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Suggested Steps to perfom PRIOR to final purchase

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jwplunkett
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Vehicle: Ford F250 FX4 6.0 Diesel
Joined: Dec 2007
Member # 3821
From: Colfax NC

Posted - December 31 2007 : 9:22a

If you are in the used Vehicle market
-Highly suggest you perform the following procedures / Steps PRIOR to final purchase
-It’s well worth the money in my humble viewpoint considering what vehicle prices are
-Plus can save you a ton of headaches --- getting stuck with a Lemon etc

STEP 1
-Purchase Consumer Reports ( CR )
Good bet on used cars annual report
-Or subscribe to Monthly Magazine
And get Annual Report as part of package
-I have both Hard copy + online version
Online is great tool
Don’t have to search for Hard copy magazine
http://www.consumerreports.org

STEP 2
-Get VIN # of vehicle considering for purchase
-Then fund / Gain report from CarFax / CarChex
http://www.carfax.com
http://www.carChex.com
-An independent company established in 1986

STEP 3
-Pull a sample of Engine Oil + Transmission fluid and have indepth analysis performed by independent Lab
-Receive in return detailed report
-Its like a blood test
But for vehicle critical fluids
And will be able to alert a pending buyer
of internal matters of engine & Transmission
http://www.blackstone-labs.com
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/lemonaide.html
http://www.Predictusa.com

STEP 4
-Have your local mechanic give it a once over
-And pay for services
-Gain report

STEP 5
VIN Switching Scam Protection
Every vehicle made has a unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate located on the dashboard that can be viewed through the windshield. VIN switching is a technique used by thieves to disguise the identity of a stolen vehicle by replacing the VIN number plate with a number from a non-stolen vehicle. Fraudulent titles and registration papers are also created to complete the scam. The unsuspecting customer then purchases the vehicle and tries to register it, only to find out its stolen. Law enforcement takes the vehicle from the buyer, returns it to the original owner, and the buyer loses the entire cost of the vehicle. The thieves are so adept at counterfeiting, even used car dealerships have been tricked into selling a stolen vehicle. To help protect yourself against this scam, the Dyno-Scan reads the VIN number from the vehicle's on-board emission control unit (ECU). The on-board ECU computer VIN and the windshield VIN plate must match. If they do not match, find another car to purchase as this vehicle VIN plate has been tampered with. This crime is on the rise and avoiding it could save you tens of thousands of dollars.
Web link = http://www.auterraweb.com/index.html

Hope this helps

John from Colfax NC

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jwplunkett
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Vehicle: Ford F250 FX4 6.0 Diesel
Joined: Dec 2007
Member # 3821
From: Colfax NC

Posted - December 31 2007 : 9:57a

Missed adding following Step so here it is

Step 1A
-For Ford buyers have On-Line Automotive Service Information System (Oasis) Report run, gain hard copy of same then review same for verification all looks OK / clean record ( Ford's Maint /Service Record System )
-For other Vehicle Manufacturers have the Service department pull appropriate records and get a Hard copy print out of same and again confirm report is clean / OK without any major issues reported within.

Tom in Tacoma
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Posted - December 31 2007 : 10:14a

STEP 6
- go back to make the transaction only to find that the guy sold the vehicle to someone else because of how long you took to make up your mind...

Greez Lightning
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Posted - December 31 2007 : 11:40a

Good Advice.

MrSVTGal
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Posted - January 1 : 6:35p

I've heard about OASIS, but how does that work for things like non-dealer performed general maintenance?

I'm a DIY'er, and generally the dealer does not touch my car once the warranty has expired, unless there's something serious. So, all my oil/filter changes, air and fuel filter changes and other general tune-up type maintenance wouldn't be in the OASIS system, I don't think.

MrSVTGal

97F1504RAD
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Posted - January 1 : 7:15p

OASIS would be useless for that SVT. It is strictly Ford's inter-office dealership communication tool.

MrSVTGal
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Posted - January 3 : 2:12p

That's what I figured... I'd be more than a little ticked off if OASIS had an entry in it that looked something like 'this vehicle does not seem to have had regular oil changes'. Or, if somebody came to that conclusion looking at dealer records.

MrSVTGal

Sawblade
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Posted - January 3 : 4:34p

I Haven't have an oil change for 86,000 miles according to the oasis report. It does show every time I had it inspected because the dealer washes my truck for free when they inspect it.

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