Do your homework-Google is your friend!

celliott · June 13, 2012, 08:20:04 PM

No, not school homework.
My daily driver, a 2001 VW with 179K miles, might not pass the next state inspection due to rust. Mechanically sound, it would go to 250K plus i'm sure. The body panels and underbody however do not agree. So, I am in the market for a new used car. Being in college, and having to take my summer session this summer, I haven't been working much, and don't have alot to put towards a used car. I do have a 1987 Mazda RX7 I rescued from a field for $500. Almost new engine, solid body, needs a paint job. I don't have alot of money into the car, and it would definitely bring more private party than the VW would. So, in a moment of responsibility :

I decided the RX7 would have to go to get a new car. I can't drive it year round, it's RWD and we live on a back road, and get lots of snow. Plus the rust would eat it in one year, if not two.

Anyways, posted it on Craigslist. Takes a while, get a few replies, no one real serious. Finally get what looks like a good bite-Trade even for a 2003 ford ZX2(2 door "sporty" escort) 73K miles, 5 speed, good mileage, right what I'm looking for. I heard a saying once, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Well, the old adage is correct. Asked for a VIN to check insurance, and out of curiosity, googled the VIN#. Top result was for a salvage auction. Severe side damage, 152K miles. Googled blue 2003 ford ZX2-Found the one I was offered, very obvious due the matching plates :

Identical damage, identical car, except the odometer reading, which did in fact read 73K miles.

5 minutes of google searching saved me from buying a odometer frauded damaged vehicle. It really is amazing what is out there on the internet that you might not even know about. Amazing how easy it is to find information like this.
Buyer beware, do your homework. 5 minutes on google could save you alot of money.

Kinda angry this guy was trying to get over on me. >:( But glad I found all the red flags and RAN AWAY FAST

Chris

Magicman · June 15, 2012, 09:13:50 AM

Not about automobiles, but many times someone will mention something that I may not be familiar with. A FF search or a Google search will quickly provide an answer. Learning new stuff is always good.

Clam77 · June 15, 2012, 08:20:43 PM

MM - Not knocking on your age... but I see very few people 65yrs and over that even know how to use the internet, much less do a Google or FF search...

Most of the younger people aren't so much interested in putting in the time to do a search like Celliott did - they want results NOW and would rather pay for a steal of a deal than do their homework.

The older generations are slowly catching on.. but it confuses people - my dad barely knows how to turn a computer on much less navigate the internet - and he's only 60. :D

Good catch btw Celliott!! Good to hear you saved yourself some greenbacks in the long run. ;)

Shotgun · June 15, 2012, 08:44:00 PM

Not knocking your age Clam77, but you were less than 8 years old when I went on-line from home. Been at it ever since. Good point to MM though.

Norm

Clam77 · June 15, 2012, 08:56:41 PM

Hahahaa.. as I'm sure many people were Shotgun. I didn't have access to the internet, and it wasn't even considered "the internet" until I was out of high school - a little older than 8. It was all BBS's then. :D

The point was.. many people in the older generations don't even know you can do a search for a salvaged vehicle (or anything else). Like my dad- my mom put a few shortcuts on the desktop for some gun sites for him.. beyond that he's clueless... mostly because he's scared he'll get into something he shouldn't, but also because nobody's taught him anything about it.

The kids in gradeschool have an "IT" class... believe it or not...

Magicman · June 15, 2012, 10:12:07 PM

Thanks......I think.

Texas Ranger · June 16, 2012, 09:03:21 AM

I am with you magic, age has nothing to do with it, necessity does. My business is run by computer, my first was an Apple IIE, young bucks only see them in museums.

thurlow · June 16, 2012, 09:29:29 AM

Certainly I would agree that us old folks...generally speaking....are not as computer literate as the whippersnappers. My first computer was DOS based/pre-Windows/pre almost-president Al's invention of the internet. We've been planning our 50 year high school reunion....most of us are/will be 68 this year. Nearly everyone has a computer, but the level of competency varies greatly. About a third of the remaining members (24 of 111 have died) are on Facebook; I know some folks consider FB to be a spawn of the devil, but it sure simplifies the planning/keeping in touch.................

sandhills · June 16, 2012, 10:13:53 AM

Quote from: Texas Ranger on June 16, 2012, 09:03:21 AM
I am with you magic, age has nothing to do with it, necessity does. My business is run by computer, my first was an Apple IIE, young bucks only see them in museums.

Apple IIE is what I learned on in highschool for a whole 2 quarters, when I went to college it was all Macs and I didn't have a clue, sure wished I'd have listened to my computer teacher a little more when he kept saying you'd better keep up this is the future. Now I just fumble around and every once in a while I get something right, a lot of times though either my 10 or 13 year old daughter walks me through it :

.

Roxie · June 16, 2012, 12:20:53 PM

When I started operating computers, it was back in the early 1980's, and we had a Radio Shack TRSII. The computer itself had two floppy drives, and we had an additional three floppies added. You would insert disk A in drive A and go from there. We had up to H in floppies.

The language was BASIC. I still LPrintCHR$(12).

We're not computer illiterate, we just have more data stored in our brains. :D

Magicman · June 16, 2012, 02:26:36 PM

I do not consider myself computer literate, as a matter of fact, far from it. My knowledge does not extend beyond the keyboard, and I am comfortable with that.

In my telephone/technical days, sure, but now I just want it to work.

celliott · June 17, 2012, 08:41:35 PM

My Father knows how to use a computer fairly well, he knows microsoft excel way better than myself, but he told me that he learned something new with this experience. It doesn't even take alot of time, I found this on my lunch break.

Magicman · June 17, 2012, 09:21:42 PM

Probably very few folks use a computer to do computing. It is mostly word processing.

My first spreadsheets were Lotus123 and then there was something else. My latest laptop has Excel which took some getting use to, and I could not get my old spreadsheets to transfer. That made me have to dig in and figure out how to make the cells, rows, and columns automatically do the math functions that I wanted. Then I had to build the spreadsheets for my sawmill business, the farm, as well as a couple of others.

I am satisfied with what I have now, but in a few years when this one gives up the ghost, I'll probably have to learn yet another "good idea".

There are so many things on this "Post reply" page that so many members do not use. Just going through and clicking on all of those little boxes will reveal many tools that Jeff has provided for us. Tools that regular posters do not use.

Migal · June 17, 2012, 09:22:10 PM

okay I broke down and got a Macbook Pro got tired of rebooting work computers running MS apps figure I don't want to waste good sawing time at home rebooting 8) and also figure as long as I can use a few finger's on a touch pad I'm good ;D

celliott · June 17, 2012, 10:01:41 PM

On another note, anyone want to buy a 1987 RX7? ;D

Raider Bill · June 18, 2012, 11:39:20 AM

We probably run 10-15 Car Fax's and or NMVTIS National Motor Vehicle Title Information System searches a day here not to mention license plates etc. as a Auto/ Bike Appraiser that's normal stuff. Sure do find some interesting information on things.

Dodgy Loner · June 18, 2012, 03:51:39 PM

Good for you for watching out for yourself! I wouldn't buy a car without a CarFax report these days. And it's great that you found out you were dealing with a scammer without have to pay for any reports!

On another note, my 75-year-old grandad is as computer-literate as I am. He has a Facebook account, an iPod, and I get emails from him several times a week. The one thing I wish he would make use of is snopes.com, as about half the emails I get from him of are forwards of dubious veracity :D.