Tales of Salvage Title and Cruelty [Merged 1-8]

[Ecstacyraver]

Ok... I'm only 17, so I don't make a lot of money, and my parents aren't rich, so here we go.

I've always wanted a second gen dsm, but I've been stuck with a 1st. Not that there is nothing wrong with that, but I'm still young, and I want my car to look really good too.

I know I want a Turbocharged DSM..... and i KNOW I want AWD.

So that gives me to choices... TSI awd or GSX.

Well, i dont have the cash to buy either of those... so i was wondering if anyone would think buying a salvage car would be a good idea.

I know a lot of Mechanics, and they are my friends, so that should help.... Is there any kind of damages i should watch out for? Like things that wouldnt be worth it? And maybe things that are no problem to fix, and i should look for.

Thanks everyone
-Alex

 

[TSiGoesPsSsSst]

Pure Hell

 

[DSMlaser4u]

take blue book value and cut it in half and u got to send out for special title which if i remeber is 300$ and u got to go up to the city to get it inspected front to back by a dude

 

[guedo512]

my car had a slavaged title, but it was bought from the auto auction and the original title could not be located. so i had to apply for a reconstructed title. you needbefore and after pictures of the car and you will get a new title.

 

[MCDGexx]

What do you guys think high mileage would be on our cars? I was brought up to think it was 12,000 a year was average, and anything over was high mileage. Any thoughts on this? What is too many miles for like a 97-99?

I've also been told to stay away from cars with Salvage titles. What exactly is a salvage title and why are they bad?

Sry for the n00b ?s

 

[Defiant]

Unless you're a mechanic type, or have pals that are, I'd say to not bother with things over 125K. Unmodified DSMs seem good for 175-200K, but finding one that's never been zoomed-out is getting more and more a rare event as they keep getting cheaper. The dream car is granddad's, but pretty much in the way Nikki Cox is a dream date. And with about equal odds.

Another consideration is the timing belts, which have a life of 60K. If you're at a near-multiple of that, and it's not been done, it's time. Water pumps are good for about 100K, so you do them with the second belt.

Salvage title usually means the car's back from the dead. This can be a real situation where it's been taken from a junker and re-assembled (from two or more cars in the worst cases), or it can be something harmless like a recovered stolen that the owner's insurance company totalled-out despite minor damage. It destroys the value of a car by a good 50-60% either way, and often makes it _very_ hard to re-sell. If you're going to drive it until it's absolutely dead, and you can CONFIRM why it was given a salvage, you can sometimes get a steal.

Then again, you can buy grandpa's car, and have it crankwalk later that week. Just like people with brand-new cars can find out the manufacturer's having to pull them all back in for a bum transmission or the like.

 

[TooFastTooG]

Hey guys,
well im looking at a car and it looks nice but we ran the carfax and it came back as a salvage "rebuilt title". Does anyone know or direct to me to a link that explains this type of title to me. Should i just stay clear???

 

[igopoopy]

Hey guys,
well im looking at a car and it looks nice but we ran the carfax and it came back as a salvage "rebuilt title". Does anyone know or direct to me to a link that explains this type of title to me. Should i just stay clear???

i think that meens the car got in a crash (or something) then got a salvage title they fixed it and had the inspection and got a good (rebuilt title)not exacly shur

 

[igopoopy]

http://www.sos.state.il.us/publications/pdf_publications/sos_dop1028.pdf

 

[Zex4g63]

Salvage title does not always mean the car has been wrecked. Cars get salvage titles because they are stolen, flood(do not buy a flood car), and a few other reasons. I have purchased many cars from the salvage auction to fix and drive. I have purchased cars at the auction with only a stereo missing. They best advise is to take it to a good shop and have them evaluate the car before buying. Put it on a lift and look under it, that's where the hidden damage will be. You should do that with any car if you do not know what to look for. If you ever go to salvage auction you will see many cars that make you say "why is this car here?"

 

[diambo4life]

Salvage title does not always mean the car has been wrecked. Cars get salvage titles because they are stolen, flood(do not buy a flood car), and a few other reasons. I have purchased many cars from the salvage auction to fix and drive. I have purchased cars at the auction with only a stereo missing. They best advise is to take it to a good shop and have them evaluate the car before buying. Put it on a lift and look under it, that's where the hidden damage will be. You should do that with any car if you do not know what to look for. If you ever go to salvage auction you will see many cars that make you say "why is this car here?"

