Yeah, I would be VERY careful with that one. I honestly don't know what constitutes a vehcile getting that odometer inaccuracy flag... I suppose that one reason could be if the instrument cluster was replaced - I know that some cars (like the 8th gen Impalas) store the mileage in the cluster - so you can buy a $50 cluster on Ebay with 26k miles and put it in a car that really has 200k miles... So it could be something like that. But I'd be really careful - it's possible that the milage shown on the cluster is wrong...

I'm just not sure how you'd know for sure if the reported mileage is correct or not.

And you also have to be careful what the salesman tells you - they're known for telling "not truths" at times.

 

My guard is definitely up. As of November 2014 to July 2015 it had 19k miles on it, no change in mileage. August 2015 it arrived at my state for registration renewal, mileage still no change. Another renewel in Aug 2016. Then Dec of 2017 it was reported bought by dealer and mileage jumped up to 78k miles and it's bounced around to their sister dealers for service/ inspections to where it sits now at 79k miles.

Multiple places in the report still show a lien and this last December is where the corrected title/ odometer issue is coming through from the dmv.

Just seems odd. Originally delivered to Vermont and was there until Aug 15'

 

Is there anybody on this site that can run a VIN ?

 

First thing comes to mind is a rebuilt flooded car from past hurricane flooding damage, saw numerous cars last year when looking for a car for my daughter that were deeply discounted, but had flood damage and had title issues. Would be very cautious of any car that has a salvage or "corrected" title.

If it is a large dealer, they should be required to disclose to you the reason for the title issue and should also supply you a full detailed report.

 

That was my concern as well being from the east coast but it's saying it's still a clear title, no accidents, no water damage report & not a rebuilt title so I'm not sure what's going on here.

 

Whether it be a "turned back odometer" or discrepancy there or some other issue, probably one of the biggest reasons to me for shying away from a car with "unknowns" in the title would be the ability to sell the car in the future. Might be tough to sell if you disclose to a potential buyer that the car has an issue with the title but you don't know what the issue is.

 

Talked with the dealership this afternoon and it sounds as though it was a discrepancy in the paperwork from when it was bought by the dealership and the mileage numbers got transposed, then corrected with the right miles a few days later. Either on the DOT side or on the dealer side. He wasn't sure who dropped the ball but none the less the miles on the car are the actual miles. At least that's what they are telling me. No damage, no odometer altering and the cluster was never changed...



Still wish there wasn't a record of it but it's a 14' 2LT with the white diamond tri coat...all optioned up that my wife seems to be in love with so we may go take a look at it so I can go over it with a fine tooth comb.

 

Caveat emptor.

"Corrected Title" by itself is not a guarantee of fraud and the definition may vary by state as far as what gets it labeled "corrected." It could be a matter of discovering a clerical or spelling issue on an issued title which is taken back to the DMV to be made accurate. Or, it could mean more....

The odometer part is a different story - "not actual miles" will scare away a large majority of potential buyers downstream when it comes time to sell. Odometer discrepancies can cause lots of problems with warranties (if any remain). Most secondhand car buyers are odometer buyers first and vehicle buyers second. If the odometer reading is high or labeled not accurate, say goodbye to many potential buyers, no matter how clean and well-maintained the car may be. Treat a vehicle with "not actual miles" like a super high mileage car because the rest of the car buying public will likely assume it is. New car dealerships will generally stay away from them or they will wholesale such cars to the secondary market of used car dealerships who sell to marginal credit buyers who can't afford differently.

However, there is also another possibility. Title search engines have been known to contain erroneous information or omit a key piece of data (do a web search). I wouldn't bank on the title report being wrong, but sometimes it can be.

It sounds like this car has more than the usual amount of risk tied to it. Unless you are getting a smoking hot deal on the car (I mean SERIOUSLY discounted) AND plan to drive it into the ground, move on to one which doesn't have potential issues.

 

If it's a reputable dealer they'll give you a car fax on the car. It'll show the area the car originated in and if it was ever "totaled" etc due to flood, tornado, HUGE ass wreck, what ever could have happened. I'd say most likely they've had the gauge cluster replaced, as a lot of them carry the cars actual mileage with them.
To give an example, say I wanted to put SS impala gauges into my non ss. I go out find one on ebay, junkyard, etc and install it into my car to get the look that I want. Next time I take it to the BMV to have the title done (if I sell it or it gets traded in) the mileage is not going to be correct. (say my car had 140k on it and the ss I took the cluster from had 80k.) Now if the original one had 100k and when you do the title work the new one says 150 they might not catch it, and just figure you put a lot of miles on the car since you had it, but when its the other way they flag it in the system as a tampered with odometer. (not actual miles) bc now they have no idea what miles are actually on the car, they just have your "word" that there isnt a million miles on it.

 

Well our initial plan will be to have my wife drive it as her daily, then I'd transfer over to her old daily (toyota camry) and sell mine. Once kiddo #2 comes, whenever that may be, we'd probably bump up to an SUV and then I'd drive this impala as my daily. We do tend to drive the wheels off of our vehicles though. My old daily was an 05 impala that died with 250k on it, her Camry has 200k on it, and my current daily now is another 01 impala with 120k on it I got for cheap.

The impala we're looking at is a 2014. 2LT. Pearl white, leather, sunroof/ moonroof. 80k miles
Pictures look pretty clean. Dealer took ownership last Dec. Asking 15,900. I wouldn't pay that but I'm tempted to look at it and see what they'd take.

What woud a fair price on something like this?

