Salvage titles

In reply to spitfirebill:
Interesting feedback. I would avoid anything to do with The Squirrel! I especially like the church touch. Not trying to make this about religion but he also likely calls himself a Christian Man. That is fine but anyone who opens with the phrase is suspect in in my book.

Any thoughts on the CRV. I have never known anyone who did not love theirs. Don't worry about the price, you should see what they go for with 200k miles on them.

The field is a little thin where you are and prices are higher than my area but to your advantage, they are rust free.

Klayfish wrote: Javelin, The accident info actually comes from the insurance database. Insurance companies don't report accidents directly to the state DMV.

Thanks. Sorry, I thought it was the other-way-around. Doesn't change the fact that a large percentage of totals go un-reported. Buyer beware...

I looked at some cars that were in "minor" accidents.

What happened? It is always; "minor front fender and bumper scrape, not sure why it was tagged in an accident".

I agree to pass on $15,000 Accords and to care less on a $900 car.

Plan B: Buy car from insurance auction, fix yourself, drive forever.

poopshovel wrote: Plan B: Buy car from insurance auction, fix yourself, drive forever.

Excellent option!

jrw1621 wrote: Any thoughts on the CRV. I have never known anyone who did not love theirs. Don't worry about the price, you should see what they go for with 200k miles on them.

The CRV was sold. Funny thing is I had searched for CRVs the day before and nothing came up. I too have not heard of anybody that didn't like theirs.

I am getting ready to go look at a 2 owner 2002 Maxima with 6 speed.

In reply to spitfirebill: I've had 3 salvage vehicles in the past 10 years.
1st was a hail damaged Hyundai Elantra wagon that I basically drove for free for 3 years and resold with only a replaced windshield (2500$ in 2002).

2nd is my 2004 Camry (bought in '07 w/50,000 for $7000) still driving around today with 130,000 with no issues

3rd is my 2004 S10 crew (bought in '10 w/84,000 for $5,500) still driving (mostely sitting) around today with only some faded paint (bad clear....knew when bought)

I'd buy another salvage vehicle in a heartbeat and I regularly check them out. The key is price and quality of the repair. My wife used to be an adjustor and she honestly knows more than I do about them. Some places do high volume pump and dump repairs, but a good number of body shops will also buy them to do on the side when the work is slow. I personally like the ones from individual people or body shops.

I've never had an issue getting full coverage for one, however I'd assume they would pay out less in the event of an accident.

A salavage vehicle done right can be an excellent buy if you plan to keep the car for a long time and know what to look for. It can be a headache if you can't determine the repair quality or if you plan to sell it after just a few years.

There's a guy here locally who does nothing but half-priced hondas and documents the repairs. I've considered it.

poopshovel wrote: There's a guy here locally who does nothing but half-priced hondas and documents the repairs. I've considered it.

That's the kind of late-model salvage I'd feel good about. From a person or shop with full docs and disclosure on the nature and extent of the damage that was repaired properly. As long is the Insurance is good with it, I would be. Especially at half price!

I would not mind buying a damaged car and fixing it myself (or farming it out to a reputed shop) but I do not trust most totalled and repaired cars

I'm eyeing a 2009 MX-5 in competition yellow with 20k miles on it for $12,500. It's soooo tempting. Flood car.

Per Schroeder wrote: I'm eyeing a 2009 MX-5 in competition yellow with 20k miles on it for $12,500. It's soooo tempting. Flood car.

E36 M3 i'd drive it and go over it with a fine-toothed comb. If it looked good and drove well, everything worked, i'd just buy it. Salvage doesn't scare me.

You can get 2006 examples for similar or less money nowadays with clear titles. Is the 2009 really that much better?

Per Schroeder wrote: I'm eyeing a 2009 MX-5 in competition yellow with 20k miles on it for $12,500. It's soooo tempting. Flood car.

freshwater.. I would not worry too much. Run from salt.. do not pass go, do not collect $200

eebasist wrote: 1st was a hail damaged Hyundai Elantra wagon

I could see buying a hail damaged car as you know what happened. Just have to get used to seeing the dimples every day.

Flood cars are almost always a "Run. Don't walk." situation. Have fun chasing down a myriad of weird electrical and lung problems.

jrw1621 wrote: '00 Integra 4 door w/125k miles ask $5k. Too small? http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=29319&endYear=2013&showcaseOwnerId=1146325&startYear=1981&bodyStyles=SEDAN%2CSUV%2CWAGON&firstRecord=151&maxMileage=100001&searchRadius=25&maxPrice=8000&showcaseListingId=315733522&minPrice=444&listingId=313984728&Log=0

I Googled this car and found a listing for it on a salvage lot in NY. But it states it has a clean title. The damage was minimal so why would it now be salvage? If it wasn't for the fact that this car is from NY state, I would consider it. I've heard too much from you NE sterners to want to deal with rust.

NY was where the title on my Ti was washed from salvage to clear.. just saying

I purchased a Volvo 850 with a salvage title a couple years ago, for about half of what it was worth. It was a giant pain to deal with. I had to have the original title owner's support, because the state of GA only allows certain people to "rebuild" the vehicle. If the original owner rebuilds it, then all is well. GA DMV is less then useless in the whole process. They tell me the form they need, I send it in, they need this, i send it in, they need another item. 4 months later I figure out wtf they actually want.

I bought the car with damage, so I knew what I was dealing with. Heater core support, couple headlights, and a hood deemed the car not worthy. What irks me is we give the insurance company the power to slap salvage on cars that arent salvage. 300.00 later I had a decent car, but had to get the original owner involved, then pay the DMV to inspect the damn thing that wasnt broke in the first place.

lnlogauge wrote: I bought the car with damage, so I knew what I was dealing with. Heater core support, couple headlights, and a hood deemed the car not worthy. What irks me is we give the insurance company the power to slap salvage on cars that arent salvage. 300.00 later I had a decent car, but had to get the original owner involved, then pay the DMV to inspect the damn thing that wasnt broke in the first place.

Well really it's up to the vehicle's owner, I bet the insurance company would be happy to settle for less money in exchange for not branding the title but as the recipient of the money would you really sign off on less money?? Probably not. I wouldn't.

mad_machine wrote: NY was where the title on my Ti was washed from salvage to clear.. just saying

But they washed it the other way??? BTW, the car sold.