Buyers Beware

[viper paul]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Worth reading this always get a CARFAX HPI will take your money but not guarantee an import which is nice.

Could someone post this on the Mustang forum???

Thanks

Edited by viper paul on Monday 10th December 13:37

[51state]

HI all- just in case some people do not know how to get a car fax in the UK I thought it was worth putting down some info. The Car fax site does not recognise UK addresses but it will accept a UK credit card using any valid US address. It does not check the credit card against the address. So find any US address and slot in it in the for along with your UK credit card and the transaction will go through.

We (51st State Autos) have been offered about 6 written off cars in the past year- including a Viper, in all cases the owners were blissfully unaware of the car's status, breaking the news is not very nice! Please carry out your own check before buying anything!! The dealers copy is not good enough, as the printout can be doctored very easily and we have seen this as well!

We are in the process of trying to sort out a deal with Car Fax to become their UK agent so the search will be available direct from our website for everyone to use. Obviously this will take some time but hopefully they will go for it.

There are also some dealers bringing write offs in deliberately. At Edmonton SVA test centre a month or so ago we were told of an SRT 10 ram that a dealer presented that had been so badly put back together that they guys testing it wanted to fail it but were not allowed to as it fell out of their remit. As the car was less than three years old, there was no MOT due and so the car would be easily registered and some poor person would end up with a death trap! they didnt tell which dealer but said they were Essex based, so could be a few.

Finally another thing that seems to be going on a lot is advertising cars with the wrong model year on them. The 10th digit of the VIN number always gives the model year. I am so fed up with seeing 05 rams advertised as 06's just because they were first registered in March 06. A guy yesterday told me he had bought an Escalade advertised as a 2005 on an 05 plate- he now wants to part ex it for an 07 escalade that we have and lo and behold it is a 2003 model which means he has now lost £10k in 3 months unless he advertises privately and carries on the deception. Its a never ending cycle sadly!

If anyone needs any help getting a Car Fax let me know at [e-mail] , even if you are buying elsewhere we are happy to get the report for you!!!

Thanks
Charles
51st State Autos