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dghii · 01-07-2013, 05:16 PM

Risk/Reward

I think its possible to buy a salvage title car and be very happy with it...its just not for everyone.

Biggest issue is value comparison. You cannot compare a salvage title that appears to be put back together correctly car against a non-salvage car. You may end up with a great car and be very happy as long as you don't try to kid yourself you bought a $40K car $27K.

You didn't.

If you go to sell the car a few years from now, you will sell as a salvage titile, which will include an explanation to the next buyer of how you bought the car and what you know about it. The future buyer convince themselves that the car is worth buying...but certainly not at the current market price.

No biggie. If you like the car and and are willing to take the risk, have at it!

I bought a low mileage rebuilt (FL) title Honda CRX si that was a couple of years old...ended up as a pretty nice car with no bad horror stories. I did run into a couple of history related items...a rattle in the passenger door that ended up being broken glass, and an ECU that gave up the ghost. The car threw the Check Engine ligh but still ran and drove, with just a miss at idle. I took the car to the dealer where they diagnosed as needing to be rewired as they could not run the diagnostics due to bad wiring (ie. "Did you know this car has been wrecked?").

I bought the manual and discovered that the diagnostic lights indicated a bad ECU. I pulled the ECU out and there was rust on the circuit board. I was able to replace the board with one from a yard and the car was happy again. BTW, I was amazed that even with the rusty ECU...Not bad for 4 years of service.

I sold the car and advertised as having a rebuilt title. The buyer ended up as someone with experience with rebuilt title cars and was content with the passage of time (my ownership) and my service records.

I still look but have not pulled the trigger on another since.

01-07-2013, 05:16 PM	#5
dghii Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 2,498	Risk/Reward I think its possible to buy a salvage title car and be very happy with it...its just not for everyone. Biggest issue is value comparison. You cannot compare a salvage title that appears to be put back together correctly car against a non-salvage car. You may end up with a great car and be very happy as long as you don't try to kid yourself you bought a $40K car $27K. You didn't. If you go to sell the car a few years from now, you will sell as a salvage titile, which will include an explanation to the next buyer of how you bought the car and what you know about it. The future buyer convince themselves that the car is worth buying...but certainly not at the current market price. No biggie. If you like the car and and are willing to take the risk, have at it! I bought a low mileage rebuilt (FL) title Honda CRX si that was a couple of years old...ended up as a pretty nice car with no bad horror stories. I did run into a couple of history related items...a rattle in the passenger door that ended up being broken glass, and an ECU that gave up the ghost. The car threw the Check Engine ligh but still ran and drove, with just a miss at idle. I took the car to the dealer where they diagnosed as needing to be rewired as they could not run the diagnostics due to bad wiring (ie. "Did you know this car has been wrecked?"). I bought the manual and discovered that the diagnostic lights indicated a bad ECU. I pulled the ECU out and there was rust on the circuit board. I was able to replace the board with one from a yard and the car was happy again. BTW, I was amazed that even with the rusty ECU...Not bad for 4 years of service. I sold the car and advertised as having a rebuilt title. The buyer ended up as someone with experience with rebuilt title cars and was content with the passage of time (my ownership) and my service records. I still look but have not pulled the trigger on another since.