Carfax damage report

[Hawkdrivr]

What’s everyone’s opinion on carfax damage reports?

LX 570

Reported damage to the rear when the car was less than 10K old.

Total no go?

I doubt the dealer will have any info on the damage at this point. No repairs reported in the Lexus service records.

Could be as simple as backed into a mailbox...

 

[terdrocket]

Damage was in the rear. If you can go look at it, you will be able to clearly see all of the frame members underneath and inspect for any repaired damage.

 

[terdrocket]

With no frame damage, I wouldn't be scared.

 

[grinchy]

My gently used 209k lx was in for 3 or 4 soccer mom supermarket fender benders. None were on the carfax. I found out looking at the dealer records. They kept buying rear bumper covers. No problem if the accident isn’t recent it’s probably fixed

 

[iwashmycar]

Agreed. If she still looks good after the additional 60K miles were put on, all it may be doing is getting you a better deal on it. Id certainly use it as leverage though if need be.

 

[gaijin]

What’s everyone’s opinion on carfax damage reports?

LX 570

Reported damage to the rear when the car was less than 10K old.

Total no go?

I doubt the dealer will have any info on the damage at this point. No repairs reported in the Lexus service records.

Could be as simple as backed into a mailbox...

I'd pass, here's why:

1st owner was as a personal lease vehicle and had minor damage - no real problem with this.

2nd owner was as a personal vehicle, but no documented oil changes for the >40,000 miles of ownership - and the vehicle was sold at auction with an open seat belt recall issue. The recall was not fixed by the dealer before or after the sale - it is still shown as open.

It seems to me that a 2015 LX570 with only 72,000 miles should be a solid candidate for resale by a dealer - so why did it go to auction?

Maybe I'm being too persnickety, but no documented service by 2nd owner, open recall not fixed by dealer despite dealer visits while open, and sale at auction of a personal (not lease) vehicle just rings too many bells for me to be comfortable.

HTH

 

[Hawkdrivr]

I pulled the Lexus service records: 2nd owner took it to the Lexus dealer every 10K. Additionally, looks like the selling dealer took to Lexus for inspection and new brakes/differential fluid. (According to the online Lexus sRevive records) None of
This is on the carfax.

 

[bloc]

Damage at 10k miles can be pretty significant and still be worth repairing vs total loss. This is a very different story than if it had 70k miles on it.

 

[04UZJ100]

Not for me. Run.

 

[KLF]

Damage was in the rear. If you can go look at it, you will be able to clearly see all of the frame members underneath and inspect for any repaired damage.

I agree with this. If it's not far away and you have the time, ask them to either put it up on a lift where you can inspect it, or at least have free access to crawl under it on a creeper. If they balk, well there ya go.

If it was bad enough to cause issues, you'll be able to spot it. Pull the tail light. Pop the trim off the lower tailgate. Use a strong flashlight to peer behind the inner plastics, look for repairs. Run a magnet along the panel. Ask to borrow their paint thickness meter.

When I went to swap my '11 for my '15, it only took a few minutes for me to find overspray both F&R. Nothing on the Carfax. They were really cool about doing whatever I wanted. I actually dropped the spare and the front skid plates. It was all superficial parking lot skuffs. I tracked down the PO (his info was still in the Nav system!) and he confirmed it was all minor stuff, no parts were involved.

 

[Hawkdrivr]

That’s for all the feedback. I’m not local to the truck so this might be time to walk away.

 

[RT Cruiser]

It seems to me that a 2015 LX570 with only 72,000 miles should be a solid candidate for resale by a dealer - so why did it go to auction?

Maybe I'm being too persnickety, but no documented service by 2nd owner, open recall not fixed by dealer despite dealer visits while open, and sale at auction of a personal (not lease) vehicle just rings too many bells for me to be comfortable.

HTH

The 2008 we purchased from Iowa was a dealer-driven and one-owner (which actually makes two owners). The carfax said it had a collision in the rear, left side. When I had a mechanic look at it before we purchased it, he said it appeared that collision was a small fender-bender and not to worry. Sometimes things are not reported on Carfax and sometimes things are reported that are insignificant. You won't know until a seasoned mechanic goes over the vehicle.

I have experience selling cars for a Nissan dealer a long time ago. I know the game and how to play it. My instinct tells me the dealer sent the LX to auction because there is something not being fully disclosed. From my easy-chair-coffee-in-hand position right now, a 2015 LX570 with 72k miles (in great shape) will be in demand.

Keep looking, even into other states. We flew to Iowa from Denver to look at the Cruiser, have a mechanic inspect it, then made an offer and drove home with it. We did enough research beforehand to to know which ones to set our focus on.

Here's a tactic for you: initiate a conversation about buying it. Ask easy questions. Send a few emails to the sales person. Then go quiet for about a week. If they don't follow up it's a sign (not guarantee) they may not be in the mood to negotiate. If they do follow up, simply make an appointment to go see it, that's all. If the vehicle is too far away, then you can ask one or two hard questions (not a lot). If you can see the vehicle, build a rapport with the sales person and his/her sales manager. Ask a few easy questions and a few hard ones. This process can help you read between the lines.

 

[Cruisin911]

I wouldn't purchase it sight unseen, but wouldn't rule it out because of this. Things happen and that is why carfax exists. Ive had multiple accident repairs on vehicles that in no way would affect the value of the vehicle. Example. Broken rear window because someone tried to break into it. It'll show as an insurance claim and if you tried to lowball me because of it, I'd literally laugh at you and move on to the next person. That is one of the problems with some carfax reports, they don't always show context of the damage.

 

[Hawkdrivr]

Mud mbr Dangcat has offered to go look at the car for me. If the report from him is good I’ll try for a PPI.