Buying used vehicles

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J

Joe_Blacke

Member
AZS Supporter - Gold
Joined
May 15, 2018
Messages
526
Curious how those of you who buy used vehicles from private parties make sure you are not getting suckered.

I sold my truck last Saturday. The truck had 162,000 miles on it, and I had just replaced some damaged lifters a few days before. I told the buyer that other lifters were likely to need replacing and probably the cams as well in the next 100k miles. I based my price knowing these issue existed.

Yesterday, the “buyer” resisted my old truck for sale at $5,000 markup. He basically just bought it to flip it. He rolled the odometer back to 95,000 miles and listed the truck as “mechanically flawless” and claimed he was the original owner.

Honestly, I don’t know how a buyer can fully protect themselves. Unless you pulled the head off the engine and examined the lifters and cams would you find these items. Also with a digital odometer, it seems relatively easy to create fake mileage. Makes me want to stick to either new vehicles or at the very least certified pre-owned.
 
Hummm....makes me wonder about the truck I bought. 🤦🏼‍♂️

I usually have my mechanic look at it before I buy. All I can do. However there are tons of resellers out there that do exactly what you found. Sad...

Never hurts to report it, and check the VIN.
 
We need more info. AZ title? Did you fill in the mileage? Did you fill in the buyers info? Did you give them an open title?
 
Report it asafp, be sure to provide proof,vin, bill of sale etc.
 
Research is your friend. Before my last purchase (a 2006 Chevy Express van 3/4 ton Duramax diesel with 218,000 miles) I had been watching ads for that same model for a couple months. I passed up several others like it because while they were all at fair prices, I was looking for a deal. I finally found mine in Mesa (a former locksmithing van) for only $4200, which was about $2000 under the common asking price. I had my mechanic buddy come out and look at it with me, as well. Part of what gave us the confidence to get this one was the records the business had kept. Because they wanted to be able to write off anything spent on the van as an expense, the records were extensive and documented the van's life of service.

Ultimately, after purchasing it, my mechanic did spot indications that the rear differential gears needed replacing, but we don't believe that was something the seller actually was aware of. It cost about $2000 to get an entire new rear axle assembly (with a lifetime warranty), so it all balanced out in the end. Other than an electrical gremlin that developed later on, it has been a reliable and trouble-free purchase.
 
My son asked me to make a list of used vehicles for him to purchase. I narrowed the list to vehicles that offered a free CarFax.Carfax will give you a fair idea of the maintenance done to the vehicle.
Unfortunately, it also eliminates the do it yourselfer from consideration.
I narrowed the list to only vehicles that showed regular maintenance.Kelly Blue Book will help determine a fair price.
 
I've always used carfax on any vehicle my family has bought, our luck has been pretty good so far, one car we went and saw had a brand new cheapie paint job and a lot of support pieces under the hood around the fenders were missing, the seller tells me he's the third owner and his son was the second, carfax showed seven previous with three being rental companies in other states, seller looked shocked when I told him that.
 
Well the ad for my old truck is now gone. I find it hard to believe he found a buyer in one day, especially since people who say my ad last week we’re sending me messages noting my truck was relistes with different mileage than my original add. I’m guessing another flipper ratted him out.
 
I buy new and try to keep them for 25 years. At least I have for the last 2.
 
I buy and flip cars all year long, average maybe 8 or 9, about 10% of them i get fleeced a little, I'm a pretty good judge of car and in looking at them, mostly its about a deal to maybe make a few hundred, its not big bucks, but its one of the many ways i support my shooter addiction. same with land, always buying land and trading or selling, const. biz is great, just cant find good help, so i dabble in lots.
there is a buncha crooks out there, all one can do is due diligence and hope for the best, so far in about 6 years its been good, been able to add to me stable of gats hehe quite well.
and do report fraud, it might keep some honest, but hell even soem of the best used car guys go a little over the real life line.
Rj
 
"
Yesterday, the “buyer” resisted my old truck for sale at $5,000 markup. He basically just bought it to flip it. He rolled the odometer back to 95,000 miles and listed the truck as “mechanically flawless” and claimed he was the original owner. "

CarFax would note the milage at the time of service. If you had any service done at a dealer or other auto service provider, it would be on record. That would give you some proof.
 
