I'm looking for another car to buy and came across a 2001 Ford Focus wagon being sold at a dealership, which claims to sell cars at wholesale prices, for $2,995 with only 89,000 miles. It's obviously way below market value (KBB SRP: $5,830 and Fair KBB Private Party Value: $3,555). But, its CARFAX report is showing these repairs at around 10,000 miles:

Vehicle serviced
Rear crankshaft oil seal replaced
Glove box door replaced
Rear brakes replaced
Engine checked
Transmission overhauled/replaced

Does this mean the owner took extremely bad care of the car/transmission or is there something about 2001 ford focuses that I don't know about? I'm guessing the warranty covered that overhaul, but still nervous about getting it. The rest of the CARFAX report is pretty clean with no accidents, though it shows a recall repair (Recall # 05S27: REAR DOOR LATCH CORROSION). I'm getting desperate about getting a car, and I don't want to purchase something I'll regret.

Totally IMO - pass on that one. FYI - book values are a game and VERY hard to really pin down.

This is a total buyer's dream market so you should be in total control to get the best for the least price right about now,

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston