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Carfax is ok but not proof positive
using them for over 8 years now and I personally know some vehicles (customer/friends) potential trade ins had a major accident with full police reports...never made it through the system to carfax. Also checking trade ins and finding evidence of half the vehicle being repainted and signs of body work with no evidence exposed by a carfax.
told them we couldn`t take it for trade here but good luck elsewhere...though any even half decent manager could acertain a major collision by visual inspection alone.
take any used vehicle to a friend/mechanic and have him give a good once over even if it cost you $50 to $100 it could save you thousands in the long run.
even the best brands are hurting now so you should be able to buy new into dealer holdback....so below invoice and some have more margins here as well.look for dealer incentives online. even then not all monies are listed or not offered to customers.
Like some of you have said shop it and work it hard...its really worth it.
Like Bill did.... same vehicle relatively...big price difference.
ex. say one dealer got a trade for $5,500 and the next had to pay $9,500 ( this is a little extreme but can happen) same vehicle, same mileage, same everything..... potentially big $$$ difference.... and work the trade to death and the new vehicle as well.... allow yourself at least a few hours if you know its the one you want...sometimes they just give in to be done with it and then try to make up for it on the next customer.
need more specific tips or info. feel free to PM me.
Good luck,
Mike
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