My friend is looking to buy an used Honda Accord (2009 EX-L 4DR). He found one at a really good price at about $11,000. This is under market rate by quite a bit for a similar car. The only thing is when he checked the Carfax the car was listed as a Rebuilt, Salvage title. I have attached the Carfax report here. Spoiler https://mail-attachment.googleuserc...491&sads=aiwyqn2VzC6edMWvPZvl7_58T6g&sadssc=1 Should I advise my friend to stay away from an car like this altogether? Or should he negotiate for a much better price due to this new information? Or should it under go thorough pre purchase inspection to make sure everything is ok? We both don't know much about cars so was trying to see if anyone had any tips or advice on this. Thanks.
For an '09! I'd tell him to negotiate that sucker as far down as they'd go. Test drive it. Have it checked out by a good auto shop. If all looks well and the price is low, I'd buy it.
Ask why it has a salvaged title, and did the owner state it was a salvage up front? If they didn't something shady is going on, so I wouldn't believe anything they say about it personally... I'd only believe what I could find out about it. Cars can be salvaged for any number of reasons, but water/flood damage is a huge risk in Houston. Structural damage is the other common factor due to a wreck. Have a certified Honda mechanic look at it and tell you what they can see/find out. Then based upon that make a decision and place a bid or walk.
No, stay away. My car got totaled and the scum sold it on craigslist talking about it just needed a door. But then again my car was already salvaged from a flood. It never gave me problems because it was a Honda. Are the airbags intact? They buy it for 2k fix it and profit$. Is this a dealer or owner?
This is not true. I have financed a salvaged vehicle before. Find out why its salvaged. Take it from there.
Car fax report (I have it linked on original report) says: Accident reported Involving Right front impact Vehicle Disabled Airbag Deployed Total Loss Vehicle Salvage Title/Certificate Issued
I only consider buying older salvage titled cars if I'm planning to keep it till it dies. Salvage titles hurt you when you try to sell the car because no one wants to buy a salvaged title and you won't get much for the car. You'll be lucky to get 50-75% of the KBB value. And you can't get full coverage on salvage title cars.
Have a mechanic take a look at the impact point. It may have been salvaged just because of the air bags... depending on the car airbags are like 10 grand in repair costs when deployed.
Very very few total losses are rebuilt properly. They are rebuilt to be cosmetically correct, but rarely are repaired structurally to OEM recommendations. In addition, knowing airbags are deployed, more than likely, LKQ airbags and seatbelts were used by whoever rebuilt it. Remember, cars are totaled because insurance companies can not economically fix them. For someone else to do so means many corners were cut. Hope that helps.
this here. Don't buy a salvaged title car if you plan on reselling it later down the line unless it's a cheap cash car. I have owned plenty of salvaged title cars but I have seen the damage done to it before it was repaired and I trust the person who fixed it. I would never buy a salvaged title car unless I saw the previous damage. It's way too risky if you're going off a report and what someone else describes as the damage.
I wouldn't have a mechanic look at it. Most mechanics know very little about structural integrity. I would have an I-Car qualified/ASE certified collision repair technician inspect. Also, airbags don't get up near $10K, but it can be several thousand, usually a minimum of $1,500-$2,000.
Do you have any recommendations of these ASE certified collision repair technician experts in the Houston area. Near Willowbrook if possible. I'm looking on Google and Yelp but not seeing many results. Thanks.
Here is the Carfax report for the car. Not sure if the link to the Carfax Report I had in the original post works. http://www11.zippyshare.com/v/56803792/file.html Thanks for your help!
It has no resale value. Tell your cheap friend to pony up a few extra bucks and get one with a clean title.
This is an important factor. Also, not all insurance companies will even cover you car. Tell your friend to check with his current insurance agent or company and see what their policy is regarding salvage titles.
