Tecwerks

Have to decide ASAP between a 2010 AWD/Nav/Premium/Comfort/19"Rims/Tow Pkg/Vent Seats with 51,000 miles for $32,800 or a 2012 same identical options as above other than it has the Remote Start has 24,000 miles and price is $34,500.

The 2010 is from a Lexus dealer and is CPO 3/100 and the 2012 is at a Mercedes dealer. Both are very clean but I would say the 2012 is a bit better shape. The 2010 has had paint chips doctored and has a spot on the windshield that was fixed and you can tell. The 2010 needs tires but the 2012 has new ones.

So, What does everyone think?

corradoMR2

No brainer for me only 2K more half the mileage, I'd go for the 2012, plus it takes regular unleaded vs premium fuel for the 2010+2011. Have Mercedes do their own "CPO" inspection on the 2012 (you can reference the Lexus CPO 160 point inspection to them) as part of the deal and you're good to go.

Good luck!

jst17

The price for the 12 does raise an eybrow.

Tecwerks

I thought so too but the CarFax checks out, all required service was done at a Lexus dealer. No red flags. I drove it and it was real sweet with no noticeable problems at all. I agree as the Lexus dealer wants around 40K plus for a similar 2012. Looks like I just had a huge stroke of luck.

Tecwerks

SO to ease my mind you can goto mylexus.com and register your vehicle by vin as my ls 400 is listed there so I got the 2012vin and entered it and guess what? The Lexus service records showed a Accident with Frame Pull as one of the items. The carfax report was missing the entire section. Glad I caught this before I purchased. I am telling the selling dealer about this. Perhaps they did not know either but since tt appeared to be priced way below retail they more than likely did - Buyer Beware......


SERVICE TYPE DATE SERVICE PROVIDER MILEAGE REPAIR # DESCRIPTION
Dealer Reported 11/25/2013 21904 0321092 REG OIL CHANGE - CHANGE OIL AND FILTER UP TO 5 QTS OF MOBIL OIL
Dealer Reported 11/25/2013 21904 0321092 INSEPECTION - REPLACE ENGINE AIR FILTER ONLY IF NEEDED.
Dealer Reported 08/28/2013 17400 0314148 BODY REPAIR 40 - INSTALL NEW CLEAR PROTECTANT ON HOOD - REPAIR AS NEEDED
Dealer Reported 07/30/2013 17394 0311180 BODY REPAIR 40 - REPAIR FRT PASSENGER SIDE
Dealer Reported 07/30/2013 17394 0311180 PAINT 40 - REFINISH RT FT - REFINISH AS NEEDED
Dealer Reported 07/30/2013 17394 0311180 FRAME OPERATION - PERFORM FRAME PULL AS NEEDED
Dealer Reported 07/30/2013 17394 0311180 MECHANICAL REPAIR - EVACUATE AND RECHARGE AC, R&I MECHANICAL PARTS - REPAIR AS NEEDED
Dealer Reported 07/30/2013 17394 0311180 MECHANICAL REPAIR - REPLACE RT SUSPENSION, R&I MOTOR AND TRANNY - REPAIR AS NEEDED
Dealer Reported 07/30/2013 17394 0311180 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT -

Tecwerks

I was getting to purchase a 2012 RX350 that I thought was a great deal. Just to make sure Lexus has an owners site as my LS400 is listed on it I pulled up the VIN number on the RX I was going to close the deal on tomorrow from a Mercedes dealer. I am very diligent when it comes to purchasing a used car. The dealer showed me the CarFax and I pulled it up as well and all looked great. Here is where the fun starts, I pulled up the service history for the vehicle on the Lexus site and low and behold here is a section that was nowhere to be found on CarFax:

Dealer Reported 07/30/2013 17394 0311180 BODY REPAIR 40 - REPAIR FRT PASSENGER SIDE
Dealer Reported 07/30/2013 17394 0311180 PAINT 40 - REFINISH RT FT - REFINISH AS NEEDED
Dealer Reported 07/30/2013 17394 0311180 FRAME OPERATION - PERFORM FRAME PULL AS NEEDED
Dealer Reported 07/30/2013 17394 0311180 MECHANICAL REPAIR - EVACUATE AND RECHARGE AC, R&I MECHANICAL PARTS - REPAIR AS NEEDED
Dealer Reported 07/30/2013 17394 0311180 MECHANICAL REPAIR - REPLACE RT SUSPENSION, R&I MOTOR AND TRANNY - REPAIR AS NEEDED
Dealer Reported 07/30/2013 17394 0311180 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT -

No mention of an accident from CarFax or the selling dealer. Going to be interesting tomorrow morning when I pay them a visit and show them this. Caveat Emptor

corradoMR2

Ouch, but great catch. Better now than later. Although repairs can make a car as good as new, the MAJOR repairs such as the frame pull , suspension, and tranny repair does not sit well with me.

vlad_a

Wow, that's a big one for Carfax to miss!
They do get their records dumped from the Lexus database.
I find that Carfax is far less than accurate when it comes to accidents.

Tecwerks

Yes, thats what I cannot figure out since carfax had everything from Lexus other than the accident repairs.I am wondering if somehow when you click on the carfax link supplied from the dealers web site on a certain car is different than if you purchased the report yourself independently.It would be an interesting test but I do not want to pay $20.00 or so to find out.

Crocetti

Frame pull? Trani repair? Suspension work? I would run from this car! The fact someone had an accident and settled without insurance involvement is nothing new! Car Fax is ok, but can easily be avoided! Good luck on your decision.

Woodrow

Do you think the dealer knew about this, and that's why the price was so low? It seems wrong that they would know, and not have it show on the reports.

Congratulations! I really admire your tenacity in getting to the bottom of this! I can't seem to develop that healthy cynicism that is clearly required when buying a used car, and as a result I'm HORRIBLE at it.

Mors

This is interesting. Just goes to show you still have to look 100% under a car to see if you can see damage.
I'm not sure if this is the 2012 car you were looking at, but I did see where carfax did NOT have accident damage, but autocheck does.

2012 RX 350 For Sale
CarFax (no accident listed)
AutoCheck (accident reported)

AutoCheck doesn't show what was repaired; however, it at least warns you that there indeed was an accident.

Marqevans

Ask them to let you have a Lexus approved body shop inspect the car. Take it on an extensive ( highway included test drive) Then low ball them if you still want the car.

vlad_a

They probably did. I had my cars inspected by the dealer and they do check for paintwork being done. You can feel creases and bends having uneven surface after being painted because they do not get polished as well.

Crocetti

I would be stunned if the dealer did not know about this . Someone mentioned that a repaint is detectable. this is true, unless the car was curb damaged and no paint was involved. Body shops have a tool that "tones" the paint and they can tell immediately if the car had any cosmetic work. However, with a transmission and chassis work I would be more patient. January is a great time to buy a car because after the holidays people are really strapped for cash. again, good luck, there is a lot of good advice on this string.