 

Without the title issue, about $15,000 would be a fair private party price in very good condition in this area. How much you offer really should depend on the actual condition of the car and whether or not they can provide factual details supporting the title issue.

Given they have had the car as long as they have, they either are having issues getting rid of it due to the title or they are asking too much for it. I would be afraid to tell you what I would offer without looking at the car, but if you really want it throw them a lowball offer and be ready to head to the door. If they want to sell it they will catch you before you are completely out the door.

 

1. The dealership has had it since December. It is now the end of June. If it was a deal, it would have been sold long ago.
2. The title has "issues" according to the title search.
3. The price seems like what might be asked for a car with a "clean" title, which this one doesn't have.
4. From your posts, it sounds like you have been evaluating the car from pictures, not in person.
5. The salesman is VERBALLY giving you assurances.

Seems like you are really bent on buying this individual car, despite some of the potential red flags. There ARE other Impalas out there - try CARS.com or Cargurus.com or Ebay or Craigslist...just for starters.

To your value/price question: a car with a "salvage/rebuilt" title is generally worth about 50% (+/-) of what the car would be without the title brand. Many dealers would treat this car similarly.

 

Believe me I've got reservations about it. My wife however loves the white diamond tri coat but doesn't understand the titling ding. Trust me when I say I've been on all of the main auto sites, search tempest, Craigslist, facebook marketplace and most dealer websites around my area just in case some don't report to the online for sale sites. Have actaully found a few that way, but there's just not tons out there in that paint code. However earlier today I found another 14' ltz at about 1/2 the distance with half the miles but an asking price 4k above the one in question.

The only real reason I'm considering it is the fact we will probably run it for a long long time so the odometer issue might not come into play. But I'd be offering 12-13k knowing what's on the title. It will always be there whenever a history check will be ran. Might even be stamped on the title itself (not entirely sure how they mark them here)

It is correct I've only looked at online photos and talked with the sales manager as the dealer is 2 hrs away.

 

See if the dealer will let you take it to an independent repair facility to have a pre purchase inspection done on it. Express with the repair facility your concerns and let them dig into it. If they give you a clean bill of health, i'd have no reservations getting the car. And you'll love it!

 

Not a bad idea, but is a private garage going to be able to see anything the autocheck isn't already telling me?

If anyone altered the cluster or replaced it would that not have to be documented as it's a felony...?

 

Pricing can vary a LOT by state so location would help.

My sister got bit by this, they bought a Fusion in Seattle and then moved back to the midwest and with a kid and another on the way and living in snow country they want to trade it in but are heavily upside down due to location.

Laws on titling salvage and mileage issues vary so much state to state I don't know that I would trust the forum. I have faith that everyone here is giving you accurate information for where they are.

I have a car in my garage that is three colors because one of the 6 deer I hit with it totaled it airbags and all, I bought it back from insurance fixed it in my driveway, zero structural damage since it is body on frame, all sheet metal forward of the windsheild was destroyed including core support plus the airbag damage to the interior including windshield. Title is clean, due to age it did need a salvage title or even inspection. Granted you are looking at newer but I am trying to make a point about the rules are variable by state.

A paperwork screwup sounds plausible. Is it a GM dealership? Where does the powertrain warranty stand? This might give you some indication of where GM stands on the car, heck they likely have OnStar records of location and mileage thru the whole questionable time period though they are very unlikely to disclose anything, but if the little powertrain warranty stands I would take that as a positive.

 

I'm in NE Iowa. Starting asking price was in the 20's. Down to 16k now. Manager stated someone else owned it before they got it and received it on trade, although the autocheck doesn't show a private owner between the time it came here to when the dealer has it. There's also no record of an odometer reading in 2016. Just a registration renewal by the Iowa DMV. Odo went from 19k in 2015 to 78k miles in 2017 when it made its way over here. Was it sitting that whole time? Couldn't put it on the lot due to titling/ lien issues? Who knows.

Just seems a bit odd. I want to believe the dealer but if it was just a number discrepancy would they still tag the title since it's already been fixed?

Here's a link to the car & autocheck if anyone wants to take a look and see if if I'm crazy to think something isn't sitting right.

https://www.iowacityhyundai.com/Veh...undai.com/VehicleDetails/used-2014-Chevrolet-Impala-2LT-Iowa_City-IA/3231961123

 

Just my opinion here but

I would walk away and look for something else. There are 1000's of cars out there.
If the dealer is that "motivated" then they want it gone for some reason.

You are going to have to get rid of it one day as well and all this will be tough to explain to someone.

If your "mechanically inclined" and can deal with whatever may come up on it and are going to drive it till it's just wore out and sell it for scrap price then OK but, I personally would just say "Thanks very much" and move on

IMO that is.

 

^^I'd have to agree. Way too many Impalas out there to mess with this one. Even if you don't plan on selling it, you could end up with a lemon and need to sell it (or your situation may change and you may need to sell it)... You just never know what the future holds - and it's too much money to sink into something that is questionable from the start. Just my opinion, of course...

 

I'm an ex/non-current aircraft mechanic so I feel comfortable working on all my own stuff but anymore I don't have the time. So I'm onboard with looking elsewhere. Just wanted some verification and opinions from you all that know these new impalas way more than I do. It's just hard to find that pearl color my wife likes(and I do too). We were ok on silver until she saw the white diamond and now that's the color of choice but the champagne silver looks nice too.

I think I'll contact the other dealer with the lower mile pearl impala and start seeing if they'll chip away at the price a bit. That history checks out and has been a Midwest car from day one.