Sketchy Ebay Car!!! Look! Thoughts?

[jzp5079]

2003 ACURA 3.2 CL TYPE-S

19UYA41603A001093

COUPE
3.2L V6 PFI SOHC 24V / FRONT WHEEL DRIVE



Look at the carfax carefully (if you can pull it up). Notice the huge gap in services and miles...


Ebay page, car is listed with only 38,000...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-Acura-CL-3-2-Type-S-6-SPEED-SPORT-SERV-REC-WARRANT_W0QQitemZ120205564898QQihZ002QQcategoryZ53 32QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Dealer said its just a TMU issue and the car really only has 38,000 miles on it. Then he goes to say he can't legally verify it does only have 38,000 miles on it, and claims it still should be good under manufactures warrenty.


I know some of you (if anyone reads this) maybe thinking - yeah cars on Ebay - what do you expect?

Actually a lot of dealers on there are legit - but watch out for scams like this.

Someone got a buddy to do maintainance work off the records for years, then rolled back the miles in order to try to sell it for a much higher price and keep the car under the manufacturers warrenty. Carfax initially looks clean.
Dealership advertises "TMU" issue but still lists the car with only 38,000 miles. hmm....

[Shammrog]

2003 ACURA 3.2 CL TYPE-S

19UYA41603A001093

COUPE
3.2L V6 PFI SOHC 24V / FRONT WHEEL DRIVE



Look at the carfax carefully (if you can pull it up). Notice the huge gap in services and miles...


Ebay page, car is listed with only 38,000...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-Acura-CL-3-2-Type-S-6-SPEED-SPORT-SERV-REC-WARRANT_W0QQitemZ120205564898QQihZ002QQcategoryZ53 32QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Dealer said its just a TMU issue and the car really only has 38,000 miles on it. Then he goes to say he can't legally verify it does only have 38,000 miles on it, and claims it still should be good under manufactures warrenty.


I know some of you (if anyone reads this) maybe thinking - yeah cars on Ebay - what do you expect?

Actually a lot of dealers on there are legit - but watch out for scams like this.

Someone got a buddy to do maintainance work off the records for years, then rolled back the miles in order to try to sell it for a much higher price and keep the car under the manufacturers warrenty. Carfax initially looks clean.
Dealership advertises "TMU" issue but still lists the car with only 38,000 miles. hmm....

Be very, very careful with cars online. My father-in-laws brother is in the repair biz, and he told us a while ago that people will actually take the undamaged halves of two totalled cars, weld them together, and make a new car (and do so very well!). That and other such scams abound, often with "incredible" prices.

[TillyGalore]

[B]

Look at the carfax carefully (if you can pull it up). Notice the huge gap in services and miles...


Ebay page, car is listed with only 38,000...



Per the link you provided to carfax it appears the car has 152k + miles on it as noted in the section titled odometer check. You noted the dealer says there are only 38k miles on the car. Am I missing something?

[allenmurray]

Maybe the dealer meant that there were only 38,000 miles on the tires.

(Actually, I only posted on this thread because I've been stuck at 499 and wanted to get over the hump!)

[TillyGalore]

(Actually, I only posted on this thread because I've been stuck at 499 and wanted to get over the hump!)

Welcome to the other side of "the hump!"

[captmojo]

Note that the seller does not include, amongst his/her vast array of photos, a picture of the driver's side floorboard, including pedals. A car with a great number of miles acquired will definitely show a significant amount of wear on the pedals. This will appear most evident on the brake pedal. Why the brake? Because this pedal is pressed with more pressure than any other and many times with a twisting motion of the foot upon it.

Another indicator is the condition of the leather on the steering wheel. This covering will show inordinate wear. However, many dressings and conditioners are at times applied to steering wheels which might mask a condition of wear.

The best tell-tale sign is the brake pedal. If it can be seen, look especially close for the wear at the corners. These pedal pads have coverings with treads and one with questionable mileage will show wearing out of these treads, mostly at the lower right corner. Many sellers in the know will replace the pedal pads but many will not go to the expense because this is not a widely known buyer's observance.

Happy Shopping!

After looking again at the seller's photos, I noticed there isn't a good close up shot of the steering wheel. Also, if you look at the driver's seat bottom, either the previous owner was quite overweight, or he/she spent a lot of time behind the wheel. The stretching of the leather on the seat bottom is questionable for a vehicle with the low advertised mileage.

[wilson]

What is "TMU"?

[captmojo]

What is "TMU"?

True Mileage Unknown? Perhaps. The car itself does not scare me, but unknowns of not seeing/touching make me want to run. Especially at the price they are asking.

If they cannot verify mileage, I couldn't verify justification for purchase. I don't know NJ auto sales regulations but I know this would not pass muster in NC.