Looking at a Carfax for an XC70

[454cid]

I didn't get back over to the auction house today, but am planning on Monday. Hopefully, I'll find my OBD2 reader by then. That'll give me some time to read up on the Haldex system, too.

[454cid]

So I went to go check the car out again on Monday. I found my OBD2 reader and it only came up with an Evap code.

I can't drive the car, just pull it forward and back. I did get a bit more aggressive than I normally would trying to spin the tires. Fronts would break traction, but rears didn't... so AWD not functional? The front tires looked a bit more worn than the rears, and the last carfax tire entry mentions 2 tires mounted 3/2022, and 4 tires in 2018. Seems odd that a dealer would only do two tires on an AWD car.

[volvolugnut]

This car may have bad front suspension resulting in fast front tire wear. Few miles on the car since fronts replaced 18 months ago?
Be cautious.
volvolugnut

[Blacklab467]

I just reread the Carfax, it looks like the car has been over maintained by the Volvo dealer which is not uncommon, particularly with a gullible unknowing owner. The assumption would be that there shouldn't be much that hasn't been addressed. I've never bought an auction car due to fear of the unknown but this one looks pretty good and has good documented history of maintenance. I would buy that car at fair market value less $2000 for anticipated surprises. I'm assuming it is clean and presentable, appearance-wise?

[454cid]

I just reread the Carfax, it looks like the car has been over maintained by the Volvo dealer which is not uncommon, particularly with a gullible unknowing owner. The assumption would be that there shouldn't be much that hasn't been addressed. I've never bought an auction car due to fear of the unknown but this one looks pretty good and has good documented history of maintenance. I would buy that car at fair market value less $2000 for anticipated surprises. I'm assuming it is clean and presentable, appearance-wise?

The auction was yesterday, and it went for just under $2500 before fees/tax. I did not bid. I just wasn't comfortable with that Carfax. To me, the amount of brake work, alignments, tie-rods, and tires was just ridiculous.... and it STILL needed tires. Furthermore, I wasn't sure the AWD system was working. I'll have to do some studying on that so I can better know what I'm looking for, in the future.

The car was a bit dirty for a well taken car of car, and all the aluminum in the engine compartment was corroded. Neither are deal killers by themselves, but they were each just "one more thing" that steered me away.