I have a chance to buy a 93' Z28 with 48k miles on it.It has a salvage title because it was involved in an accident. I am not really sure where it was hit,but it has been repaired.Assuming that it runs and drives good.Looks and was repaired well .Should I buy it? I have heard that salvaged cars fall apart and you keep having to repair and replace things on it because nothing really works right anymore.Is that really a big issue?Anyone have expirence with cars that have been totalled?Any opinions would be appreciated.Thanks a lot

 

unless you're paying cash for it ask your bank what they'll loan and ask your insurance people if it'll matter to them. i doubt if i ever would buy one. last year i looked at a 4th gen z28 with 25000 miles and didn't buy it because of the salvage title. it ran and looked great but i figured why get into something i couldn't or wouldn't trust.

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One of the probs I've had with salvage titled cars is when you go to re-sell it....most people don't want a slavage titled car.

To them its been whacked, no matter how small, its still been whacked.

If you plan on keeping it and YOU don't care about the salvage title, if it looks/drives good, get it. (but I definatly would make the price reflect the title condition )

If you plan on driving it around for a couple of years and dumping it, I would stay away from it.



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This is just my opinion, but I would stay away from it. It is one thing if a car is hit minor, but for it to be hit and it have a salvage title, that is another. It has a salvage title so it must have been pretty bad (In most cases). Now don't get me wrong man, I am not saying that the car wasn't fixed right, or that it is junk, I just would steer clear of it. Also resale will be difficult. like the above poster said. Also in the back of yourhead, you will always kno that car was hit, and wonder about it.
Good luck in whatever way you choose.

Mike

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I understand that registration laws vary in different areas, but around here a salvaged title means the car was deemed a total loss, then rebuilt and safety certified. This doesn't mean that there may not be some hidden problems that will appear later. One of my Fieros got bumped pretty good but not "totalled". I fought a lean condition for several months before I found that the fuel pump had been almost completely knocked off the pedestal and would not deliver adequate pressure at times:



Not to scare you away from buying what might be a good deal, but just letting you know the kind of hidden problems that can occur. If you are prepared to deal with a few nuicances, it might be worth the price they're asking.

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Later,
Vader
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"Let the bodies hit the floor!"
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The guy is asking only $4000 and I would plan on keeping it for a long time.I guess I will have to find out more about the car before I look at buying it.Thanks for all the feedback guys

 

salvage titles are bad. The insurance company who covered the car while it was in an accident, decided that the car could not be fixed with out paying more in repairs, than the car is actually worth. They junk it. They have a reason for this, it saves them money. Thinking along those lines, the person who repaired the car, and is only selling it for $4000, is thinking of money also.
he probably bought the car cheap, $800-$1500,
sunk in about $1000 in body work,
and he makes a nice profit..
The insurance company would definatly have not junked the car if they could have repaired it for under about $4000.
If you like it and can deal with all the crap that comes with a car thats been repaired cheaply, then talk him down $1500, if you can't stand to find tons of things wrong wit ha car every time you wash it and drive it, than stay away.
I can give this advice because my first camaro was in a really bad accident before I purchased it. ( did not know that of course!)
It almost literally fell apart. accidents cause all sorts of unseen damages, and cheap repairs are a nightmare.

 

Talked to the guy and he said the reason for such a low price is that reverse dosen't work on the transmission.Apparently it was wrecked and repaired before he bought it.He said he has had it for about six months and he isn't sure,but he thinks it was hit in the front.Then he tells me that you can tell because the engine bay looks wierd.He probably got sick of repairing everything so he is selling it.The guy is asking way too much if you ask me.

 

Adam,

It sounds like it may be time to start looking elsewhere...

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Later,
Vader
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"Let the bodies hit the floor!"
Adobe Acrobat Reader

 

Depends on the insurance agent/body shop that deemed a total loss. I currently own a salvage title 95 cutlass supreme SL. 3.1L leather seats, all black inside and out. Bought it 1.5 years ago with 31000 miles on it. A local body shop bought it and I got to see it before it was repaired. Hit an animal of some sort in the left front. New fender, hood, and door skin, he painted those parts and then I bought it. Didn't even get it aligned until I replaced the tires recently(was near perfect anyway). It listed for 12000 at the time and I bought it for 8000. It's got 55000 on it now and haven't done anything to it except tires, gas, and oil. License time is nice, it's costs half for a salvage title. Evendently the insurance agent didn't know what he was looking at. My point being, a salvaged car may not have been it that bad of an accident, may be fixed properly and cause you no problems. That was my experience with a salvage title car. I have seen other salvage cars that were near perfect, but also alot that should have never been fixed(crusher time). I've also seen 'normal' title cars that should be crushed as well. Have it checked out by a mechanic you trust and a body shop that you trust. Putting it on a frame/alignment machine may tell a bad or good story.
Good luck....

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[This message has been edited by 82camaro (edited August 13, 2001).]

 

A salvage title can be your worst nightmare or your luckiest day. It's up to you to figure out which.

In all 50 states once an insurance company owns a car it must be sold with a salvage title after that point.

A salvage title deducts 25% from the current NADA value of a car.

Consider this. Take your car to a GM Dealer and ask them to quote you replacing the MAF Relay. You'll get a $600.00 + quote for something you can do in 15 minutes for $140.00. Or get a quote for 8 new injectors installed. This is what happens to insurance companies and why they sometimes get easily repaired cars with salvage titles.

My 85 Firebird was "totalled" because it was stolen for a joyride from the previous owner and the tranny was shelled. A new tranny installed by the dealer was more than the car was worth. But the owner was the original owner and he knew the car. So he bought it back salvage, collected his money, put in a rebuilt tranny and with the money he collected rebuilt the engine, replaced the entire A/C system and cooling system.

I bought it with a "salvage" title and it's the best used car I ever owned. If you get a funny feeling....... walk away, but don't be afraid of a deal because the title says salvage.

 

Thanks for all the info guys.I won't be getting the 93' but now have a lot more information about salvaged cars.