signon01

Been doing alot of surfing last month or so and this is hands down the best site I have came across. Hats off to all responseable keeping this thing going. A co-worker has a son who purchased a 97 es300 for approx. $19,000.00 a little over a year ago drove it for about two months then wrecked it (feloney hit and run) anyways the insureance company gave it a "salvage title" saying that repairs would exceed $16,000.00 to fix. Well about 4 months ago I seen the car and hell it looked bad but all that was/is needed is hood, passenger fender, passenger headlamp, radiator support, windsheild, The frame is fine (but it on a frame machine) the bumper has minor scratches, both doors and driver side is cherry. It has about fourty seven thousand miles and the interior is cherry. One the day I was looking at it I also reviewed the insureance papers and there were quotes from local junk yards with the average price of $2,900.00 that they would buy it from the owner. I can do the metal work and all above parts I have tracked down for about $700.00. I am married with two kids and went out on a limb when I bought it for $3,000.00 last week, and I am wonderering was this a foolish buy ? I approached the owner 100% he is the lazy type who does not know the value of a dollar so I really thought I was finally at the right place at the right time. I was planning to fix it then sell it. Should I sell it to the junk yard and cut my losses now ?

O. L. T.

iTrader: (17)

the only way i'd touch a salvage title item is to triple up. not double up,...... triple up.

ps- check your PM

chuckmabie

I use to work with this old rich guy who bought a lot of salvage title cars, They are a great buy if you are the type to purchase somthing and drive it until it drops. It depends on miles take before and after pictures of wreak, if you are selling it run an add that says " wreaked but fixed" when they call tell them aobut the salvage title but I would not put that in the paper, (make them interested in it first"

If you decide to keep it look at the ride you can drive for a very long time for less than 4000.00 now that is a steal.

chuck Mabie

meZoom!

they gave it a salvage title for a reason. sounds tempting but not if you expect it to run like a normal, suitable ES300 again.


just my .02.

chuckmabie

I would agree in some cases but not all, insurance is very quick to not fix a car now because of costly repairs . As I said I know of a guy that purchased a lot of salvage title cars ( he only drove them he was not reselling them) and did very well. in 98 or so he puchased a new no miles fully loaded cadillac that had a salvage title and its only problem was it was in a building that caught on fire and the interior was smoke damaged , he payed 16,000.00 for a 30,000.00 car and had to replace the carpet to get rid of the smell. and then when he did you could not tell.

my partner at work purchased a new saturn for his kid 5500.00 no miles the buling next to the car caught on fire and melted the drivers side doors , after 1500.00 fixing it he had 7000.00 in a new car that list for 23,000.00.

some cars are even salvage title because of hail.

I know resale has to be a ***** of a resale but you can get mor for your buck. Just be selective.
c


chuck Mabie

high_rpm

It sounds to me like you got a great deal on this salvage title car.

You will essentially be driving a second-gen ES300 with 40,000 miles on it, and with less than $4000 invested in the process. Heck, you can't buy a Honda Civic for $4000 these days!

You can drive it for years, and you'll always get your money back and then some.

And don't worry about the salvage title. You can always sell the car on Ebay when you're ready to get another one. Look around - lots of people sell bad titled cars there.

Once again, Congratulations!