Discrepancy with Carfax
#11
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Can someone tell me the point of registering a car as a "fleet" vehicle pretty easily? I'm lost since I thought a car line just earned that name after many of its cars were used by cops, rangers, governments, etc. Completely wrong there, I guess.
#12
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Karl, regarding your reference to the Wikipedia article, I have three comments/observations.
First, remember that Wikipedia is only as good as the last info that someone edited into a subject. As has been shown on many an occasion, many people who post there have a hidden agenda or bias. This article shows a bias, IMO. It may not be much and could certainly be argued, but the article certainly lumps all fleet types into one rather unattractive bunch. Do not forget that Wikipedia articles and/or information may be 100% accurate and unbiased, somewhat accurate and complete, or very misleading and biased. It all depends upon the integrity and viewpoint of the author.
Second, I have personally purchased three off-lease/ex-rental vehicles in my car buying life and have had the best of luck doing so. These three cars have the honor of being my most reliable and long-lived purchases outside of one new car I bought. This includes my current 1997 Bonneville, purchased off-lease with 31K on the clock. I have had no issues other than the expected maintenance items, plus the standard UIM and LIM gasket failures. And they were not until over 125K.
Third, from a personal perspective...I believe it is much more important to carefully inspect a car inside and out and have a trusted mechanic drive it for a considered professional opinion, than to trust generalizations about groups of used car catagories. And frankly, unless I knew the person offering up a used car for sale, I would have more feelings of concern about that person'* care and maintenance record than I would from a large company that spent regular money to maintain vehicles for a fleet.
It certainly helps to see a record of the maintenance on a vehicle and many fleet operators have those records that they will provide on a vehicle they are replacing.
OK, there you have my 2 cents, FWIW.
First, remember that Wikipedia is only as good as the last info that someone edited into a subject. As has been shown on many an occasion, many people who post there have a hidden agenda or bias. This article shows a bias, IMO. It may not be much and could certainly be argued, but the article certainly lumps all fleet types into one rather unattractive bunch. Do not forget that Wikipedia articles and/or information may be 100% accurate and unbiased, somewhat accurate and complete, or very misleading and biased. It all depends upon the integrity and viewpoint of the author.
Second, I have personally purchased three off-lease/ex-rental vehicles in my car buying life and have had the best of luck doing so. These three cars have the honor of being my most reliable and long-lived purchases outside of one new car I bought. This includes my current 1997 Bonneville, purchased off-lease with 31K on the clock. I have had no issues other than the expected maintenance items, plus the standard UIM and LIM gasket failures. And they were not until over 125K.
Third, from a personal perspective...I believe it is much more important to carefully inspect a car inside and out and have a trusted mechanic drive it for a considered professional opinion, than to trust generalizations about groups of used car catagories. And frankly, unless I knew the person offering up a used car for sale, I would have more feelings of concern about that person'* care and maintenance record than I would from a large company that spent regular money to maintain vehicles for a fleet.
It certainly helps to see a record of the maintenance on a vehicle and many fleet operators have those records that they will provide on a vehicle they are replacing.
OK, there you have my 2 cents, FWIW.
#13
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I agree with Lash. My friend'* dad has an '89 cavalier that was used as a rental car for 15k miles. Right now, it has around 180k miles, and he has not had to replace anything major on the car; just regular maintenance items. Basically, I'd say it'd be a car-by-car decision. Inspect the car thoroughly, check everything just like you normally would. See if they can build in a warranty to the car. You can also use that as a buying strategy, especially since he'* a friend. He'* gonna give you a good deal either way, I think, since he probably got it for cheap. I say go with it
#14
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Originally Posted by radomirthegreat
Can someone tell me the point of registering a car as a "fleet" vehicle pretty easily? I'm lost since I thought a car line just earned that name after many of its cars were used by cops, rangers, governments, etc. Completely wrong there, I guess.
#15
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Carfax FTL. According to Carfax, my car was never in an accident (I know it was, filed a police report, insurance claim, everything) and the original owner still owns my car.
#17
yeah, carfax doesn't reflect the accident my 89 was in nor the 93....and it said my 98 was bought in mn, registered in ct and then re sold in wisconsin i know where the car was, thats not where it was.
#18
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Carfax doesn't show that my car was ever totaled either...and it was.
Edit...the new carfax report i just got does show the accident, but not that the car was totalled.
Edit...the new carfax report i just got does show the accident, but not that the car was totalled.
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