Mileage discrepancy?

[skate1968]

Carfax says 186,000 in June of 2010, when owned by owner #2 of 4.

Seller says 118,000, today. Seller is owner #4.

I can not tell if the odometer was rolled back/tampered with by the second owner OR the dealer OR the third owner OR the fourth owner -- the "fourth owner" referring to the present owner.

The 4 "Owners" are all "personal" owners.

A dealer that bought the car. And then sold the car "at auction" in december 2010. This dealer is not included as one of the 4 individual owners.

If the car had 186,000 mile on it in june 2010 and has 205,000 miles on it today I still might be interested in buying it. Still interested -- but certainly LESS anxious to race down there and snatch it before someone else.

thanks again for all of your help

 

[bepperb]

Could have had the instrument panel replaced, at least in Hondas this needs to be programmed by the dealer or the mileage will be whatever the donor car had.

Is carfax getting the mileage from the title transactions recorded by the state DOT?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Seriously, with all the inconsistencies that you found on this car, I would just walk away. If it is priced below market value, then there is usually a very good reason for it. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Just think of what other discrepancies and issues there may be that the seller is hiding from you.

Keep looking.

 

[Artem]

Probably has 218k not 118 like advertised.

I too would walk away and look at something else. I personally stay away from things that seem to have been tempered with. Who knows what shady things were done besides the mileage fraud.

 

[FirstNissan]

Walk away. When you go to sell this car, you may get hauled into court by the next seller.

 

[skate1968]

hi bepperb,

Originally Posted By: bepperb
Is carfax getting the mileage from the title transactions recorded by the state DOT?


No. Not in the past 11 years. The mileage has been reported by dealer, auction and service stations. most recently, june 2010, reported by dealer, then again confirmed by auctioner.

good question, btw

 

[skate1968]

"Walk away," "keep looking" x 3 = i am not planning on rushing down there, cash in hand, like i was.

Again i appreciate all the advice, and i'm very reluctant to continue asking the entire board to continue entertain my wishful thinking, delusions of grandure, something for nothing, etc.


Originally Posted By: Artem
Probably has 218k not 118 like advertised.


In which case kelly blue book value +carfax "price adjustment" would be 300 above asking price.

It'd still priced below book value.

change a timing belt and it's selling for book value.

And honda civcs around here often go for significantly higher than book.


[i'm sure that someone on honda tech would advise me me to put a second mortgage on the house so i can "turbo" this D series engine

)

 

[Colt]

Originally Posted By: skate1968
"Walk away," "keep looking" x 3 = i am not planning on rushing down there, cash in hand, like i was.

Again i appreciate all the advice, and i'm very reluctant to continue asking the entire board to continue entertain my wishful thinking, delusions of grandure, something for nothing, etc.


Originally Posted By: Artem
Probably has 218k not 118 like advertised.


In which case kelly blue book value +carfax "price adjustment" would be 300 above asking price.

It'd still priced below book value.

change a timing belt and it's selling for book value.

And honda civcs around here often go for significantly higher than book.


[i'm sure that someone on honda tech would advise me me to put a second mortgage on the house so i can "turbo" this D series engine

)


Listen to yourself.
You're so stuck on price ,you're overlooking the negatives and there are many.
Don't walk away from this Honda....run!!!!!!

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: skate1968
"Walk away," "keep looking" x 3 = i am not planning on rushing down there, cash in hand, like i was.

Again i appreciate all the advice, and i'm very reluctant to continue asking the entire board to continue entertain my wishful thinking, delusions of grandure, something for nothing, etc.


Originally Posted By: Artem
Probably has 218k not 118 like advertised.


In which case kelly blue book value +carfax "price adjustment" would be 300 above asking price.

It'd still priced below book value.

change a timing belt and it's selling for book value.

And honda civcs around here often go for significantly higher than book.


[i'm sure that someone on honda tech would advise me me to put a second mortgage on the house so i can "turbo" this D series engine

)

It seems like you have some time to search for a decent car, why not wait for a 1 or 2 owner, all service records saved car? It may cost a bit more, but it should save a lot of headaches in the future.
Just call people until you find cars with reasonably responsible owners and then look at those cars only.

 

[skate1968]

thanks Indylan, appreciate it

(Think this owner might well have been reasonable rather the guy before him was shady -- but still someone WAS shady.)

 

[skate1968]

thanks for responding, Colt

You remind me of my old boss.

As it seems that you're much wiser than myself in this area. And it seems that you're also equally as patient as my old boss.

that was a true compliment, btw. I learned a great deal from my old boss/manager.

 

[skate1968]

Fear

Hi folks,

Again, i appreciate all of the advice. I'll have to say that i am, now, somewhat fearful to report to all of you that i did go and buy the car.

I don't want you all to think that i ignored all of you who advised against this. Because i did proceed in a more cautious manner.

I found additional mileage records. I spoke to a mechanic about it at lenth.

Then i spoke to a man who does business in the area of my regular mechanic (he approved). Then i had my regular mechanic check it out -- put it up on a lift and the whole nine yards. Then I haggled the price down a bit.

All in all i bought a car. Then i bought brakes all around, timing belt, alternator belt, "tensioner" and AC belt. The total price was good, imo. (they said the water pump was good enough and didn't need a change)

My only concern, at the moment, would be whether he snuck some "motor honey" or some kind of additive in that would temporarily mask oil burning. (I haven't noticed anything funky about the oil -- but then i don't know if i would notice if it were full of additives.)

Anyhow, if i get burned i get burned. We shall see. But so far so good.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Congrats, I guess.

At the end of the day, if you're happy with the purchase, that's all that matters. And if you're planning to keep it until the wheels fall off, then the mileage discrepancies probably don't matter. It would only matter if you were trying to sell it soon and the new owners would get suspicious.

 

[skate1968]

Thanks, Pete.

I guess.

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
And if you're planning to keep it until the wheels fall off, then the mileage discrepancies probably don't matter. It would only matter if you were trying to sell it soon and the new owners would get suspicious.


And assuming that the car wasn't absolutely beat to death, daily, for the brief 8 month "window" of uncertain mileage -- it really is a good deal based on mileage records AVAILABLE.

I don't plan on selling it anytime soon. But if i DO i will be very careful on disclose the mileage issue and whatever else i'm advised to do to protect myself.

plus there are other factors involved. like the market. how much time do i wanna keep looking. how quickly do i wanna get rid of my other car. i could've spent a ton more time looking and NOT found anything much better.

Don't think of myself as "settling" for garbage or for a rip off. Was just being reasonable.

in all seriousness, thanks for responding, Pete.