Car Fax help

[jrojewski]

Tonite my dad found a 2002 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 and wants to buy it. It only has 2822 miles on it and he thinks that someone may have bought it and then got in a wreck so they decided to sell it.

I was wondering if i could get someone to car fax it for me to help keep him from getting screwed?

2G2FV22G622147298

If you can email the results to jrojewski@hotmail.com

thank in advance

[tabahr]

If it was in an accident carfax most likely won't help you. The only thing carfax can indicate is if the car was actually "totalled", then rebuilt. To be totalled, a car must be damaged within 70%(I think?) of its value. That would be alot of damage on a 2002 model.

I'd look at the carfax report, but do not rely on it. Let your eyes and fingers check it out. Look for marks on the frame from frame machine clamps, look for evidence of paint work and overspray. Look very closely at every bolt head to see if the paint is scratched on them from a tool removing them. Look at the fender bolts and see if they have ever been removed, etc......

[01Y87]

Yeah, overspray is a main giveaway. I can spot it instantly. Also look at the enhaust system; any trace of color (paint) on it means it was repainted (and badly). On a 2002 it should be silver metal. Look in the wheel wells too. The plastic inner wheel wells of the front wheels should be black plastic with NO trace of any color on it. of course this doesnt halp much if your car is Black! Most of the metal under neath the front (i.e., frame cradles, etc) should be black.

Few weeks ago a buddy of mine bought a used Mitsu Eclipse (maroon) and of course he thinks he is the SHIT now - well i was driving behind him at night and my Camaro headlights lit up his back bumper and his muffler was like maroon. Those cars have black mufflers under the bumper. I told him I thought his nice new convertible had been rear end wrecked and repaired and he just looked at me... HUH????? Yup....someone had slapped a new bumper cover on it and shot it with paint - who knows how much other damage there was. And i told him, geez, at least they could have used a decent body shop that would put a cover over the non-painted parts!

bruce