Salvage Title

[pez]

I found a '97 240sx SE that I wanted to buy. The guy doesn't have the car up for sale though. It turns out that my younger brother is friends with the owners son. So I went to talk to him about buying that car and I find out that he bought it with a salvage title. He said he will sell me the car if I want to buy it and that all that I need to do is make him an offer. The car is clean. There is one scuff up front and one in the back. They will probably mostly buff out. What kind of offer should I make this guy? Low miles as well. I can't remember the exact number. What do you think?

[SimpleS14]

Pez - Since the car is on a salvage title, its really up to how much your willing to pay for it. If its salvaged because of an accident...your really shouldn't pay THAT much since the car doesn't have a high value. If its salvaged due to theft, the value may be higher....but still the final price is up to how much your willing to pay. I would pay around $2500. Find out if its possible to retitle the car (it should be), because having a salvage title affects how much coverage you can get from an insurance company. Sometimes they will not provide any type of coverage. But this varies with every state.

James - :rolleyes:

[chokudoriS13]

Don't forget it can also be salvage due to flood damage in addition to the reasons above. If so, run run run away... However, the $2500 price is extremely low if the car currently carries a title (which is how I understood his post). I've seen salvage S13's go for that kind of money. $5-7 would probably be fair if it was a theft recovery, as some S14a's go for 11-12k easily.

[pez]

The car experienced a front end collision. It hadn't been stolen or in a flood.

James -
I went to both of those sites before I posted this thread. I didn't see the part that says. "If the car has a salvage title you should look to pay $_____." If you found it on those sites and this "thread = dead" then let me know.

[Dousan_PG]

Originally posted by pez
The car experienced a front end collision. It hadn't been stolen or in a flood.

James -
I went to both of those sites before I posted this thread. I didn't see the part that says. "If the car has a salvage title you should look to pay $_____." If you found it on those sites and this "thread = dead" then let me know.

i would DEFINATELY bypass it
you'll end up like nitekids :eek:
haha
seriously, you should pass it..im thinking frame damage! not good!!!

[AKADriver]

He'll end up making retarded-ass posts all the time and flexing his insecurities through insulting my fabulous purple VW? :p

It's EASY to total an S14 through a collision! There's ONE reason I don't own an S14 right now instead of the aforementioned Dub - collision insurance cost too much. I recently saw a '96 on eBay that obviously had nothing but cosmetic damage (fender, hood, headlight) and was a total.

Take it to a body shop with the frame equipment, have it checked out. It runs a decent chance of being 100% straight. If it's straight, buy it... the previous owner has done the hard part of replacing the expensive-ass panels.

Oh - also - if someone could scan the FSM page for you, you could spot-check all the dimensions yourself with a tape measure. It won't be 100% accurate, but if it's off a significant amount, it'll be obvious.

[masta]

I would Carfax or Autocheck it and then go from there depending on why it was salvaged.

The major problem with a salvaged car is why it was salvaged and to sell it later. If you plan on keeping it forever then it might be a good deal on a rare Kouki.

[SimpleS14]

Originally posted by chokudoriS13
$5-7 would probably be fair if it was a theft recovery, as some S14a's go for 11-12k easily.

That still seems high for a S14a on theft recovery or salvaged title.

[andrave]

take it to a shop that knows their ****, they will tell you if it checks out.
use that as a bargaining point. start low, use the faults of the car to argue him down.

[pez]

I plan to take it to a body shop. I'm at shool and the car is back home so I might not be able to get to it right away. The guy who has it now bought it from a dealer after it was fixed. He said that it sat on the lot for a long ass time due to the salvage title. That leads me to believe he didnt' pay a wole lot for it. I've been asking around and have heard that a salvage title usually brings the car down to 1/3 of the value. The car blue booked at around $8000. I don't think I would have a problem paying $2700 or even $3000 to get the car. That leaves me with money left to buy my SR20DET right away. :D

[transient]

as mentioned before, check it's carfax report and then take it to a frame shop (not just a body shop). You want to make sure they have the right equipment to tell you whether the frame is in good shape or not. After that, the information you get should make the decision for you.

Also, James, please try to be a little less harsh. This was a valid question.

[ridebmx]

just make sure the car is straight, my car was a salavge title, ive had no problems, the insurance company thing is right, some companys wont give you full coverage, and i do believe some banks require full coverage for a car loan, just what ive heard, oh mines 97 with 32xxx miles and over 8000*edit*dollars*edit* with the only mods being small things that make no real difference, basically small little things killed me, nissan dealer as some sick prices, imagine 112 bucks for one door speaker grill, thats just an example, i needed one but wouldnt pay that....basicly to sum it up, straight frame/dont care about reselling/dont care if you dont have full coverage, buy it up

[pez]

He said that he is interested in buying a new car. This guy has money. He's not going to care about not making money off this deal. I'm sure he'll let it go for what he has in it. Even if he does that, he still making out. You never really plan to get what you paid when you sell a car. He told his son to get in touch with me to buy his car. I'm not going to lowball him at all. I don't mind paying more, but why have to when he might sell low. Of course I'm getting my hopes up. There's a very good chance that there is nothing seriously wrong with the car. Saving that kind of money on this car would be awsome. And I don't believe that I have any sort of incredible attachment to this car that warrants a Heat quote.

[(CIA)Dragon]

Pez

I have a 96 s14 that had front end damage as well/with salvage title. It has 41k and runs smoothe no problems with insurance(progressive) and I paid 5,995 smackers. Dont pay over 6,000. If he wont budge go to www.autotrader.com and look up the car you want . I assure you you will be able to find a good deal. Dont let them take you.

[MorganS13]

just to give you an idea... my car had about $4k worth of damage when i had a front end collision, but it was all body work. my insurance company (state farm at the time) was going to declare it a total loss with a salvage title until they found a front clip in a junkyard and used the parts off of that. it also depends what insurance company totalled it. here state farm (what i had) only uses OEM parts for repairs and nothing else so obviously their estimates are going to be higher for repairs and a greater chance of being a loss. too many variables, safest thing is to get it to a frame shop.

[ridebmx]

i dunno if people understood what i meant by insurance, but to word it different, some insurance companys wont allow you to put full coverage to a salvage title(this is ofcourse after its fixed and been inspected and issued a new title) and then if your bank is like some here, you can not get a car loan without full coverage insurance(bank is covering their ass) thats just how it is here, so if your getting a loan check into it.

[chokudoriS13]

Originally posted by pez
I don't think I would have a problem paying $2700 or even $3000 to get the car. That leaves me with money left to buy my SR20DET right away. :D

There is absolutely no way you will end up with a salvaged/repaired S14a for $3000. That is just not rational for the owner to do... Makes no business sense.

He said that he is interested in buying a new car. This guy has money. He's not going to care about not making money off this deal.

I have never met anyone who was willing to lose money on a total stranger... Which is what you are to the guy. I am willing to bet he'll ask for $7-8k... Like James said, this is all but a dream until you know the price he's asking.

[SimpleS14]

Originally posted by chokudoriS13
I have never met anyone who was willing to lose money on a total stranger... Which is what you are to the guy. I am willing to bet he'll ask for $7-8k... Like James said, this is all but a dream until you know the price he's asking.

Some people are willing to sell their car just to get rid of it and buy something else. I met a guy (complete stranger) that had a NICE S14 (Zenki) and it was FULLY LOADED....had everything single option available (even LSD & ABS).

He sold it for only $3600.....and to a total stranger.