I found a 2015 RX 350 on Carvana priced at the very bottom of the KBB fair market range. It will be about a week before it's in their possession but I put up a $100 reserve fee and get first look at the pictures.

Anyhow, it's FWD with the premium package, 52,210 miles for $23,700. A little more than I wanted to spend but without dealer fees it will end up being fine. It's the carfax dates that are concerning:
August 2014 sold to Owner 1 on a 4 year lease
September 2018 returned to dealer in Calif w/ 52,126 miles
<so far, so good>

10/12/18 Title issued to Owner 2 in Arizona
1/28/19 Vehicle sold at auction

4/15/19 New title issued to Owner 3
5/24/19 Reserved (by me) on Carvana

I guess what is concerning is that 8 months have passed since the car was returned to the original dealer. What might cause this? Carfax doesn't show *any* other information - no damage or accidents, no service records, nothing.

Thanks for your help.

 

Most likely sat on the dealers lot for a while, nobody bought it, so they sent it off to an auction where Carvana eventually grabbed it while sitting around collecting dust. If the car is in good condition, most dealers will let them sit on the lot for a few months before getting rid of it if nobody buys it. Probably the case anyways if mileage didn't significantly increase over the 8 months after it was returned (looks like it only gained 84 miles since it got returned, so a few test drives here and there, etc).

 

Thanks.

Of course now I just got an email telling me that a Certified 2014 w/41,300 miles just dropped a grand to $24k. Now I'm definitely above my original number but for $1,300 I would get 11k fewer miles, 4 services, 20k mile warranty etc. Boy it's easy to spend.