Clean CARFAX, Clear Title?????????????

This ad specifies this car has a clear title and a clean carfax.
How is this possible?????

Can it be fixed and sold as a "clean/clear car?"

Scary, if that can be done.



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ferrari-360-Modena-F1-Challenge-Edition-Clear-Title_W0QQitemZ280093699088QQcategoryZ84156QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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The car looks pretty clean to me, just needs a little Jason magic.

 

What is a Challenge Edition?? It's not a CS, are they just making something up?

 

I'm no expert, but...

If you don't report the accident to your insurance co then there would be no record.

I don't think carfax checks police reports.

DMV isn't going to go out of their way to cross check police reports w/ VIN's.

Carfax is only as good as the records it checks...and it's my understandign that they get most of their info from DMV... which is supplied particular info from the banks/lien holders/insurance co's/dealers that require some info be placed on the record or title.

That's my guess....

Furthermore, I think there are a few states in which the title can be swept clean fairly easily after an inspection?

Anyone know for sure the areas CARFAX actually checks and gets it's info from?

 

If a vehicle is reported as salvage to CarFax, then they will always show it that way. However, I have encountered salvage cars with a clean CarFax. Scary.

 

Wow that just made me very sad...

My best guess is that the owner never reported the accident to insurance and is just looking to sell it as is for whatever he can get.

 

That's why it's important to have the car inspected by a Ferrari mechanic before buying it. In this case no inspection needed, you get what you see.

 

Not only CAN it be done, it IS done... And done a LOT! Yes, it's scary, and it's why you NEVER buy a used car without having it THOROUGHLY inspected by a good mechanic!

 

Here is the text and vin just in case it disappears off ebay


Vehicle Description

You are bidding on a very repairable 2003 late model Ferrari 360 modena f1 challenge edition (not as common). It also includes many used parts to fix--Lights, Hood, Front bumper cover and Left front Fender -- these parts alone are worth more than 20,000.00 --price em out!!

* US specifications

* 8300 hundred miles

* Vehicle has HEAVY left front damage, could be repaired by professional, or perfect parts car.

* Has intact engine and F1 transmission

* Has near perfect rear clip, roof to rear

* Has remainder of factory warranty

* Left door good, Right door damaged

* Vehicle retail 150,000 plus

* Gauranteed clear Carfax, Clean title

* Engine, Trans and included parts worth more than Reserve price






VIN ZFFYU51A430132258

 

I would think that it was a track car running on track insurance or no insurance...so the wreck wouldn't go through normal street channels. Foreign insurance would explain it, too.

 

Absolutely correct! You only forgot one thing. After the inspection by the good mechanic, you need an inspection by a good body expert who, using such things as a depth of paint instrument, spectrophotometer for uniformity of color, and his expertise, can tell you everything else you need to know. As to CARFAX. Well, $5.00 and a phone book will direct you to the nearest Starbucks. Even that won't warrant the taste. Capito?

 

That's why carfax is a WASTE of money.

 

Oh no. I disagree.

Carfax tags quite a few things (duplicate title scams, some mileage rollbacks, most salvage cases, current registration in the state that the car is for sale - which is *very* important to avoid getting burned on property/sales taxes, etc.).

It's just (surprise!) not infinitely perfect.

Moreover, the *best* thing that you can get through autocheck.com and carfax.com is the title insurance. Best spent $50 in world history.

 

The 'Challenge Edition' has some of the features of the CS.

It come's from the factory with the Challenge grill, and some other features, but is not a 'Challenge Series' car.

It is legit!

 

I look as it as a way to weed out the bad cars.
It will call out a confirmed bad car, but can not guarentee that a "good" car is actually good.

 

True. That is precisely what it is good for.

 

When will everyone understand that carfax just sucks and proves nothing. I wish people would realize the scam they have going. Meanwhile people who have a little tap on the bumper show up on carfax and bam your car is worth 20% less. It is a total joke.

 

that will buff right out. You just need that dent popper thing.

 

Nonsense.

Carfax shows you each time that someone tags and renews their license plate, for one thing.

This lets you quickly see if a car has had its property/road/license/sales taxes paid recently.

Many high-end Italian cars are purchased by people who try to scam the system, and if you don't catch what they are doing you can very easily be held liable, as the new owner of the car, for prior unpaid taxes.

A "dealer" or temporary tag on a car that is not being sold by a dealer is a big clue, of course, but carfax and autocheck can clue you in to the fact that the car hasn't been registered each year...saving you the physical trip out to see said car.

Carfax and autocheck also record "duplicate" titles which are primarily used to "clone" cars, a very costly scam if it ends up that the car you just bought was really a salvage or stolen car with swapped VINs.

...and for the high quality scams that carfax and autocheck don't catch, that $50 that you paid them for their title insurance for your Ferrari will buy you a clean replacement vehicle.

 

I recently ran a carfax on a 99 360.
carfax has it listed as a Ferrari 131 (model), mileage is consistant until last yr,
Where it listed 200,000 some odd miles. Obviously a clerical error, but I found it funny

 

The only nonsense here is your strong reliance on carfax. If it works for you great, however I want nothing to do with their scam. I hope other people will finally realize what a waste it really is.