Opinion on salvage car
 

I am looking at a well optioned 2016 c4s PDK car (sticker 126330) with 39k miles on it. It is a salvage title (side hit, no airbag deployed) and currently registered in California. The work is very well documented and is also quite good. Passed the PPI with no issues and the car was maintained. The price is appropriate for the dirty title (low 60's). I am well aware that selling salvage title cars takes a bit, but at that price/miles I can drive it for as long as I want and come out just fine financially.

Looking for thoughts from others that have bought salvage 991's and any concerns

If that’s the only way you will own a 911, then maybe. Actually, no. Huge potential headache.

while you may be well aware of the negatives of owning and more importantly eventually selling a Salvage Title car, I would strongly caution you to NOT look at current market prices as ANY measure of future prediction. Your 39K mile Salvage title car May be "Low $60,000" right now but in just a couple of years (or earlier) when these 991.1 cars go back to Pre-covid prices, your Low $60K car may be priced at low $40s or even less. (especially if it ends up with 50K, 60K or more miles)

Would you feel like you are coming out OK (financially) if that is the case?

Russian roulette, and if not deadly, costly.

I will buy a new Porsche or one that is still in the factory warranty.

There are no cheap Porsches.

Frankly I would be fine walking away from the money. More along the lines of pre-covid what were these cars going for? I just checked copart and was utterly shocked at a 2018 S with a side hit was already up to 73k

Yeah I already learned that with my daily driver Ferrari. Lesson learned, Ferraris are not well made cars

No, no and no. No.

Would take a 997.2 ANY DAY over a salvaged 991.1. Just crazy to think that’s better money spent.

Pre Covid, I recall seeing the price of 4s being in the 60’s from a Porsche dealership with CPO. I would search for one that doesn’t have a story.

If you can buy it for 40k sure. Otherwise, I'd pass. Small market for salvage title cars.

To give a bit more context, here is the exact car I am looking at. Here is my struggle a clean 2015 Carrera from carmax with 25k miles, some good options (will have to get backup camera installed) for 74k or the salvage one with 39k miles for 60k.


Either way I would do a PPI

you do what you’re going to do, not sure why you even asked since every single person has said it’s a bad idea.

Ok I am going with the crowd on this one and walking away. In practical terms 60k salvage means 40k in a year, 74k clean means 65k in a year.

for 14k difference, I'd spring for the non-salvage.

that said, salvage cars can be some of the best cars you can get, especially if the work was done well. if you're considering it, have it gone through with a fine-tooth comb, particularly in areas where damage was. figure out why it was totaled out instead of just repaired and work from there.

LNC does great work... impressive really. Not your average bodyshop IMO. That said, I have to go with the crowd and suggest you're better off paying the extra 14K for a clean title car. Not because the salvaged car (in this case anyway) isn't a good car, but because you're severely limiting your options for an exit strategy should you decide to sell at some point.