Best vehicle history report service

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
Well since I'm looking for a new car, and I like to do lots or research, I'll go ahead and get a vehicle histroy report service.
i'm curious about opinions on the different ones - CarFax vs CarDetective vs whatever.

I've used CarFax before, and it's OK, but I've heard of alot of things slipping by it too.
Just wondeirng if anybody has advice on abetter service/deal for using for, say, a week or two of serious hunting.
 
Why bother? Lets say it was wrecked. If it's been fixed right then it will be as good as new. If you want to check it out take it to a good mechanic and put it on a lift and have it inspected. That will tell you much more.
 
Ditto on what Gubni said, but try using autocheck.com, cheaper and better @ catching stuff than Carfax, its what all the big car auctions use and most wholesalin dealers including me, get the unlimited reports for 35.00, well worth the investment, by the way did you run a carfax on the $30 XJ? Just kidding. Bring Mark with you , he seems pretty sharp
 
Why bother? Lets say it was wrecked. If it's been fixed right then it will be as good as new. If you want to check it out take it to a good mechanic and put it on a lift and have it inspected. That will tell you much more.

This isn't for a specific vehicle (yet); I have a list of them to go see. Most are at dealers. The problem is I pretty much know what I want, I just have to find it and at the right price, but it's a rare bird. Which means lots of internet searchingt etc, and driving distances to go see. Getting that level of inspection for several vehicles isn't practial, this is to eliminate things before making the trek.
Plus, I don't know or have an "in" w any shops around here so that'd cost > the subscription.
I'm not afraid of a car w/ a "history", it's mostly to havet he facts in-hand to walk onto a dealer's lot with a bargaining tool.
I know these cars pretty well to do my own inspections, will give it a really good once over before purchase for sure.

Ditto on what Gubni said, but try using autocheck.com, cheaper and better @ catching stuff than Carfax, its what all the big car auctions use and most wholesalin dealers including me, get the unlimited reports for 35.00, well worth the investment

I'll look into that one, thanks.

by the way did you run a carfax on the $30 XJ? Just kidding. Bring Mark with you , he seems pretty sharp

I did actually, somebody ran it for me. Alsmost no notable history IRRC, in fact no records at all for teh last several years.
Do you still have it? I'd love to race it again thsi year LOL, I'm scraping to find a worthy vehicle...
Oh and I'm in MD now so Mark isn't gonna be much use... yeah he is sharp for such an ugly mofo :beer:
 
Carfax is crap...Ive looked at so many "carfax approved" vehicles that were rebuilt junk. Pay someone to check it out for you or don't be upset if anything is wrong. Out of curiousity what type vehicle are we talking about? Someone may have all the knowledge you need right here.
 
Carfax is crap...Ive looked at so many "carfax approved" vehicles that were rebuilt junk. Pay someone to check it out for you or don't be upset if anything is wrong. Out of curiousity what type vehicle are we talking about? Someone may have all the knowledge you need right here.

that was what I wanted to know.

I'm thinking an '03 Mazda Protege5, or 04-5 Mazda3 5dr hatchback.
Must be 5spd, sunroof, prefer premium sound package.
Open to suggestions for other 5-dr "sporty" vehicles w/ (relatively) easy maintanance but only have ~$9kish to spend.
 
Drive the 4Rnr (or have you fawked that up too?) and pocket the ins. funding...
That's what I'm doing in the meantime, and why I'm willing to be patient to get the right deal.
But
1 - due to insane reg/taxes/inspection rules here, I have it tagged as "historic" vehicle to save $$... which technically means no DDing. Working on a military base makes it difficult to get away w/ that kind of thing long-term.
2 - not exactly DD/family freindly... lockers+snow, nobby tires, big theft target, plus I need something to drive during soon planned suspension upgrades. Not to mention the
Why don't you DD the Moss? :driver:
 
Back
Top