felt encouraged about a car with, according to the owner, just under 47,000 miles and in very good condition.
He seemed honest enough about a couple of incidents when it was hit in parking lots, and I pulled a carfax that confirmed it.
However, I went back to the Carfax again tonight and under the My Garage page it lists "today's mileage" as 155,248.
Now I'm very skeptical because the last mileage listed on the Carfax detailed history report is 1,348 from when a leaky differential was fixed by the dealership the first year of the car. The only other reports on Carfax are yearly registration renewals, and those don't show mileage.
Any thoughts, theories?
Until I can get confirmation that the 46,000-plus miles as the owner states is accurate, I don't plan to make the two-hour trip to check out the car this week. There are other nice cars out there.
He seemed honest enough about a couple of incidents when it was hit in parking lots, and I pulled a carfax that confirmed it.
However, I went back to the Carfax again tonight and under the My Garage page it lists "today's mileage" as 155,248.
Now I'm very skeptical because the last mileage listed on the Carfax detailed history report is 1,348 from when a leaky differential was fixed by the dealership the first year of the car. The only other reports on Carfax are yearly registration renewals, and those don't show mileage.
Any thoughts, theories?
Until I can get confirmation that the 46,000-plus miles as the owner states is accurate, I don't plan to make the two-hour trip to check out the car this week. There are other nice cars out there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,503
Likes: 33
From: McGrady NC
St. Jude Donor '15-'16
It sounds like the owner is either being less than honest or bought it under deception previously. All the registrations listed all his? How long has be owned it? A little more research may be necessary.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 234
Likes: 63
From: Phoenix (Fall/winter/spring); Seattle (summer)
2015 C5 of the Year Finalist
I've been poking all over the web tonight and have run across a few instances like this -- cars whose last recorded mileage was years ago because there was no other record that was turned in to Carfax.
This is a one owner car and everything else he told me was backed up by the report. The last recorded mileage was 1,300-plus, and it looked like Carfax did the math and assumed that if the car had that many miles then, it should be around the 155,000 mark now if it was driven a similar amount each year after.
This is a one owner car and everything else he told me was backed up by the report. The last recorded mileage was 1,300-plus, and it looked like Carfax did the math and assumed that if the car had that many miles then, it should be around the 155,000 mark now if it was driven a similar amount each year after.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 874
Likes: 107
From: Detroit MI
Carfax is known to be pretty sketchy when it comes to odo reading and # of owners. It said my car had 8 previous owners, whereas the guy I bought it from had proof that he was the third.
I just use it to make sure that whatever I'm looking at hasn't been in any major accidents (and even then, that's not always the most accurate)
I just use it to make sure that whatever I'm looking at hasn't been in any major accidents (and even then, that's not always the most accurate)
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 611
Likes: 74
From: Ontario
I expect the Carfax is in error but just do some basic checks....most of which can be done through photos and correspondence.
Does the owner have the maintenance history including oil changes?
If so follow the chronology including mileage when service was performed. How many times were brake pads replaced? 3 or 4 and you know high mileage.
Check the gas pedal and surrounding area. You will be able to tell almost instantly by the wear.
Similarly check the driver's side carpets.
Look at both seats, If 140000 there will be really heavy wear especially the driver's seat side bolster.
If it were me I would drive the 2 hours but photos will tell you as easily.
Does the owner have the maintenance history including oil changes?
If so follow the chronology including mileage when service was performed. How many times were brake pads replaced? 3 or 4 and you know high mileage.
Check the gas pedal and surrounding area. You will be able to tell almost instantly by the wear.
Similarly check the driver's side carpets.
Look at both seats, If 140000 there will be really heavy wear especially the driver's seat side bolster.
If it were me I would drive the 2 hours but photos will tell you as easily.
Last edited by formula1nut; Aug 3, 2015 at 09:36 AM. Reason: spelling error
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 234
Likes: 63
From: Phoenix (Fall/winter/spring); Seattle (summer)
2015 C5 of the Year Finalist
He did put tires and wheels on it three years ago, so surely that paperwork will show mileage. I'll press him on that.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,248
Likes: 325
From: Iowa
If you get the VIN from him you can call any GM dealership and see what records they have and what kind of mileage it's had. They should be able to tell if there are any discrepancies or if it looks like the mileage was rolled back.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 789
From: Hernando MS
I had a similar Carfax situation with the '99 I bought a couple years ago. It's odometer read 12,3xx when I went to look at, and test drive. I ordered the Carfax that evening and it was showing the mileage at it's last registration, 3 months before, being 21,188. The man I was buying from had all the paperwork backing up the car's odometer reading.. including his tag renewal receipt that showed 11,882 on the same date Carfax listed. Numbers got transposed somehow.
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 208
Likes: 3
From: Hobe Sound, Fl
I would just do a basic look over on the car, with that difference in the miles it should be pretty easy to tell if the car has 150k miles or 50k miles. Paint, seats, shifter **** and other 'known' wear areas could be a pretty clear indicator of the mileage of the car, like previously stated.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,230
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From: VA
Cruise-In II Veteran
