Confused blonde! Men, I need help concerning Carfax reports.

[Eldo99]

Okay, I'm searching for a 2006 or 2007 DTS. I keep seeing "One Owner" in description and get excited. When I read the Carfax Report I get confused because as you read further in the report, most indicate a "rental" of some kind. I've seen COMMERCIAL RENTAL, PRIVATE LEASE and CORPORATE LEASE. *Could someone here kindly explain the differences to me?*

Are ALL rentals necessarily unwise choices? I'm only considering "certified" cars through a Cadillac dealership that offers 6 yrs./100,000 miles.

[Rapid Roger]

Originally Posted by Eldo99

Okay, I'm searching for a 2006 or 2007 DTS. I keep seeing "One Owner" in description and get excited. When I read the Carfax Report I get confused because as you read further in the report, most indicate a "rental" of some kind. I've seen COMMERCIAL RENTAL, PRIVATE LEASE and CORPORATE LEASE. *Could someone here kindly explain the differences to me?*

Are ALL rentals necessarily unwise choices? I'm only considering "certified" cars through a Cadillac dealership that offers 6 yrs./100,000 miles.

Commercial Lease.....A car you might rent at Hertz
Private lease...........A car your neighbor might lease from a dealer
Corporate lease.......A car rented for the use of a corporate exec

As long as you're going to pop for the extra money a "Certified" used car costs the warranty will cover any problems.......Good luck with you're search and let us know what you buy.

[Eldo99]

Thank you, Roger!


Pop for the *extra* money???!!! I haven't even bothered to look at cars that weren't offered "certified" from a dealer. Now that you point this out, it makes sense that *I'm* the one paying for this warranty. (When did cars dealers do anything from the goodness of their hearts? )

Any idea (ballpark figure) how much this warranty tacks on to the car price?

[Superjim]

The cost to have it certified is not much...around a grand.
It would be well worth it to have it Certified.
Then you have nothing to worry about for a long time.

Texas Jim

[Eldo99]

Thanks, Jim! I feel much more assured and the $1,000, or there about, isn't nearly as much as I'd feared.

I'm truly a lady who needs all the guidance she can get in the field of cars. Why, I only learned to pump my own gas a year ago! (Still refuse to though! )

[Superjim]

Welcome to the forum.

I believe you stated you were looking for a late model Cadillac....REMEMBER...

Ask questions...
Ask questions...
Ask questions...

We will try to help any way that we can.
Doesn't it cost more to have someone ELSE pump your gas?

Texas Jim

[z06bigbird]

Originally Posted by Eldo99

Thanks, Jim! I feel much more assured and the $1,000, or there about, isn't nearly as much as I'd feared.

I'm truly a lady who needs all the guidance she can get in the field of cars. Why, I only learned to pump my own gas a year ago! (Still refuse to though! )

Drip a little fuel on your shoes; some of here are so used to that smell that it is almost like a nice perfume. LOL

[z06bigbird]

Originally Posted by Superjim

Welcome to the forum.

I believe you stated you were looking for a late model Cadillac....REMEMBER...

Ask questions...
Ask questions...
Ask questions...

We will try to help any way that we can.
Doesn't it cost more to have someone ELSE pump your gas?

Texas Jim

Not so according to my wife. She says: Just show a little leg! Then again, she and I are getting up there in years; and I am not sure it will work anymore.

[z06bigbird]

Originally Posted by Eldo99

Okay, I'm searching for a 2006 or 2007 DTS. I keep seeing "One Owner" in description and get excited. When I read the Carfax Report I get confused because as you read further in the report, most indicate a "rental" of some kind. I've seen COMMERCIAL RENTAL, PRIVATE LEASE and CORPORATE LEASE. *Could someone here kindly explain the differences to me?*

Are ALL rentals necessarily unwise choices? I'm only considering "certified" cars through a Cadillac dealership that offers 6 yrs./100,000 miles.

Prior to purchase:

Look for paint sprayed on rubber seals, tail lights, or nut and bolts.
Run your finger along edges of doors, hood, trunk. If perfectly smooth, then no paint work has been done at that site.
Look under hood. If nuts and bolts along fender edges look like they have been moved, then prev body work. If nuts and bolts do not match fender colors, then prev body work.
Look at radiator and air conditioner condensor, One solid color = ok.
etc.
If you are going to spend xx thousand dollars, take your most coveted possible purchase to a local body shop and ask them to identify if it has had any paint or body work. Return the favor with a box of donuts.

If doors or trunk do not close easily, then some prev body work.

Good luck.

[Eldo99]

You guys are *the best*!!! Wish I could take each of you shopping with me!

And Texas Jim...doesn't cost ME any more to get my gas pumped at the Self-Serve. Just wear cute shorts and flash a dazzling smile! Try it!!!

z06bigbird...I never thought about the "perfume" aspect of this. Hmmm...

[c5 rv]

Some suggestions:

- Decide what package you are interested in: Lux I, Lux II, Lux III, or Performance. This helps you narrow the search if you really want to have massaging seats that are found in Lux III and Perf cars. Also, I don't think many Lux III & Performance units were in daily rental fleets.

- Estimate how many miles you are going to drive a year and use that knowledge to your advantage - especially if you're buying CPO and want to keep the car under warranty for as long as you have it. If you are a high mileage driver, say 30K/yr, you can buy an older car (less $$) with low miles. If you are a low mileage driver, you can buy a high miles newer car. Both of these type of cars can save you money.

- Carfax is only one tool in your belt. A lot of repairs never make it into carfax. It's always a good idea to have a competent mechanic inspect the car.

- Cadillac Certified Pre-owned is an excellent program. But, make sure if you buy a certified car that it is part of the factory CPO program. A co-worker bought a "certified" 04 DeVille with 65K miles from a Cadillac dealer. I questioned him about how they sold that as certified, unless it was the second time it was sold as a used car. He said there was no warranty, just an inspection.

- Have someone at a dealer service dept. look up the service history of the car by the VIN. If you are buying a CPO car at a dealership, they should be able to provide this. If you become a contributing member here, you can post your VIN lookup request here: http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...irst-post.html .

- Many one owner purchased cars that have lots of TLC don't get traded in. The owners sell them privately at a reasonable price. You can pick up one of these cars and, assuming it is still under the original factory warranty, purchase a GMPP extended warranty from Black's or Fichtners (dealers that sell discounted GMPP warranties online). This strategy may net you a good car, with nearly comparable warranty coverage, for less than a CPO unit.

[Superjim]

Yeah.... what C5 RV said.

Texas Jim

[Tomko]

Eldo99,

I'm a blonde myself and for the past year have been using Graham Webb Vivid Color Golden Blonde shampoo with great success.

http://www.grahamwebb.com/products/gblonde.htm

On the car shopping, my advice is Channel No. 19 and no heel less than 2 1/2 inches.

[Eldo99]

Originally Posted by Tomko

Eldo99,

On the car shopping, my advice is Channel No. 19 and no heel less than 2 1/2 inches.

This just may be the best advice of all!


And c5 rv...I copied and pasted your suggestions. Many, many thanks!