Hey,
I found this 2003 X 6.0 4X2 with low miles that I am interested. But I am worried that its low miles are due to it being a lemon (early model 2003 6.0, Carfax showing 3! owners in only 21,000 miles)

VIN = 1FMNU44P63ED13744

Oasis shows nothing that I can discern as a MAJOR problem. Then again this report was provided by the dealer, and I dont know if there is a way to print a report omitting anything important to the consumer...here is the detail I was provided:

10/13/03 000487 Miles - Sensor Parking Aid 1L1Z 15K859AA
------------------------ Module Parking Aid 1C72 15K866AA
------------------------ Module Kit 3C7Z 15604AA

03/11/04 008493 Miles - Gauge Asy Fuel Tank 3C3Z 9275AA

04/07/04 009840 Miles - Header fuel filter 3C3Z 9824AB

Carfax shows the Owners changing hands at:
1st owner 11/05/2003 - 6 miles
2nd owner 05/06/2004 - 12,089
3rd owner 08/09/2004 - 12,857

Dealer picked it up at auction 11/23/04 - 21,000.


Is there any way of finding anything MORE about this car? Any hints as to what to look for?

I dont want to spend over 30 grand for a lemon...


Much appreciated in advance!
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Early 6.0 (03) with 3 owners- I would not become the 4th!

 

Yeah but...

I know its suspect, thats why I am posting here. But it doesnt preclude a possible "good car"....thats why I was hoping for some help as to whether or not I can look elsewhere to get additional info on the car that may tell me definitively if it has motor issues or not.

 

Ummm...from what I remember about when you get a carfax, you should also be able to get some contact information, for the previous owners. I'd try to get that, and have a little talk with one or two of the previous owners. Thats how you'll get the TRUE story, of any problems this truck may or may not have. A previous owner thats already got rid of the truck would have no reason to lie, about how they liked the truck or any problems they may have had. They would tell you the truth about the truck.

3 owners, before it even had 15,000 miles on it?????? Sorry, man, but something STINKS really bad, with this truck!

Unless, maybe, it was bought by 3 different urban commuting yuppies, that had no clue what the Excursion is about, and decided they just didn't want a heavy duty diesel SUV, and just dumped it for something else. Still, I'd be very nervous about it...

Will

 

CARFAX does not contain names and addys of prev owners. Due to U.S. Privacy laws. (Thank God) It does give you state of previous owner. Thats it.

 

You don't mention the asking price, how much? At a good enough price and included PM Plan & Premium ESP with $0 deductable, it could be worth it.

Just my 2 cents!

 

I would be EXTREMELY cautious about getting any 2003 vehicle that had 3 owners already in 21,000 miles! Do lots of research on this vehicle including getting the names of the previous owners (you should be able to get it from the guy selling it - just tell him you want to talk to the previous owner or it's no sale!) and then if it still looks ok, then take it to a reputable garage and have a mechanic look it over for you. Might cost you a few bucks, but better to spend 50 bucks and find out it's got problems rather than buy the problems for a lot more!

Err on the side of caution when dealing with this one!

 

Thanks for all the advice guys, I am treading lightly...

How would I be able to get the previous owner's name etc without them violating privacy laws. or am I mistaken? I guess it doesnt hurt to ask...

 

One thing that I have done in the past is to bring the car to the dealer's service department (Ford to a Ford Dealership) and ask for a list of repairs by VIN. I asked that simple question and they gave me a printout of everything from recalls to repairs and service. At the top of the documents was the information on the guy that brought it in for all the work. I called him and actually recieved a few items that had not been included in the car but went with it (second set of mats, cover...) This was a Honda dealer, so good luck with Ford.

 

Carfax shows the Owners changing hands at:
1st owner 11/05/2003 - 6 miles
2nd owner 05/06/2004 - 12,089
3rd owner 08/09/2004 - 12,857
Dealer picked it up at auction 11/23/04 - 21,000.

How bad could it be ??
1st owner kept it for 6mos. 12,ooo miles
2nd owner could have been a dealer ?? 3mos. 800 miles
3rd owner 3 months 8100 miles

 

Joyee,
It doesnt look bad from the way you have presented the data. You are probably right the the second owner was a dealer. Its just that normally you wouldnt see X diesels traded every 10,000 miles. Compound that with the fact that there are issues with the make/model year...

I guess I will just have to do as much due diligence, and decide whether or not I want to take the risk.

 

I'm thinking 3rd owner is probably the auction dealer the current dealer bought from. Drove it himself for 3 mo.s before putting it up. How else would a truck that new with so few miles end up on the auction block.

I seen a full carfax report from a truck I was looking at from a dealer. It was pretty detailed. I think it would be worth the money to get your own.

 

From what I know dealers don't register a vehicle when they purchase it, if they did they would have to pay taxes on the vehicle, you might want to confirm this. When my wife purchased a car from Carmax it was a 1 owner vehicle and on the Carfax report it showed when the original owner purchased it & that was it, not Carmax purchasing it & then resaleing it.

 

I would be very careful prior to buying this vehicle. Most people that plunk down the high $$$ for a diesel don't trade that quickly unless there were problems.....

 

Hard to say what will happen with used vehicles, that's one reason I buy new and take the hit on depreciation. One thing no one has mentioned is the milage and time interval. 1st owner put over 12000 miles in 6 months. Discount the 2nd owner, maybe they didn't like it, too big, death in family and did not need anymore, numerous reasons could apply; 3rd owner put over 8000 miles in 3 months. Now with than many miles being driven, unless it was all on long trips, one could reasonable believe that would not leave too many days of sitting in a repair shop at the dealer.

My neighbor, nice guy by the way, is a used car manager for a dealer that would give them away but his wife won't let him, picked up an 03 X EB last year with 7000 miles on it. The previous owner had bought an XLT, did not like it, traded for the EB, did not like it and traded for a Tahoe. Neighbor bought the X from his boss, the dealer. Of course his cost was waaaayyy low due to being in the business, but that X has only been in the shop for one problem, and that did not surface until this past summer. Now has over 30000 miles last time I compared his X to mine. I have an 04/03 EB 6.0L bought new. In fact, it was seeing his 03 X with 6L, that motivated me to trade my 02 X with a V10 for the new one.