sfierle

Although I don't claim to be an expert, I do have some experience in this field. Try to trade in a car with a salvage title at any dealer, expect half of what a similar car would be (if they will take it at all). Banks won't generally finance a car with a salvage title. Few people keep a car forever, trying to get rid of a car with a salvage title would be tough (unless you gave it away), not to mention the possibility of other "hidden" problems. I personally would't buy a car with a salvage title, unless it was for parts, just my opinion.

slider172

Trading in a car at a dealer is for suckers anyway. You ARE giving your car away. People that trade cars in also believe the line the salesman gives about how you are going to have a car payment from now on, so you may as well drive a nice car. Not me. Pay cash, and drive an older car. New cars are for suckers, and people with money to burn. I'm neither.

pvoth

mine has a restored title....it was totaled when i got it....I replaced entire rear quarter and passenger side door....... you would never be able to tell....plus I was even able to put collector car insurance on it.....surely is not the end of the world....

F451

No doubt.

My '85 has a rebuilt title. According to the po (well known lister), he bought it with the intention of using it as a parts car, took it home, decided it was in such good shape he would get it back on the road.

Replaced the drivers side front fender, lights and front bumper rail, and the car was good to go. He did the usual water pump rr, and some other maintenance and drove it as a daily driver for about 10k miles.

Then he sold it to me. I've been using it for my daily driver since February.

The car is going great. Up to 120, rides like a dream (haven't gone over that yet).

So, for the price I paid, knowing the "story" on the car, and the seller, the rebuilt title was no problem for 'me'. Also no problem with my insur.

But I can understand some peoples reluctance to buy a rebuilt, or salvage title car.

But I would not rule out all rebuilt or salvage title cars. There are some decent ones out there.

And when it comes time to sell my car, yes there is a story to it.

For any potential buyers, if they're not interested in a rebuilt car, no problem, I'm sure I'll be able to sell mine no problem. Mainly because at the price I bought it at, I can turn around and sell it at that same price, or even slightly more no problem.

So, for me, its been great. I couldn't be happier with my 928 and the way its worked out for me. -Ed

sfierle

slider172, I realize most 928s sold are not traded in, but sold by individuals. It is just that it is much harder to resell a car when you have one less outlet to get rid of it. In addition, many people don't have enough cash to give to pay for car in full (no matter if it is older, or not), and require a loan. I am not saying all cars with salvage titles are bad, they just has a few things going against it when trying to re-sell them. I hope I am not offending anyone, but that is how I see it.

slider172

And I was just saying ... Dont totally rule them out. With these cars you can get a value by getting one that has been totalled because it does not take much of an accident to total one. Like I said before you have to look at each car individually! I'm sure there are alot of cars with branded titles that I would not touch with a ten foot pole BUT there are an awful lot of JUNK 928s out there with good titles.

Jim bailey - 928 International

A Salvage title car is ONLY as good as the guy who rebuilt it. And IF he did it to make money by selling it the objective is cheap and quick. We have dismantled several cars which have had really poor collision repairs BUT most had clear titles.

G Man

That would be my car! Yes it was a pain in the *** to get the paperwork straightened out, but all is good now. I am still stuck with having a "reconstruct" title but I think I got a good deal anyway. The car had minor front end damage from a rear end incident and the owner told the insurance to " write it up big". I think he screwed himself by asking that because they totaled the car as non repairable and only to be sold for salvage parts. The funny part is that the original incident report listed hte car as in drivable condition. Oh well, his loss is my gain! The pic shows how the car looked after the front end damage was repaired.The only thing that was not fixed properly was the bumper shocks which I replaced after I got it home.

slider172

Tthanks for posting the pic The reserve on this car was $3100 . I just wish my ***** had been a bit bigger when this thing was for sale. Now to address the resale/trade in issue. Do you think anyone would be willing to pay G man what he paid for this car??? Probably double. Case closed !

F451

I paid $5500 for my rebuilt title '85 auto. 90k miles. Waterpump, rollers, belt, etc replacement 10k before I bought it. It had some mechanical issues that needed attention that the seller told me about: windshield crack, slight shimmy on front end when braking, cam covers weeping oil (he provided the gaskets), slight dent in passenger side door. I think that was everything. But the car ran great, tracked straight and true (up to 110 on the test drive), and the interior was in great shape.

Here's a couple of pics. Note the interior, its in great shape. This is what it looked like when I bought it:





More pics of what it looked like when I bought it in February here:
http://edb.smugmug.com/gallery/1200188/1

This is what it looks like now. Still running great.



More pics of how it looks now here: http://edb.smugmug.com/gallery/1726675

And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying a rebuilt title car is for everyone, on the contrary. But all's I am saying, is I would not dismiss them out of hand.

Like any car purchase, you have to do your due diligence. Check the car out, have it PPI'd. If you're satisfied that the car is in decent shape, and you're ok with the conditions that you will deal with when you sell it (mainly that some people will not even consider buying a rebuilt title car), then go for it.

Otherwise, move on and keep looking. Like others have said, there are plenty of clean title 928's out there.

Ed

SharkSkin

Ed, I think I've driven that car... if it's the one I think it is. If so, it was a very sweet ride(other than sucking oil smoke into the cabin) and the interior is better than the pics would indicate! I think you got a very fair deal.

G Man

I ended up giving $4200.00 for the car. I also have all of the documentation from the insurance company that did the claim and wrote up the report. Hopefully that will help when it comes time to sell.