There are so many flippers out there and what you described is not uncommon. I saw it a lot when I was looking a couple years ago for a vehicle that would be a good commuter car. With used cars, you are often buying someone else's problem. The best mechanics can't foresee the future and some issues are unable to be identified on a simple test drive and/or inspection. Given the current price of vehicles and repairs, I have noticed people keeping their cars longer and maintenance them even less. Current society see's everything as disposable. This means when they go to sell them, these cars need everything from leaks/seals replaced, entire front end overhaul(control arm bushings, balljoints, tie rods, shocks/struts, and even wheel bearings at times.).
 
Joe_Blacke said:
Well the ad for my old truck is now gone. I find it hard to believe he found a buyer in one day, especially since people who say my ad last week we’re sending me messages noting my truck was relistes with different mileage than my original add. I’m guessing another flipper ratted him out.
Click to expand...
Or the flipper is on this board and was rated out with this thread😂😂
 
Its easy to make a few hundy on a flip, without doing anything other than cleaning up car, and giving it the shine, so to speak,

i usually drive them for a bit, cause i only buy and flip ones i wanna drive a bit. just having fun
Rj
 
I come from a car unfriendly place so while I have owned vehicles I have spent YEARS without one. When I came to AZ all I had was a Motorcycle. I was used to riding 4 seasons and figured .. hell it never rains why worry about it now.

Well .. sometime in August riding the 202 home with the sun beating on my head and the heat wafting off the Asphalt I decided I should get a car.

Not a big car guy so didn't need anything fancy and I found a used car I liked. Just solid transport. Wasn't born yesterday so I knew there would be some issues but

On the way home with my new to me vehicle I realized it had less than 1/4 tank. The wife and I get out at the station. I am pumping gas and she is still looking over the car and ... after about 15 bucks worth of gas she screams out my name.

hmmmmmm 15$ worth of gas spilled out all over the floor. The pipe that connects the filler to the gas tank was not there!!!!

I am sure it was a small oversight on the sellers part not letting me know!!

Cant complain to loudly though. The fix wasn't very expensive and I bought the car with about 65,000 miles on it and still own it. Wife now uses it every day and its pressing 170,000. We have spent a couple of bucks over the years. Needed a new Differential last year and at some point I had a new manifold installed but other than that .. I am handy and a bit of a nut on maintenance and the car has excellent bones so I will just keep fixing it until they get rid of Dino fluid.

Owning it the last 12 or so years was still cheaper than buying new so .. I rolled the dice and it came out OK

Now if I could just figure out how to not replace a windshield once a year!!
 
Carfax does show the mileage at 161,000 when I did emissions in August.

I’m also in contact with the azdot investigator. They have my statement, copies of both ads, copies of buyer and “new” sellers profile and copies of buyers drivers license.
 
Bought a used Kia Soul a couple of months back.
Owners were a well-to-do professional couple in an Anthem neighborhood.
Guy walked out of his house with a maintenance dossier about 1/2" thick.
Explained they were 2nd owners, having bought it off of his wife's friend.
Pulled her outta the garage and it looked new...and friggin' SMELLED NEW, LOL.
Drove it less than 2miles in the neighborhood. Silky smooth, without the slight squeak or rattle.
If felt right, so I pulled trigger. Drove to the nearest quicky-lube, and changed it to synthetic.
Couple mos, and a couple thousand miles later, and I'm still happy.
 
My advice to anyone looking at a car is drive it pretty far. The last car I bought we drove about 40 miles and I put $5 has in it. We changed drivers and I looked it over for signs of body repair and checked fluids, looked under it as best I could. When I put gas in it I looked it over again. That show every flaw but it's been a great car for 2 years.

As far as mileage rollback...carfax or receipts which they gave me.
 
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