You beat me to it. He's absolutely right.

 

[turbohounds]

Salvage title generally means either damage above a certain dollar amount, or damage above a percent of the total value determined by insurance. It may or may not mean problems with the car, only VERY careful inspection of the car will tell. The value of the car, regardless of it's shape, will be 50% of that of a non-salvage car of similar condition. Most dealerships will not take a salvage car for trade. Keep in mind selling a salvage car is very difficult, but as a result you can also get good deals. We bought a '93 AWD Laser for $700, did the normal maintenance, put 30K miles on it, and sold it for $2200.

 

[Defiant]

Another thnig about salvage titles: you can get incredible bargains on cars with salvage titles, but be aware that you may not be able to get squat for it if you ever want to sell it, because of the title. There may be problems with getting some coverage on a salvage car.

However, DSMs may escape some of the selling onus since they have such a popular draw in the marketplace- after all, you're still interested in this one.

 

[TSiGoesPsSsSst]

If you really like the car and dont intend to sell it then go for it,considering its not in too bad of condition,but if you plan on selling the car dont expect to get what the cars worth in the books,because it will always say ''rebuilt'' on your title and most people wont go for that.I bought my car with a salvage title for 2k,and repaired it.It was only slightly hit in the nose.You can definatly get some good deals going that route but make sure you check the damage.

 

[turbohounds]

I should mention that by law the seller is required to tell the buyer the car has a salvage title. Not sure what that means to private buyers. On a side note, checking carfax is a very good thing, the Oregon DMV did not add salvage to the title when we moved, so it would have looked clean had we not been forthwright about the title. Apparently it's very easy to superficially "clean up" the title.

 

[TooFastTooG]

Thanks guys, the cars exteror is in great shape but the stero is missing, perhaps it was stolen?? Ill have to go check it out

 

[95eclipseGST008]

As far as not buying flood cars, do you say this because of the wiring or the interior?

 

[Zex4g63]

Yes. When cars are in a flood the water has a way of getting into everything. The long term effects of flood damage will be wiring issues and rust inside the car.

 

[f4st]

I buy cars from insurance auctions as well and i see cars with clear titles that have hella worse damage then salvage title ones. See if he has any pics of the damage before hand. Ive seen cars with literally a door ding that have had salvage titles, but then again i have seen some cars that have been in some horrible accidents. If you do decide to buy it inspect it and make sure you get it for a great price. You also will probably not be able to get financing on it. For example this car has a clear title and I see cars like this all the time

 

[f4st]

but then again i have seen some pretty messed up salvage title cars as well. they really make you think twice about driving crazily

 

[Defiant]

but then again i have seen some pretty messed up salvage title cars as well. they really make you think twice about driving crazily

How fervently I pray that the fine spirits of your Republic's Alamo heroes never catch wind of your tragically diminished sense of enthusiasm and dedication.

Any fool can pre-determine the inevitable outcome of that now-sorry-Eclipse's fate, with only a bit of assistance from that miracle which is the realm of contemporary tools of automotive and mechanical restoration.

It'd buff right out, ye of little faith.

 

[blcknspo0ln]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

[JwUoNoG]

The car i'm picking up soon has one of these. It wasn't wrecked or totalled or rebuilt or anything (I did a carfax), it's because it had a lien on the title. What are the downsides to this? I know this car will pass the inspections, it already passed a regular MD inspection.

 

[bhop]

The only real downside I can think of is when it comes time for you to sell it, it will be twice as hard to sell since people generally stay away from salvaged vehicles.

 

[JwUoNoG]

hmm.. but what If i show them the carfax, and they see that it was due to a lien and not a wreck/rebuild? (actually, i dont really care, i plan to keep this for a while

Will it affect insurance in anyway?

 

[f4st]

the main problem with any car that has a salvage title no matter what the reason is that there are VERY few places that will lend money for a salvage title vehicle. it really depends on how much the car is worth but for teh most part that drops a ton of value.