csb5150

I know this has been addressed elsewhere, but thought that I would see what 928-ers think.

I am on quest for 928. Looking for low miles, preferrably from a Lister or other enthusiast. Truthfully, as this is a "toy" -- cost is a factor. Not looking for garage queen or concours. Want weekend fun.

What is the consensus on salvage title. If truly a theft recovery that has been put back together and PPI is clear, is this something to consider. If so, what is expected discount for title issues.

heinrich

Salvage is just paper. Find out why. If it's something small and documented, then why would you not want it.

zoltan944

a salvage title is worth HALF in the market, i don't care what anyone says, i used to be a car buyer for dealerships and my uncle is the largest wholesaler in Vegas. However, on a 'collector' type car some people don't care as long as the car checks out. It also seems that people pay the same money also.
In my opinion you don't alway shave to be afraid of the car as long as it checks out as long as the price reflects that. If you are NEVER getting rid of the car, who cares if its salvage, but that is never the case

Drewster67

Salvage titled vehicles (in AZ) cannot be financed through a Bank.

nicobel

WOW WOW WOW!!!
Calm down guys!!
Muy car has a salvage title, the history of it is well known, how they stole the car, how it was found stripped. and how the PO (my boss !*^@%!&@, ok he is not THAT bad )fixed it and even put those nice aluminum flares...
Valuewise, i think it won't be as easy to sell the car, but the person who is looking for a good 928, will know what the car is, and won't care for what the paper says.
If i am in the market for a specific car, i should know as much as i can about that model, so i can carefully check the prospects. It is much better to have a good salvage, than one of those "clean" cars that have the title "refurbished" (from salvage to clean), they are hiding something...
If you see a salvaged car, you know that you need to carefully check it, just like any other car, ask for the reasons, etc...and it requires honesty to say to a possible buyer "it has a salvage title", instead of bleaching the history of the machine...

Mark Anderson

I have had and sold 2 very nice GTS's that had salvage titles. Yes it did effect the resale some but not that much as the cars were well documented and very nice. That said they can be difficult to insure or get a loan on and yes the trade in value at a dealer will be significantly less.

zoltan944

here ya go,
88 S4
Needs work and salvage title, for $16k

Chuck Z

Mark mentioned it above but some states (I think NC is one of those states) insurance companies will not insure a car with salvage titles. Check it out b/f you buy.

macreel

csb5150... where do you & the car live?

Different states have different rules regarding 'branded'
titles ( eg, "salvage, junk, dismantled, rebuilt,....).
Check CARFAX for definitions/glossary then your state DMV.

G'luck.

csb5150

I'm in FL. Car is in CA (posted in Rennlist classifieds).

SharkSkin

Agreed, the key is "why was it salvage titled". Oh, and check on the ins. too. You may have to get a separate policy elsewhere for the car.

Jim bailey - 928 International

The problem is it becomes a "story car". It is salvage BUT ... and then the story. Some states like Illinois as I recall will NOT title FLOOD cars. Many banks will NOT lend or must have an officer look at the car to see IF it looks like a car. And the big problem is resale even if you never intend to sell it IF some idiot runs a red light and smacks your car It was just "sold" to an insurance company his IF he has insurance (not likely in California) yours if not. You also have to decide if the story is true , half true, or an outright fabrication just to make a few dollars and the guy who is selling the car may not know much about the car at all.

JPTL

I remember a thread about how little it takes to total one of our cars.
Apparently a lot less than it used to. If the salvage title was issued only a few years after the car was new, wouldn't that imply that the damage was considerably more than a 15 or 20 year-old totaled car suffered in a recent wreck?
Fortunately, I can't speak from experience, but I remember reading that a low speed front-end impact, hard enough to set off the bags in a bag equipped car will total the dash & blow out the windsheild. So you have a trashed dash, 2 deployed bags and whatever front end damage that you incurred.
Wouldn't that be approaching 'totaled' category & a salvage title these days?

SteveG

I agree w/Mark. Different states, different rules, but usu they must issue salvage based on repair cost usu if it is more that some % of the book. So, many times the salvage car is not that bad. You have to judge. BUT it certainly is a negotiating issue and I would not give $15K for a salvage title; it can be a royal PIA. The "J" in the vin (from Zoltan) indicates it is an 89, not an 88, so maybe the seller is not all that knowledgable about the car OR its condition.

Jim bailey - 928 International

It is the insurance company which decides if a car is repairable or not. When the insurance company settles with the owner and takes title to the car it then MUST be branded as salvage in most states however a few states allow "reconstructed" cars to be retitled with clean titles, no history of it being put back together. So some dealers/bodyshop wash titles by selling the car into one of those states to a dealer friend then "buy it back" with a clean title so it can be sold for more money ! I read that about 50% of all totalled cars end up being put back on the road. Most insurance companies will want to Total any car if the initial estimate for repair exceeds 50% of market value. So for a 1 or 2 year old car to be totalled it takes a BIG repair estimate (like a GTS engine replacement due to breaking an oil cooler) or a major collision. Now however it does not take much to total an average 87-88.