deadhead1960

FWIW...I bought a salvaged 993 targa three years ago when the market was much stronger, for $19k. The entire repair (body only no frame or engine damage) was extensively photo and written documented. The car looked and drove perfect. I had it about 15-18 months and decided to sell it to transition into a coupe. It was a VERY tough sell but I eventually did sell it...for $19K.

TRINITONY

You're doing the right thing, sell the car. Years ago I had dinero ready to buy an 88 911 turbo (was very close to pulling the trigger), then interest rates dropped and I decided to buy my current house and rent the other. Best decision I ever made, of course I should of sold the 951 and bought more house, but I'm cheap..lol Cars come and go, now is the time to buy a home with prices down...Sell it!

JPP

I agree. Eventually, your real estate will set you free financially if you don't use it as an ATM machine... Having said that, it's a shame you have to sell this car and it's a shame the insurance industry looks at KBB values for a 993 coupe to base their decisions of save/salvage on. We all know those values are horse pucky in the real world but it is what it is.
Someone who wants a nice low mileage black coupe that intends to keep it for 20 years and enjoy it will get a great deal on this car, and 15-20 years from now when they are all very collectible, that 'salvage' brand on the title will mean nothing, especially with your documentation, so that's your buyer ... a long term keeper.

Pricewise, today it seems the 25K mark is the point where people start expecting the 'stories' and problems to start dropping away. As you approach 30K a buyer can expect lower mileage as well. If your car had a clean title, it would be worth 35K between private parties and you know what Sloan would ask for it, so don't even go there, just pass the crack pipe... but, it doesn't have a clean title so you need to be realistic. IMHO, and there are always exceptional circumstances like the 'perfect buyer', I think if you ask much more than 25K you will severely limit your market.

John H

I always figured when I bought my salvage title vehicles that I'd save some on the front end but knowing I'd lose it on the back end. If you bought it right, you'll probably have to sell it "right" (for another buyer that is).

I've bought and sold salvage/rebuilt title Porsches, Corvettes, Hondas etc in the past and always sold for about 25-30% below market regardless of make. Of course the economy wasn't so bad then plus banks seem to have clamped down on loaning on salvage/rebuilt title cars, at least around me. I got out of the"business" because my potential buyers were having a hard time borrowing and that was in 2005/06.

richardew

How much was the repair? I think that trying to sell a car with a salvage title and only describing minor damage will make it a tough sell.

944/951 guy, what is the history of your car? What does the Carfax (FWIW) show? How many owners, etc. Before an insurance co will total a car the damage has to be ~50% of its' value. At least, that was the case with me in PA. In '08 I bought a 335 XI coupe. Picked it up on Saturday, and on Monday a lady pulled out in front of me (she had a stop sign, I didn't. 100% her fault). The initial estimate to fix the car was ~40% of what I had paid and they wouldn't total the car until they found engine damage and that put it over 50%. I also had an accident with my present C4 Cab. The car was 5 years old and had 89,000 miles on it. I have a stated value policy and the car was insured for MSRP (82k). They repaired the car (45k !), and it still has a clean carfax

Quadcammer

Thats a real bitch, because without the salvage title, that would be a desirable car.

If it had high miles, I'd buy it and use it as a daily.

But the low miles with salvage title puts it in a tough place.

goofballdeluxe

For those who think that buying real estate will give you financial freedom down the road; it'll be damn long road. The days of buying a house and watching it double/triple in price in 10 years are over, at least in the U.S.

944/951guy

Well The reasons I think it was salvaged are:
Low KBB Value (as someone here has stated)
Needed a Door
A Complete Door Panel
Rocker Panel
+ other small stuff here and there im sure the estimating body shop put on there.
+ Body Work and Paint.

I dont know what the prices for those parts at a dealership are but I would guess in the $4-$7K Plus another $4-$6K in work and that quickly adds up to $8-$13k and these are just guesses, Body shop always try to qoute as high as possible so they dont loos money.

Its hard to explain a system like this and I get the feeling you guys are almost trying to say im hiding something when I am being as Blunt and True as I can.

944/951guy

My question is, If my car was clean title........ Can you really find a 96' 993 with 19K miles in my color combination and with ABD/LSD for $35k? Cause I have never seen one at this price.

My Initial idea was that a clean title car like mine is worth $39-$42
Even if you take $38000 which I really think a Clean title car like mine is definatly worth Minus 25% is $28.5.
And 20-30% off for a salvage car is where the value sits in reality.

goofballdeluxe

I, for one, don't think you're hiding anything.

But, as I said before, a salvage title is a salvage title.

Forget for a moment if the next buyer likes the car; what happens when HE tries to sell it? It's not easy to sell, as you're finding out, and no matter how honest you are, people are skeptical of salvaged cars, as you're also finding out.

944/951guy

BTW, Im not trying to prove anything. This is just a good old fashion debate. lol.

944/951guy

Definatly Agree, As I always have Salvage is Salvage. and thats not really what im worried about because I know the first person to look at the car will buy it. Im just trying to see if im at the price or how far off I am.
Because I really dont see $20-$22K being a realistic price for this car as someone posted earlier.

944/951guy

Hey Paul, I Definatly want to make it out for a so called "Last Fling" with the car, But I have family coming out from out of state and am not sure if I will be able to take off yet.
Hopefully I make it out and see you there.

993inNC

Maybe a year or two ago, but you'll be hard pressed to find a buyer for a clean titled 96 for 39-42. I looked at a 97 2S with 30,xxx on the clock not long ago for an out of state/country buyer locally, he ended up buying the car for 40k even (seller was asking 49k). Why would someone buy a standard Carrera for the same money even given your miles? Not trying to flame you, just opinion (and some fact). Don't get to over your head in thinking that car is the sh*t with a clean title. Nice yes, and would be great with clear title, but don't get into 2/4 "S" prices......won't happen.
I looked at a fellow RL'ers 95 cab with 21k on the clock he wanted mid 30's and that technically less miles than yours (given the year).
Keep in mind, the 96 is OBD2, ECU is different than the other years and if someone wants a LSD car, those other items are a consideration too.

My father fought "salvage" titles before with proof of value and repair details, and got clean titles, you'd be best served to go do some leg work and attempt the same.

PNogC2S

The flaw I see in your logic, is that you are assuming a 19K mile car in very nice condition with a salvage title appeals to the same buyer that the other low mile pristine cars appeal to.
The reality is that those low mile cars are usually snapped up by the specialty dealers (Sloan, Willhoit, Truespeed) and marketed at top dollar to the type of buyer who wants a low mile "perfect" car. These folks see them as investments (no comment), or the closest to "original & new" that you can get on a car of that age.
The problem is that once the 'Salvage' stamp is on that title, it no longer appeals to those buyers.
Your market is going to be the daily driver/long term keeper buyer (as some have already stated)... so your starting point should be comparing it to the typical daily driver price... not the "collectible" price adjusted by 25%... It's just not the same market segment. imho of course.