Found a good deal on an EX, but it looks like it has an LX bumper on it? pic inside

[pbrb]

so here's the pic - http://images.craigslist.org/3K53Mb3...ae0fee1e63.jpg

Everything is great about this car except I'm thinking that's not an EX bumper, it's an LX bumper. Right? What's up with that? What do you guys think?

[GaryS]

I think it's a LX bumper. Probably suffered front end damage and the LX front was cheaper.

[pbrb]

cool, will have to be sure to run a carfax if everything else checks out. as long as it's not rebuilt, i'm cool with a new bumper and it'll probably help me get it even cheaper.

[GaryS]

Originally Posted by pbrb

cool, will have to be sure to run a carfax if everything else checks out. as long as it's not rebuilt, i'm cool with a new bumper and it'll probably help me get it even cheaper.

Uh, I said this in a previous post (click on the arrow after my user name below to see the whole thread):

Originally Posted by GaryS

Let me summarize my Carfax Rant: Carfax is crap. A couple of years ago I ran a Carfax on a car that I owned that had been in two accidents that I knew of. The Carfax came back showing no accidents.

Your car obviously has been in an accident as they don't leave the factory like that.

Also- It exhibits pretty shoddy bodywork by whoever did the repair.

The safest thing you could do is to have a pre-purchase inspection done by a reliable independent garage.

[04EXE]

Find another E!

[Slobadon]

Yeah, that front end raised the hair on the back of my neck. Can't trust it without a proper inspection.

[GR8Bike]

+++ on the good independent inspection. Frame, alignment - scary w/o proper info. Maybe nothing - could be costly. Good luck.

[MennoToaster]

The fact that the owner was too cheap to fix it the right way would make this an automatic NO for me. If he skimped on the bumper I can only imagine what else he skimped on to save money

[Island E]

Originally Posted by pbrb

cool, will have to be sure to run a carfax if everything else checks out. as long as it's not rebuilt, i'm cool with a new bumper and it'll probably help me get it even cheaper.

Carfax won't tell you that the guy slammed into a telephone pole, sourced a used bumper from a junk yard and fixed it himself.

Carfax is becoming less and less reliable. Had a buddy of mine in the market for a used car. He went to a dealer that another friend of mine traded a car in at not too long before that. I know for a fact that this car was t-boned by a drunk driver and insurance was involved and all. Front bumper, hood, fender and the driver's side door were replaced. Covered by insurance without a problem.

The dealer showed him the carfax and it showed a clean history. No mention of the wreck whatsoever.

[red-element]

Originally Posted by GaryS

I think it's a LX bumper. Probably suffered front end damage and the LX front was cheaper.

There's no LX or EX bumpers. For 2006 (EX-L) there was a primed or dark grey bumper options. FYI, the primered bumper (EX-L designated) is actually cheaper as it requires additional paint job. So in this case they went for a regular dark grey.
So there's NO LX bumper and the one they chose is more money but it came ready.