Anybody use Carfax?

[CDXXVII]

I think they charge about $35 per car. Is it worth it? I am looking at a 2006 truck supposedly one owner.
I recall somebody ran me a Carfax about 10 years ago but I can't remember much about how it works.
There is a competing company called Autocheck. I am thinking they provide the same info as Carfax?

[machoneman]

Yes and quite recently. Results may vary. Here's a tale of woe!

Mom's '96 Marquis got flooded put of her underground garage in mid-April. Went looking for a good used Grand Marquis and found a nice looking and well-running 2001. The CarFax showed  2 previous owners and lots of preventative maintenance, regular oil changes, etc. Bought it and the in-tank electric fuel pump promptly died! Later, the engine after only 350 miles of so started making an ominous noise on start-up with light tapping at idle, not unusual though for a 86K car with the 4.6L SOHC engine. That said at 400+ mile or so the noises got louder and I had bro' take it into her local shop which has done good work for some years now. He and the shop owner flipped a coin for checking under covers first for bad adjusters (common on the 4.6 as is a cracked cam tower) or pull the pan. The pan removal won.   

She'll get the car back today in fact....with a $4,000 long block re-man engine! The first two rod bearings were toast as were other bearings. Still not sure what went wrong but suspect the kids of the last owner took an oldster's car away (couldn't drive anymore or passed away) and drove the hell out of it w/o checking the oil. Only takes one dry start to burn bearings.

So, you can guess my faith in Car Fax has dropped.....a lot!

[jayb]

I've noticed that their TV ads have changed.  They have added a line to the script saying something to the effect that "nobody knows everything about a vehicle, but CarFax..."  blah blah blah.  I'll bet they had a bunch of angry people who bought cars based on their report, and they turned out to have problems...

[machoneman]

Yes, I noticed that addition as well. Can't say it's not worthwhile to run a CarFax but the term Caveat Emptor also applies. Too bad I didn't follow my original thought and just buy her a new car with a full factory backed warranty. 'Course without the big flood we had here, her old car was just fine.   

[dubsan]

Yes  I have used it.  But its results are very limited and restricted.  Carfax only reports those repairs /service records when the car is serviced by the companies dealer service centers.  It will not repeat not provide any info on autos service by independent shops or shops not affiliated with the dealers.
Larry

[Joe-jdc]

Also, repairs to accidents that were accomplished by owner, or independent shops, and not filed on insurance claim will not show up on the report.  My neighbor got hit by an uninsured motorist, and he had his car repaired "out of pocket" to avoid an insurance claim, and bad report.  Could have caused a title change to "rebuilt" status if filed.  You are your own best advocate, and check any vehicle thoroughly before buying.  And as always, "if in doubt, then don't".  JMO, Joe-JDC.

[CDXXVII]

I can see what you mean about the limitations (I was able to get an 'Autocheck' to see what it is all about). It did confirm one owner status though.
I went to my new car dealer and they downloaded the warrantee history for free. Ring and pinion replacement at 42000 miles (?).
 
It would be hard to get body repairs past me. I will go to inspect the truck and go from there. The thing that is impossible is proving proper oil changes. A couple years ago an owner told me he regularly changed the oil (non-synth & mostly short trips) every 10000 miles. I walked away.

[fe66comet]

Yeah I got the triple roast on a Taurus for my ex way back first car fax then car max then state tax LOL they did the brakes which blew apart on the highway on the way home, went to the floor. Then a week later the trans blew again serviced and car max certified. Then the exhaust fell out a week after that, they welded the pipe directly to the manifold. After that I had a state trooper friend of my Dad run the vin #. Turns out the one owner granny car was a insurance salvage and was registered as a livery vehicle......Jon