Do I need an inspection? What carfax can tell me?
 

Guys, I bought this beautiful 2005.5 audi a4 on Saturday. It is from a small dealer (not an Audi dealer).

Car has 15K. Apparently is in mint condition. 1+ year factory warranty left.

In that case, if I pull a carfax for this vehice should I be safe that vehicle has no problems? Or do you recommend that I still pay buyer inspection to make sure? When I bought the vehicle seller gave me agreement that I had 72h to perform inspection and cancel deal if I found problems in the car.

RE: Do I need an inspection? What carfax can tell me?
 

I'd still have it done. I am sure you paid a pretty decent amount of money for this car, so do it right. Carfax can tell you title history to an extent, but if there was an accident that wasn't reported to insurance for repairs, then likely it isn't going to show up. Hit a guardrail on a sideswipe, say, and pay a local guy to straighten it out, bang the suspension back into place, get it aligned, and no one's the wiser right? (that's of course an extreme example, but something like that would never make it to Carfax). And remember that Carfax is not going to be perfect - they could easily miss things. I bought a winter beater awhile back knowing it had been repaired on claims from a hit to a deer, and that job never showed up on Carfax either.

Absolutely have the car inspected at a shop of your choosing. If the dealer balks at that and insists that only they give it the inspection, return the car and leave. Have it done by someone who doesn't stand to make any money whether you buy the car or not (beyond what you're paying for the inspection) and you have a better chance of a straight answer.

RE: Do I need an inspection? What carfax can tell me?
 

carfax doesnt always give you everything...my firends car has been in 3 accidents and carfax says it has a clean title:eek:

RE: Do I need an inspection? What carfax can tell me?
 

ya carfax isnt the most reliable source, but definately something i would check if i bought a used car.

RE: Do I need an inspection? What carfax can tell me?
 

Hi
First of all you have the Audi existing warranty or whatever is left of it. Drive straight to your local Audi dealership and tell him to pull a vin# report, this will tell you what was done and when and at what mileage. It will also tell you if you have the free maintenence program.

Have them check the car if you like but what is most important is to ask them if their body shop can check to see if there was any paintwork done on it. They can check with a gauge called a "Elcometer". This measures the depth of the paint. If the paint is to thick then it was worked on.

If you don't do this then buyer beware.

Good Luck

Alan