purchase/value help, please?
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Track Day
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: santa barbara ca
purchase/value help, please?
Hey guys, Looked at what looked like a very nice C4S last week that had some work done a couple years ago. Car has 71k miles, but has a salvage title. Is that the kiss of death? I have many close up pics of car prior to work being done, does not look like extensive damage at all. Pic's also show the front end w the fenders and hood removed. Original hood was hardly damaged. (I worked in a body shop many years ago so I have a good eye for damage) Car was backed into while parked. Has new fenders and hood, but the tub was clearly not harmed behind the bumper. Was laser checked at the high end shop that did the work, and was dead on straight. Car is going into dealer for full service prior to my possible purchase. Have a handshake deal at 35k. Dealer will also be doing PPi on top of 60k service. Front end has been resprayed, rest is original.
Questions are....
- How much of a value hit does the salvage cause, assuming records show damage was light?
- Is it even worth considering such a car if the dealer gives it thumbs up?
Orrrrr, should I just run, fast, and not even consider? Seems as though if everything checks out, it's still a lot of car for 35k. But, If the salvage title crushes the value below that, I'll just keep looking. This will be a second car, and I don't drive a lot of miles, so $35k is my price point regardless. Appreciate your help! Len
Questions are....
- How much of a value hit does the salvage cause, assuming records show damage was light?
- Is it even worth considering such a car if the dealer gives it thumbs up?
Orrrrr, should I just run, fast, and not even consider? Seems as though if everything checks out, it's still a lot of car for 35k. But, If the salvage title crushes the value below that, I'll just keep looking. This will be a second car, and I don't drive a lot of miles, so $35k is my price point regardless. Appreciate your help! Len
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Len, with your 35K budget you should be able to find yourself a clear title lower miles C2/C4, you might be a little shy if you must have a C2S/C4S but not by much. IMHO....35K is too much to pay for a salvaged title 71K miles even if everything checks out. Come on, what do you think the dealer is going to tell you? They just want to sell you the car and get your $$$. Good luck!
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Utah
Len,
I have to agree, that's far too much for a salvage title with those miles. You will never get anything for that car if you decide to sell it. I saw a 1996 with a salvage title (C2) here in Utah for 26-27K. Looked like it was done well, but that title will mean you essentially will get reamed if you ever try to sell it..
Wanna by a 96 C2? I will even drive it down for ya!
I have to agree, that's far too much for a salvage title with those miles. You will never get anything for that car if you decide to sell it. I saw a 1996 with a salvage title (C2) here in Utah for 26-27K. Looked like it was done well, but that title will mean you essentially will get reamed if you ever try to sell it..
Wanna by a 96 C2? I will even drive it down for ya!
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Denver metro, Colorado
Len,
I did not catch where you are located, however, I just bought a '97 C2S with 49K. Guards red, heavily optioned with M030, litronics, hard to get sport hardback seats, cd, abd, 18s, etc. Had all records and went thru PPI with flying colors. Basically, had a light respray consisting of bumper cover and half the hood due to wind damage.
Anyway, I am in Denver, CO and paid $31,800. Prices are way down.
Good luck.
Alex
I did not catch where you are located, however, I just bought a '97 C2S with 49K. Guards red, heavily optioned with M030, litronics, hard to get sport hardback seats, cd, abd, 18s, etc. Had all records and went thru PPI with flying colors. Basically, had a light respray consisting of bumper cover and half the hood due to wind damage.
Anyway, I am in Denver, CO and paid $31,800. Prices are way down.
Good luck.
Alex
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From: yorba linda, ca
I would think a parking lot incident that totaled a high end car is a somewhat of a story. Cant be positive, but if the insurance company wrote it off as a salvage, there might be more to the story.
I would avoid a salvage titled car, unless it was maybe $20 or $25K. You may want to think about this one a while...
I would avoid a salvage titled car, unless it was maybe $20 or $25K. You may want to think about this one a while...
