CarFax crap and passenger side airbag cover - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

icedude · 02-08-2009, 12:17 PM

I ran a CarFax on a one owner Boxster that I'm purchasing and it came back as being owned twice, yet the dealership where he bought it and has had it serviced the entire time confirmed he is the original owner and has had it maintained there since purchased in 2001. Ray Catena Porsche in Edison, NJ. The VIN number is right so how can that be? I know CarFax can be crap but how can they get that wrong or is something going on here?

Also, car checked out fine but I noticed the passenger side airbag dash cover loose at the bottom and slightly sticking out (please see attached photo). Has anyone else had this problem or could this be an indication that it was once deployed (ie. an accident?)

Should I question the owner about both or will I risk him telling me to pound sand? Nice guy, seems straight up.

Thanks,
Ice

Jaxonalden · 02-08-2009, 01:22 PM

Ice,

I have a CarFax account, can you PM me with the VIN, I'd like to see where the two owners show up. If you don't fell comfortable with that, copy the CarFax report in a word Doc and attach it to you next post.

Jaxonalden · 02-08-2009, 02:33 PM

Ice,

Thanks for the PM. When I ran the report it definitely says 2 owners. The first in Staten Island and the second in New Jersey. You might need the help of a banker on this one; the second owner leased the car and I would assume a loan was taken out in Illinois. Illinois must be a title holding state (while the loan is active) and driven in New Jersey. I didn't think you could get a loan on a lease? Reason I say this is because the lessee really doesn't "own" the car. That's why I say you might need the help of a banker.

If I were you I'd print off the Car Fax report and confront the dearer (stealer) ship and make them explain themselves. Sounds like a $5,000 reduction in price because of deceptive selling practices to me. Get a PPI done by a different dealership and make them pay for it. Also, ask for the receipts all the way back from the first time it was serviced, if the owner doesn't have them ask the dealership to see the servicing they performed (and owners).

If you have a bad feeling about the deal, walk away.

Good luck!

Jaxonalden · 02-08-2009, 03:00 PM

P.S. Another thing I noticed on the report; you said "yet the dealership where he bought it and has had it serviced the entire time confirmed he is the original owner and has had it maintained there since purchased in 2001". The report doesn't show any servicing recorded! When cars are serviced at dealerships the servicing is usually documented and reported (because of warranty) and that info is on Car Fax reports. This one has none!

icedude · 02-08-2009, 03:24 PM

It was the seller (private party) who told me he was the original owner and where he bought it from. I then called the dealership and spoke to the service folks who told me it was bought and maintained there, that it had routine maintenance (the car only has 40, 122 miles on it) and that there were no issues with it. Then I run the CarFax to be sure and I got what you saw. I think he had it in for maintenance only a few times since he put 5k a year on the car. You can see my other post "I'm taking the plunge......." the car looks perfect. He also said he worked for IBM in NJ so I called them and asked for him and they put me to his voice mail so I feel very good about it and quite honestly would have never had or felt anything negative about the deal until the CarFax pulled it as 2 owners. I guess I'll confront the seller.

icedude · 02-08-2009, 03:26 PM

I've seen it. I could ask him if he has the original paperwork from the sale.