1996 SATURN SC1 VIN 1G8ZE128XTZ115233

This entry is for a 1996 Saturn SC1. Under the bonnet is a 1.9-litre petrol engine. The gearbox is manual. Details for this car come from a single data source and may differ from its documents.

The clock stood at 199,035 miles when the data was entered. Because the clock counts miles, any figure noted in kilometres has to be converted before the two can be compared. The number on the clock proves little by itself; earlier figures logged at services and inspections are what make it believable. Title paperwork often notes the mileage at each change of owner, which makes it a useful cross-check.

This Saturn SC1 is recorded with damage to the left front. A damage entry is a starting point for the inspection, telling the mechanic where to look first. With damage to the left front on file, the inspection should start with the left front wing, the suspension on that corner and the wheel alignment.

A note in the source data says the car did not run. The engine could not be started. A key was present. Running condition describes a single moment, and standing or work done since can change it.

Title status in the record: salvage. A title of this kind usually means the car was written off as a total loss after damage. Once issued, a branded title stays with the VIN for good, and it affects registration and insurance for every later owner.

Every car builds up a history from the day it is first registered: owners come and go, inspections are passed or failed, and repairs are paid for. A clean, polished car can still hide a serious accident, a flood or years of hard use.

For the engine, the service history matters most: oil changes, filters and the timing belt or chain are the entries to look for. On a petrol engine, spark plugs, ignition coils and the cooling system are the routine items a service history should cover. On a manual car the clutch is a wear part, and a replacement in the service history is an ordinary entry rather than a warning sign.

The tenth character of the VIN stands for the model year, and the eleventh for the plant that built the car. This car’s identification number is 1G8ZE128XTZ115233.

A VIN report shows what has been logged: earlier registrations, odometer figures, damage entries, branded titles and theft checks, wherever such data exists. A repair paid for in cash at a small workshop leaves no trace in any database, so no report can list 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 1G8ZE128XTZ115233.