I recently found a '90 Camaro RS in my area. I took the car to a mechanic, he took a quick look at it (very quick) and said that the engien and tranny work fine.

Right now I was about to buy this car, but first I decided to run a CarFax report, and it said it has a Salvage/Wreck title (everything else clean)!!! When I test drove the car it seemed fine and the engine ran and shifted smoothly.

Should I just look for a different car, or can I get a significant price knockoff for it and take it anyways? Does Slavaged mean there are hidden problems usually? What are your opinion, especially people who purchased Salvaged 3rd Gens.

Also its a '90 305TBI RS /W 700R4 tranny. Good Conmdition, 100,000miles (rebuilt engine 10K ago), good condition, all stock, and SALVAGED!!! How much is it worth, he wants 4500$ for it, obviously I wont give him that. I'm thinking less then 2K. Right???

Thx for any help in advance

 

BTW it was salvaged only 14K miles ago, and since had 1 owner who wants to get rid of the car casue he can't afford gas (that sound reasonable?) Something about this car sounds fishy...

 

Does Slavaged mean there are hidden problems usually?

I dont know about Slavaged but salvaged could definately mean hidden problems in the future. I would look around a little more.

[This message has been edited by speedlvr (edited April 19, 2001).]

 

My car has a salvage title on it. There is nothing wrong with it now, and I have drove it for 36k miles. The only slight problem I have is that the drivers side door was replaced, and it was from an older car, and now it is starting to rust on me.
When a car gets a salvage title, it means that it was in an accident so bad that the insurance company wanted to total it out, but somebody bought it from insurance company (I think) and fixed it. You have to have the vehicle checked over by the DMV to get a roadworthy title.
I'm pretty sure that is how it works. Never went through it.

Justin

------------------
91 RS w/305TBI
K&N's
Looking for a B4C that is CHEAP, and doens't have a LOT of miles!
Got one, Let me know

 

A salvage title could mean "the car was wrecked, "flooded ran into a river" or it was bought by a junkyard either throught the original owner who lost the title or it can be a police impound. 4500$ is very steep for a car with that kind of title 4500 is about the blue book for a a+ car. You should find out the circumstance that led to the salvage title. Some insurance companys will not alow you full covarage or will not insure the car alltogather with a salvage title and getting a liscence plate may be a hassle also.
just do some research about this stuff and then decide if its worth it.
Good Luck!
SSC

 

a girl im friends with rolled 'her'(really her dads) 98 suburban.. from pics i saw of it it really wasnt that bad, the passenger side was kinda pushed in a little, but over all it looked decent, i mean, for just having been rolled down the highway.. but its mechanical state was not compromised at all. oh yea, hehe, the point of this is that it was sold for salvage to a yard--all to say that maby there was a wreck or soemthing that car was in, and although it may have not been completely demolished, it was sold as 'junk' to a yard

[This message has been edited by mtx28 (edited April 20, 2001).]

 

Somebody I used to know got a 84 firebird cheap because of a small bump in the front which tore the bumper cover and dented one fender slightly. The insurance totalled it because it cost more to fix than the car was worth so he pocketed the money and fixed it himself (I mean you had to look pretty close to see the damage in the first place)

The only drawback was he had to get a salvage title.....

Or flooding.... something bad may have happened to it.... Look deeply into it and chop the price down.

 

My car's also a salvage.. it was totalled in a rear-end accident, and fixed up by a body man for his son.. when his son didn't want it anymore, I got it. Body was perfect, drivetrain was perfect, etc...

Be blunt- ask him why it has a salvage title. If he gives you a clean answer, great. If he stutters and acts shady, bring it to a few more mechanics.


------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

I would try and get the price down some. See if he will take 3500 for it. Also, you might wanna look at the framerails. See if they are straight. If they look liek they have been welded, or if they look bent, don't buy it. The last thing you want is a car with a bent frame.

------------------
1983 Firebird
TH700R4 Auto
Small Block 400
LG4 ECM, Intake, Carb, Distributor, etc.
Soon to be non-computer.
Clarion Head Unit 45X4
2 Pioneer 400W 12" Subs
Third Gen Performance
"A four cylinder is half an engine."

 

Thx for all the help guys

First of all where do I check the framerails of the car, where are they found in the car.

Second he wasn't the one who wrecked the car, he bought it with a salvaged title, but he only drove it 13K in 2 years. A little fishy...

Finally is there any way I can find out the extent of the salvage damage myself (the guy doesn't strike me as trustworthy) On the internet on at the DMV?

Thx again for helping me

 

A salvage title means at one time the car was totaled, and the insurance company paid it off. Someone else the repaired the car, and retitled it.

What this means to you: A salvage title automatically cuts the vehicles value in half. If the car is worth 5000.00, but has a salvage title, then, it is only really worth 2500. The statements about difficulty getting insurance, and plates is correct, and very area-dependant.

Look for something else......

 

As to difficulty w/insurance & plates, I don't think that's a problem. If the car is now registered & on the road, the title's valid. The original owner might've had a problem w/insurance & plates, but the second owner didn't.

I wonder how much a body shop would want to check the frame...?


------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

well actually some states the insurance companys will not insure your vehical if it was totaled and now has a salvage title Florida is one. There was a link on www.kbb.com/ you need the vin number and it will tell you what happend to the car vaguly they also have a in depth pay site that tell you everything who what when where that kind of stuff. You might take the vin to the dmv they might tell you the scoop on the car or they might not just depends on who you talk to. Btw some one on this board might have access to the pay site i mentined they might be able to help you.


Click on lemon checkon kbb. the name of the place is carfax.com

[This message has been edited by SUPER-SPORT-CHEVY (edited April 20, 2001).]

 

I dont know about anywhere else, but in michigan a car with a salvage title cannot be sold for more than 500. to check the frame make cross measurements from the cowl to the nose and from the strut tower to the core support. also from the ball joint to somwhere on the main framerails, if possible. some deflection is ok because a tape measure used like this is not entirely accurate but it is in the ballpark.

Also think about what you are going to use the car for, my wifes 84 thunderbird was bought as a salvage title, but we gutted it to use as a drag racer. as a daily driver you have to look at it harder then if you are gonna gut it and race anyway.

A salvage title doesnt necessarily mean it was totaled and bought back. because our must*ng was totalled and she loved it so much we bought it back. with my insurance, the title never changed hands so it is still a clean title. In MI it means the car was totalled AND sold to a junkyard, then bought out of a junkyard.

Also check what it says on the title if it says SALVAGE TITLE it is one, if it says THIS VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY ISSUED A SALVAGE TITLE the title is now clean as it has been through inspection.

as far as im concerened 4500 is too much to pay for a car that has a salvage title or has had a salvage title, as even if the title is clean, it is still not worth as much.

Dan


------------------
i got an 84 camaro, shes got a 89 mustang. which do i have to work on more?