Gallowbraid
Adventurist
Purchasing anything is a gamble. Between the over hyped marketing and sensational advertising claims one never really knows if a product will live up to the hype. Almost everything you purchase should be done with the understanding that the buyer is responsible for the due diligence needed to determine if it's a smart purchase.
Besides buying a home, vehicle purchases are often times one of the largest investments a person will make. I use the term "investment" loosely as vehicles rarely return any monetary gains. Instead an individual will pour hard earned cash into a car or truck and the returns will be having reliable transportation, enjoying that envious glare your neighbor gives you, or finally having enough cargo room to house that ARB fridge.
Luckily buyers have some tools on their side when it comes to making purchases. Warranties, guarantees and return policies can help to combat feeling of indecisiveness when making a purchase. If it doesn't work the manufacturer will fix it. If I don't like it the store will take it back. It feels good to have recourse. When buying a used vehicle one of the most widely used comfort blankets is Carfax. Quoting their website they are the:
"leading source of vehicle history information for buyers and sellers of used cars. Today, CARFAX has the most comprehensive vehicle history database available in North America. In fact, millions of consumers trust CARFAX to provide them with vehicle history information every year."
Obviously this information is only as good as what gets reported. Have a car accident and then pay cash to have it repaired? Not getting reported. Fender bender that your buddy who owns a repair shop fixes? Not getting reported. These things are bound to happen. Again it's buyer beware.
Here's my carfax experience. I bought in, bought in big. If it's a 1 owner "clean" carfax it must be the best car in the world kind of bought in. Armed with that safety blanket I began a search for a clean Toyota 4Runner for my wife approximately a year ago. After 3 months of searching I came across a 2009 4Runner about an hour away with a "clean" 1 owner carfax. The price was fair and after taking a drive to see the vehicle and inspect it thoroughly a deal was made. I was happy, the dealer was happy and most importantly the wife was happy (at the time).
Fast forward almost a year later. Buyers remorse on the part of my wife...she really wants a 4 wheel drive vehicle of her own. Clean 4x4 4Runners in the year range and price range we want are Unicorns. Not just unicorns, unicorns made of diamond and unubtainium. They simply do not exist in the Southeast. Thus begins the hunt for a clean FJ Cruiser (which I suggested before we bought the 4Runner...different rant.)
I find a clean FJ, 4x4, lockers, great maintenance records, etc, etc. I begin working the deal. The dealer returns with their offer for my trade and it's 1/2 the dollar amount it should be. I'm used to dealers trying to low ball, but 1/2 the actual value? I ask the reason for such a low trade allowance. The answer? Your vehicle has been in a major accident. What?! It was a 1 owner "clean" carfax vehicle owned by a grandmother who only drove it to church on Sundays and never in the rain! But there it is in black and white on the carfax. Sideswipe collision, moderate damage to left side of vehicle, airbags not deployed.
Now what?
Now I go back to the dealer I bought the 4Runner from and I demand answers. The answer is unfortunately one that many other buyers who trusted Carfax have received. When I bought the vehicle it did indeed have a clean carfax. No accidents, no issues. Only service records and vehicle registration updates. 3 months after I purchased it, however, Carfax began reporting a major accident that had happened 2 YEARS prior. That's right, two years prior and it's just now on the report.
I now own a 4Runner that's worth considerably less than it should be and I have an unhappy wife. Guess which of those things is going to keep me awake at night. I accept the "buyer beware" clause...but come on...two years later the accident hits the report? Thanks Carfax.
On a positive note I now know that if I'm ever in a major accident I should get my vehicle repaired and trade it in immediately. It'll have a clean carfax....
Besides buying a home, vehicle purchases are often times one of the largest investments a person will make. I use the term "investment" loosely as vehicles rarely return any monetary gains. Instead an individual will pour hard earned cash into a car or truck and the returns will be having reliable transportation, enjoying that envious glare your neighbor gives you, or finally having enough cargo room to house that ARB fridge.
Luckily buyers have some tools on their side when it comes to making purchases. Warranties, guarantees and return policies can help to combat feeling of indecisiveness when making a purchase. If it doesn't work the manufacturer will fix it. If I don't like it the store will take it back. It feels good to have recourse. When buying a used vehicle one of the most widely used comfort blankets is Carfax. Quoting their website they are the:
"leading source of vehicle history information for buyers and sellers of used cars. Today, CARFAX has the most comprehensive vehicle history database available in North America. In fact, millions of consumers trust CARFAX to provide them with vehicle history information every year."
Obviously this information is only as good as what gets reported. Have a car accident and then pay cash to have it repaired? Not getting reported. Fender bender that your buddy who owns a repair shop fixes? Not getting reported. These things are bound to happen. Again it's buyer beware.
Here's my carfax experience. I bought in, bought in big. If it's a 1 owner "clean" carfax it must be the best car in the world kind of bought in. Armed with that safety blanket I began a search for a clean Toyota 4Runner for my wife approximately a year ago. After 3 months of searching I came across a 2009 4Runner about an hour away with a "clean" 1 owner carfax. The price was fair and after taking a drive to see the vehicle and inspect it thoroughly a deal was made. I was happy, the dealer was happy and most importantly the wife was happy (at the time).
Fast forward almost a year later. Buyers remorse on the part of my wife...she really wants a 4 wheel drive vehicle of her own. Clean 4x4 4Runners in the year range and price range we want are Unicorns. Not just unicorns, unicorns made of diamond and unubtainium. They simply do not exist in the Southeast. Thus begins the hunt for a clean FJ Cruiser (which I suggested before we bought the 4Runner...different rant.)
I find a clean FJ, 4x4, lockers, great maintenance records, etc, etc. I begin working the deal. The dealer returns with their offer for my trade and it's 1/2 the dollar amount it should be. I'm used to dealers trying to low ball, but 1/2 the actual value? I ask the reason for such a low trade allowance. The answer? Your vehicle has been in a major accident. What?! It was a 1 owner "clean" carfax vehicle owned by a grandmother who only drove it to church on Sundays and never in the rain! But there it is in black and white on the carfax. Sideswipe collision, moderate damage to left side of vehicle, airbags not deployed.
Now what?
Now I go back to the dealer I bought the 4Runner from and I demand answers. The answer is unfortunately one that many other buyers who trusted Carfax have received. When I bought the vehicle it did indeed have a clean carfax. No accidents, no issues. Only service records and vehicle registration updates. 3 months after I purchased it, however, Carfax began reporting a major accident that had happened 2 YEARS prior. That's right, two years prior and it's just now on the report.
I now own a 4Runner that's worth considerably less than it should be and I have an unhappy wife. Guess which of those things is going to keep me awake at night. I accept the "buyer beware" clause...but come on...two years later the accident hits the report? Thanks Carfax.
On a positive note I now know that if I'm ever in a major accident I should get my vehicle repaired and trade it in immediately. It'll have a clean carfax....
