From time to time I come across an otherwise sweet deal on a car when I see that it has a salvage title. These listings typically come complete with some sort of description of what little work was done that prompted the salvage/rebuilt moniker. I thought cars typically had to have damage equivalent to a certain percentage (~50-75%) of the value of the undamaged vehicle in order to be classified as salvage. This always makes me question how honestly the seller is describing the damage.
Anyway, I'm wondering what kind of success people here have had with salvage vehicles or if they avoid them like the plague. For ~25% off market value, it certainly seems worth investigating. I heard once that a wrecked vehicle has many, many times the probability of a non-wrecked car of getting into an accident. Unless there is frame damage, perhaps hidden, are there any other reasons (other than water damage) to avoid salvage vehicles? Given the tainted history, it seems logical to have a mechanic and/or body guy review the repairs.
. Of course, I'm only speaking from a liability insurance standpoint (I have junky cars and that's all I carry) and it has to be a 'not my fault' type of accident...but I'm still too good at avoiding them.
