Questionable Carfax Maintenance Records - Looking for Opinions

[RamblinV]

I'm quickly approaching the end of my CTS-V lease, and I've been looking in the used car market for a 2007 STS-V. I came across one today that is priced very competetively ($45K) with 13K miles on it. I looked at the Carfax report and noticed a trend that made me curious, and I wanted to get some feedback from the forum to see if anyone thinks this is something that should deter me from this particular STS-V.

I pasted the history below. As you can see, the 1st owner of the car brought it in for servicing one week after they leased/registered it. Over the next 11 months they took it in for servicing 7 times, and during these visits they had a wheel replaced 3 times and had the suspension/steering checked multiple times. Looks like there was a nagging problem, and they finally got out of the car 11 months into their lease. All of the servicing was done at Morris Cadillac in Ohio, so I will probably call their service department to see if they remember this car and what the story is... but in the meantime I wanted to get the thoughts of the forum members. Any opinions are appreciated!


01/04/2007 Ohio
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Westlake, OH Registered as
personal vehicle

01/05/2007
462 miles
Ohio Motor Vehicle Dept.
North Olmsted, OH
Title #4701862448 Title issued or updated
First owner reported
Loan or lien reported
Registered as lease vehicle

01/11/2007
Morris Cadillac Pontiac GMC
North Ridgeville, OH
440-327-4181
www.morriscpg.com
Vehicle serviced

04/02/2007
2,497 miles
Morris Cadillac Pontiac GMC
North Ridgeville, OH
440-327-4181
www.morriscpg.com
Vehicle serviced
Wheel(s) replaced
Oil and filter changed chassis lubricated
Parts ordered

06/21/2007
6,040 miles
Morris Cadillac Pontiac GMC
North Ridgeville, OH
440-327-4181
www.morriscpg.com
Vehicle serviced
Oil and filter changed chassis lubricated
Wheel(s) replaced
Steering/suspension checked

07/23/2007
7,143 miles
Morris Cadillac Pontiac GMC
North Ridgeville, OH
440-327-4181
www.morriscpg.com
Vehicle serviced

08/30/2007
9,681 miles
Morris Cadillac Pontiac GMC
North Ridgeville, OH
440-327-4181
www.morriscpg.com
Vehicle serviced
Steering/suspension checked

10/01/2007
11,848 miles
Morris Cadillac Pontiac GMC
North Ridgeville, OH
440-327-4181
www.morriscpg.com
Vehicle serviced
Wheel(s) replaced

11/27/2007
13,808 miles
Morris Cadillac Pontiac GMC
North Ridgeville, OH
440-327-4181
www.morriscpg.com
Vehicle serviced

01/15/2008
13,942 miles
Auto Auction Sold at auction
in Ohio
Listed as a manufacturer vehicle

[BMBSALES]

seems a little odd, but some of these v's have been back a few times for other things, and are fine...dash rattles, seats, radio/nav, alignment, exhaust, power steering.

good idea to check with the service dept that did work.

[Florian]

I know that car personally....its a Black STSv that the guy swapped for a C63. I know the dealer (where I get all my service) and they do good work.

F

[z06bigbird]

Take a box of donuts to service mgr. Also, ask him if he would ask prev owner to call you. Also, ask service mgr if you can talk with mechanic(s) who worked on it. Service records will identify mechanics. Donuts for mechanics too.

[Florian]

Ask for Brandon in sales (now). He used to be the svc. writer for that car. He will let you know everything you want to know.


F

[BMBSALES]

[Slo-Mo-Shun]

The service record makes no sense. If the front suspension was suspect, why would the wheels be replaced repeatedly? Makes me wonder if a tire rotation is being entered or misinterpreted as a wheel r/r. Still, I'd share your concern and unless I found a conclusive satisfactory explanation for the situation, I'd pass on the car.

[Berger 93]

My guess it was a buy back car . . .

[BMBSALES]

could be. alot of the lease cars are being auctioned off too.

[RamblinV]

Originally Posted by Berger 93

My guess it was a buy back car . . .

That's absolutely correct, according to Brandon the former service writer for the car (thanks Florian!). I spoke with him this afternoon and he was very familiar with the car. He said that none of the wheels were ever replaced - it was the tires. The previous owner was not happy with the rapid deterioration of the tires, so he kept having the suspension/alignment/steering/etc. checked and over the course of the year they replaced three of the tires. Eventually he was able to get out of the car through GM buyback. Brandon told me that he does not know of any reason not to consider buying this car, as long as I understand the extra costs (i.e. excess tire wear) associated with a high performance vehicle. After driving a CTS-V for the past 3 years I think I'm pretty familiar with that aspect!

This brings me to another question.... what tires have been good replacement tires for this car? In my CTS-V I only got 11,000 miles out of the stock Goodyear F1's, but I replaced them with Eagle RS-A EMT's and they've got 22,000 miles and still 1/8 inch tread remaining.

Also, any feedback from those of you who made the jump from CTS-V to STS-V is welcome.... are you happy with the switch?