This is why I don't deal with dealers

I could spell replacement. Maybe it stopped working and was replaced with a used unit. What do dealers know. I looked at a 06 Jag XJ8 w/claimed 12k miles on it but when I went to check it out, the driver seat bolster was almost gone. And these guys were putting their reputation on carfax and claiming carfax showed the correct miles. It seemed like it had 95k miles.
The seats are the giveaway on most cars of the mileage. LEt me know if you find one in the Los Angles are and I will gladly check it out for you so you wont get screwed.

Steve

 

Yeah but seats can be fixed to look like new.........

 

Sometimes I wonder about using the driver's bolster as a guide. There could be garage queen cars out there where the owner just gets in and out of his car in his garage a lot. Rather than putting miles on it, the enjoyment comes from sitting in it occasionally without "depreciating" the car... and the owner is content just to sit there thinking about driving rather than actually getting out and doing it.

I know that sounds completely crazy, but I occasionally wonder if that sometimes goes on.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

totally

 

You'd think if they would bother rolling it back, they would do more than 6k miles?!?!

 

In 2001 it said 31,600 - in 10 years it could be double that - they may have rolled back 20-30,000 miles.

Erik

 

When in doubt, punt...

 

You would think the jokers would at least look at the Carfax....

 

I highly doubt it was rolled back by a dealer. Been in dealers most of my adult life and never ever seen one tamper with an odometer. Penalties too big, far too much to lose and there is not a sypathetic jury for them in the world. It happens but is very rare.

I have seen countless speedos tampered with by owners though. Don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling dealing direct with an owner. Far less downside for them to lie and obfuscate than there is for a dealer.


Where dealers often go do go wrong is intentionally not researching or outright avoiding a cars history. They cannot be punished for not knowing the truth.

Its Ok to criticise the car business, just do it for a real reason.

 

The pedals in a car will tell a seasoned buyer what the true mileage is.

 

He was too busy reading the newspaper and drinking coffee to bother reading the documents.

You exepect him to work for the sale?

Or know his product?



Sheesh, whats it take to keep you happy?

 

I'm always leery of used car dealers...not because I think they are all bandits, but more for the fact they have a product to sell and they are zealous to do so. Often times I do wonder if things can be an oversight...BTW...IMHO this doesn't apply for people like Jim Lyons at Sports Car Company (because they've been caught and called out for doing it repeatedly), but for independents who just don't know the cars but have to utilize their natural talent for talking themselves into circles and oversell and overcommit themselves and their product.

Most the time it's not even the principle party responsible but some newbee greenpea who needs the sale in order to make ends meat and make the quota.

If you aren't buying from a Ferrari dealer or someone who is well known within the Ferrari community, OR the owner themselves...you should know your dealing with an unknown despite carfax or autocheck reports. These are likely to be auction cars with either no history or in some cases, manufactured history.

If you do your homework and run a PPI through a reputable person, all the other concerns can sometimes be overlooked with what the PPI unveils.

All that said, I'm not a stickler to the belief you have pay top dollar to get a fine example. I'm one of those who believes some people just have a natural tendency to find good deals on the cheap. I'm one of them :>)

 

Maybe he meant 125k. Oops, must have been a typo until you waste your time and drive down there to look at it.

 

Upon visual inspection or upon feel?

All the best,
Andrew.

 

Brian-

Have you been to the auctions?? I guarantee you EVERY SINGLE vehicle with a mechanical ODO is rolled back- One of my employees here worked at the major East Coast auction house and he routinely found oil change receipts under the seats showing 40, 50 or 60K more miles on the vehicle than the ODO showed.

When I was shopping for a clean 928 I noticed every single 83 on the market had less miles than the 90s- cause the mechanical odos are easy to roll back. Seriously- ever notice how many 60K 928s are on ebay??

I assume any 308 or Mondi that has been through the auction process is rolled back.

I agree with you the authorized dealers are NOT tampering whatsoever with the ODos, but the scummy underbelly of the car business still is- and there are places that specialize in rolling back digital odos in modern cars.

 

+1

 

It might have 25,000 clean miles on it but it also has many many dirty miles on it too. There are so many ways to tell if a 355 odo has been tampered with if you are around these cars a lot and know them well. The drivers seat rarely lies and even if refinished, one can still tell. The pedals are metal and many drivers like myself only drive with soft rubber soles so there wont be much wear on those. There are other ways of telling but I keep that to myself so the idiots who roll back the odos wont be able to hide it easily. Best thing is never to be in a hurry to buy one of these cars. It takes about 2 years of research and looking to find the right 355. Dont ever think that the deal in front of you is the best one you will find. Listen to your heart not the adrenal gland.

 

but car fax is a sham as well