I'm interested in buying a 370z in the Chicago area. The problem is I live three hours away. So I want to make sure I learn as much about the car before I make the long drive to Chicago. The dealership provided a Carfax. It was clean, no accidents and only one owner. Great! But I know Carfax reports are not always accurate. I realize the best way to find out if the car has been in an accident or had body work done is to take it to a mechanic and body shop to get it checked out. But I'd rather not drive all the way there to do this. And if I did I'd have no way of knowing where a legit mechanic and body shop place would be.

So, short of taking it to a mechanic/body shop, are there other ways to make reasonably certain the car hasn't had a major or minor accident?

Anyone in the Chicago area want to do me a favor?? Hint, hint

 

look to the side of the car.. there should be a line from rear of the car to the front of the car.. its like a crease, If its not straight than the car have been in an accident.. also tap the body.. if it sounds different than the other parts than that part has been replaced.. remember not all accidents are reported.. good luck though

 

Thanks for the response! Appreciate it! Unfortunately I can't personally examine the car because I live quite a distance away. But I will definitely look at the photos of the car and see if I can notice any lines that aren't straight.

 

i would ask the dealership for the name & number of the prior owner and call them yourself to ask them about it....also make sure to get the maintenance records so you won't have any problem when you need warranty work on it.

 

Great idea!

Do you think they'll give me the name and number of the previous owner? What if they say they won't? Is that a red flag?

 

is this a nissan dealership we are talking about?

isn't the prior owner's name shown right on the carfax report?...if not it is going to be shown on any service receipt, so unless they claim a privacy issue i can't see why the would not give it to you.

 

The dealership selling the car is a Nissan dealership. In fact, according to the sales guy the car was originally bought through his dealership.

The Carfax does not show any previous owners names.

I'm already a little leery of this sales guy. He told me the car (2009 Nissan 370z) had the touring package. After looking closer at the on-line photos of the car, I noticed it doesn't have a power driver's seat. If the car truly had a touring package then it would also have a power driver seat. I may walk away from this car.

 

Find a decent body shop/mechanic shop near the dealer and pay them to inspect the car and give you a written report.

 

you could also bring a paint thickness reader and if the paint differs a lot from a panel to another panel it could of been repainted.

 

Also check the Autocheck... Carfax sucks, the first G I was about to buy showed it was clean on carfax yet autocheck showed that it had frame damage and was brought to the auction block 3 times before it sold.

The one I ended up buying was clean as a whistle on both...