2006 BUICK LACROSSE CX VIN 2G4WC552861151282

This record covers a 2006 Buick Lacrosse CX. The engine is a 3.8-litre petrol unit with six cylinders. The gearbox is automatic.

The source data puts the mileage at 79,149 miles. Because the clock counts miles, any figure noted in kilometres has to be converted before the two can be compared. For a car of this age the mileage is low, which is exactly the kind of figure that deserves confirming from older entries. Turning back an odometer takes little skill and leaves no visible trace, which is why earlier figures matter more than the display. Service invoices and inspection reports each carry a mileage figure, and lined up in order they show whether the clock tells the truth.

Primary damage in the record: front end. A damage entry is a starting point for the inspection, telling the mechanic where to look first.

A ‘runs and drives’ note means the car moved under its own power when it was checked. A key was noted with the car. Running condition describes a single moment, and standing or work done since can change it.

A salvage title is on file for this car. Titles of this type are issued to cars declared a total loss.

Behind every used car lies a string of events: who owned it and for how long, what the inspections found and which repairs and claims were made. A clean, polished car can still hide a serious accident, a flood or years of hard use.

An engine that has had its oil changed on time is far less likely to cause trouble later, and workshop invoices are the proof. A petrol engine in good order starts cleanly, idles evenly and pulls without hesitation. Automatic transmissions, CVTs included, are expensive to repair, so the test drive should include pulling away from a standstill and a stretch at motorway speed.

The VIN is a 17-character code assigned at the factory: it identifies the manufacturer, the model and its variant, and ends with a serial number unique to the car. For this car, the VIN is 2G4WC552861151282. The VIN usually appears at the base of the windscreen, on a door pillar and stamped into the body, and all of them should match the documents.

Depending on what is on file, a VIN report may include past registrations, mileage readings, damage entries, branded titles and theft checks. Paperwork is only as complete as the people who kept it, so a report with few entries lowers the risk without removing it. However complete the paperwork, only an inspection shows the condition of the body, suspension, brakes and electrics today. Before any decision, check what is known about VIN 2G4WC552861151282.