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[email]tron9901@msn.com[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
>I'm in the chicago area and I'm looking to buy this car from a local
>Chevy dealer:
>
>2003 Camry LE Sedan 4 DR
>2.4L L4 EFI DOHC 16V
>Equipment: Standard
>Mileage: 49,500
>Asking price: $13K
>
>Kelly Blue book (Trade in value - Good condition) is about $11K for my
>zip code (60004). Cosmetically the car is in excellent condition. The
>body has no rust, paint is in great shape with no scratches, dents or
>dings that I can see. The interior is also great, no fading, stains,
>rips or tears that I can see. It rides great, and I'm going to take it
>to a mechanic for an inspection.
>
>The Chevy dealer will sell it to me for $12,300. They gave me a copy of
>it's Carfax report, and I'm wondering how to decipher it:
>
>8/25/2003
>Mileage:
>Source: NICB
>Comments: Vehicle manufactured and shipped to original dealer.
>
>9/04/2003
>Mileage: 3
>Source: Service Facility
>Comments: Vehicle serviced.
>
>9/05/2003
>Mileage: 3
>Source: Dealer Inventory Kentucky
>Comments: Vehicle sold
>
>9/15/2003
>Mileage: 3
>Source: Kentucky Motor Vehicle Dept - Louisville, Kentucky
>Comments: Registered as a personal vehicle
>
>9/18/2003
>Mileage: 11
>Source: Kentucky Motor Vehicle Dept - Louisville, Kentucky
>Comments: Title or registration issued. First owner reported. Loan or
>lien reported.
>[/color]
These first four, the vehicle came into the country and was sold to an
individual who had to take out a loan to buy the car.
[color=blue]
>2/25/2005
>Mileage: 41,328
>Source: Kentucky Motor Vehicle Dept - Cedar Rapids, IA
>Comments: Title or registration issued.
>[/color]
Sounds like the guy moved to Iowa...but what's up with the "Kentucky Motor
Vehicle Dept"?
[color=blue]
>4/28/2005
>Mileage: 49,391
>Source: Auto Auction
>Comments: Sold at auction in Southeast Region. Listed as a fleet
>vehicle.
>
>4/29/2005
>Mileage: 49,391
>Source: Kentucky Motor Vehicle Dept - Elizabethtown, Kentucky
>Comments: Title or registration issued. New owner reported.
>
>5/12/2005
>Mileage: 49,398
>Source: Auto Auction
>Comments: Sold at auction in Southeast Region. Listed as a dealer
>vehicle.
>
>5/312005
>Mileage: 49,398
>Source: Dealer Inventory - Lincolnwood, IL
>Comments: Vehicle offered for sale
>
>2/24/2006
>Mileage: 49,398
>Source: Dealer Inventory - Palatine, IL
>Comments: Vehicle offered for sale
>
>3/10/2006
>Mileage: 49,398
>Source: Illinois Motor Vehicle Dept - Chicago, IL
>Comments: Title issued or updated. New owner reported.
>[/color]
The guy traded the car in the spring of 2005. It was such a high-mileage
vehicle (49,000+ miles in 18 months) that no one wanted to look at the rig, so
it got passed around a lot.
[color=blue]
>Can anyone summarize this for me? This car has bounced around a few
>states, has been sold at auction twice, and has been offered for sale
>twice with some pretty long gaps in between. Any red flags here? Any
>help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
>
>- Dave
>[/color]
The mileage is pretty high for the age, but it's gotta be pretty much all
highway miles. If you plan on hanging onto it for a while, I'd say you've got
the best of both worlds -- you can use the high mileage to dicker down the
price, but the mileage doesn't really count from a wear-and-tear perspective --
highway miles are much better than in-town miles.