[timeshifter]

Can you help interpret this carfax report for me? It's for a 2001 SES with 59,000 miles. Looks like it had two owners, 1st on 7/9/2001 then another on 10/2/2001. Why would the first owner only have it three months? Am I reading this right?

QUOTE

01/18/2001      NICB
Vehicle manufactured and shipped to original
dealer

 
06/18/2001      Georgia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Alpharetta, GA
Registered as
commercial vehicle

 
07/09/2001      Georgia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Alpharetta, GA
Title #6338011908001
Title issued
Registration issued
First owner reported

 
10/02/2001      Georgia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Alpharetta, GA
Title #7584012756001
Title issued
Registration issued
New owner reported
Loan or lien reported
Registered as lease vehicle

 
01/30/2004      Ford Motor Company  No recalls open for repair [/b]

 

[XLSuruaT]

Hmmm, that's wierd. First owner, then a second owner on a lease? Dunno.

I suggest looking at 2002+. In 2002 ford made minor changes and I have yet to hear of any problems with those.

 

[timeshifter]

How can you tell the difference between a 2002 and a 2002+ ? I've only seen cars listed as 2002.

 

[XLSuruaT]

Sorry, that means 2002 and newer.

 

[sfblacksel]

Looks to me like the first owner was the car dealer itself. I think some states have to register all vehicles, even before they are sold. The dealer basically buys the cars from the factory and then sells it to you, so in the mean time they are the owner of the vehicle. Or, the car was a demo car.

Stay away from the 2003 year, 2002 is basically your best bet as it has all the goodies of the 2000 and 2001, but has better head rests and the LED brake light that is much lower and doesn't block your rear view.

 

[saerandy]

That looks accurate. It was titled for sale or least - The first transaction - and then leased - The second transaction.

Just a gut check here - this car has about twice the 'normal' mileage for a vehicle that age. You should pay no more than $5800 - $6000 or so. . . But of course that depends on a variety of factors.

 

[stever]

when i bought my car it was a company car from hewlet packard. they bought 2000 taurus' in late 1999 but then a few months later the 2001 came out, so they took all their fleet to a dealer and had the dealer sell the cars for them. my car didnt have high miles on it because the lady lived close to work and rarely drove it. so it might be possible the same thing happened with you, because to a big company , money aint a thing.

 

[kermitec]

Originally posted by stever@Jan 31 2004, 09:08 AM
when i bought my car it was a company car from hewlet packard. they bought 2000 taurus' in late 1999 but then a few months later the 2001 came out, so they took all their fleet to a dealer and had the dealer sell the cars for them. my car didnt have high miles on it because the lady lived close to work and rarely drove it. so it might be possible the same thing happened with you, because to a big company , money aint a thing.

What are the problems from 2001 that were fixed in the 2002? I'm just curious. Those 59,000 miles could be better than 36,000 miles if they are highway miles. I just broke 36k on my 2001 and it was made a week before the one on the Carfax report. I drive a lot of little short trips with my Taurus mostly under 10 miles roundtrip, barely enough to get warmed up. I change the oil every 3 months regardless of miles because I know those short trips are HARD on the engine.

 

[timeshifter]

Here's one from a private seller. Claimed to be one owner. Not sure I believe them. Was told it has been sitting for two years, belongs to seller's sister who has been in nursing home for two years, now looks like she'll remain there, therefore no longer needing the car.QUOTE

Not Reported      NICB
Vehicle manufactured and shipped to original
dealer

 
04/09/1999      Tennessee
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Alcoa, TN
Registered as
rental vehicle
(major car rental company)

 
04/19/1999  15  Tennessee
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Alcoa, TN
Title #57829979
Title or registration issued
First owner reported

 
02/17/2000  15,521  Auto Auction
Sold at auction
in Pacific Northwest Region
Listed as
a manufacturer vehicle

 
02/28/2000  15,536  Service Plan Co.
Louisville, KY
Service Contract Issued

 
03/03/2000      Dealer Inventory
Louisville, KY
Vehicle offered for sale

 
03/29/2000  17,817  Kentucky
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Louisville, KY
Title #000890560760
Title or registration issued
New owner reported
Loan or lien reported

 
08/21/2003      Kentucky
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Louisville, KY
Title #032330560344
Title or registration issued
Duplicate title issued[/b]

 

[sfblacksel]

There were no problems with the 2001, but somethings were improved. Mostly cosmetic.