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: santa barbara ca
Thanks guys, for telling me what I already figured. The car is private party, and although I got pics of the before, I never asked about the state of the title. Been a week of talking, and I thought to ask today, got the bad news. File it under "too good to be true...". Thanks, Len
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From: lost in the Land of Enchantment..
Chris is dead on - no salvage title for a front bumper and boot - no way - Alex paid 31 for a light respray - maybe the seller knew what he was doing as well? A perfect car at 71k miles would only fetch 35, so, run or pay 25k and throw it away at the end...or sell it for 7k at 275k miles ..
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From: New Jersey
Len,
Does the wind damage and repair come up on the carfax? I am loooking at a 97 C2 (23k miles) with a theft reported about 3 years ago...Current owner is an enthusiast and had the car thoroughly checked and authenticated. The repairs to the car consisted of windshiled, sunroof and passanger side window replacements. Car is selling for about 32K. Of course, the theft is on the carfax (and I would disclose anything like that, even if not listed, when i went to sell anyway). As always, ese of resale and resale value are a top concern. Thanks.
Jamie
Does the wind damage and repair come up on the carfax? I am loooking at a 97 C2 (23k miles) with a theft reported about 3 years ago...Current owner is an enthusiast and had the car thoroughly checked and authenticated. The repairs to the car consisted of windshiled, sunroof and passanger side window replacements. Car is selling for about 32K. Of course, the theft is on the carfax (and I would disclose anything like that, even if not listed, when i went to sell anyway). As always, ese of resale and resale value are a top concern. Thanks.
Jamie
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Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: santa barbara ca
Thanks guys, the bummer was that we've been going back and forth for a week and the title never came up. He said it would show as major damage on the carfax, "that's the only way it can come up....." Guy obviously has his excuses in line. Salvage issue wasn't in the ad. Shoulda thought to ask sooner. Cafebisque, that's the type of deal I"m looking for. It's out there I'm sure. Thanks for the affirmations.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 624
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From: Manhattan Beach
if that is the white one in so cal I wouldn't give more than 25k for it and would only use as a track car. As mentioned earlier you can pick up a higher mileage c4s with no stories for close to the same price.
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: santa barbara ca
88, thanks for the info. Probably the same car, it's in Riverside area? Out of curiosity, did you ever see it in person then? I'm 3 hrs away and have just seen pics and talked to the guy. Was waiting for a dealer trip for their opinion before driving down. What's the ACTUAL conditon as you saw it? I figured when he said he turned down $34,500 the night before while telling me about the salvage title, I should get my boots on because it's gettin' deep in here!
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From: Denver metro, Colorado
hey guys, I named my self with my email address. Cafebisque is actually my restaurant in Lakewood, Colorado. My name is actually Alex.
Len, wind damage does not come up on Carfax. The way I found out was during my PPI, my service guy at Euroservice found the tapelines and we called the dealer on it. He gave me the name and telephone of the prior single owner and I spoke to him in great detail. He gave me names of the service manager at the Porsche dealership he always had the car serviced at and it completely checked out. He also gave me the name of the body shop where the respray was done. The funny thing is that it is considered the best in Colorado and my service tech knows the body shop manager who provided pics and records with prior owner's authorization. Another words, the car completely checked out. Len, you can find these deals nowadays with the market as soft as it is and winter coming up.
Best of luck,
Alex
Len, wind damage does not come up on Carfax. The way I found out was during my PPI, my service guy at Euroservice found the tapelines and we called the dealer on it. He gave me the name and telephone of the prior single owner and I spoke to him in great detail. He gave me names of the service manager at the Porsche dealership he always had the car serviced at and it completely checked out. He also gave me the name of the body shop where the respray was done. The funny thing is that it is considered the best in Colorado and my service tech knows the body shop manager who provided pics and records with prior owner's authorization. Another words, the car completely checked out. Len, you can find these deals nowadays with the market as soft as it is and winter coming up.
Best of luck,
Alex