LT Malice

iTrader: (3)

A guy I work with is about to buy a 2003 Z06, but it has a salvage title. He is getting in for $27K out the door with 8,000 miles. He used to be a hardcore import lover, but I finally converted him to the good side.

He asked me to come check out the car with him before he pays for it, since I have a reputation as being the "chevy guy".

I'm planning on plugging my HPtuners scanner in and checking the engine for past codes, sensor funtionality, KR, etc...

I don't know much about vette bodies though. I know this car got hit in the passenger side rear fender. I want to check it for body continuity. Are vettes built with bubblegum and tape like camaros are? My camaro has all kinds of rattles, squeaks, and interior/exterior discontinuities. Are vettes like that from the factory?

How can I know if the car is a junkpile or a good buy?

delinquent543

27k for a salvage car? dear lord, that seems really really really high... i know its a z06 and has 8000 miles, but 27k? you can find z06's for only a few grand more (around 33k) with higher miles (20-40k) with clear titles and mint condition. You want to give this guy advice? tell him to keep looking, save up a few grand more and buy a z06 with a clean title. IMagine if he tries to sell it in a few years after he puts more miles on it.. he wont get more than half what he paid... that is if it doesnt **** the bed on him...

LT Malice

iTrader: (3)

I was kinda thinking the same thing. If he doen't buy this car though, he is gonna buy a 350Z. I'd rather see him in the vette. He is pretty dead set on the low mileage.

T-maxx

For 27K, no way! A rear quarter hit on any car is a very bad thing The damage that you "know" about is only the tip of the iceburg. Tell him to spend 3 grand more and buy a clean Z. Thats JMO though

hyde

I see ZO's for 27 -28 all day...All seem to be in good shape..I certainly would never pay that...We had one that was said to be perfect...Yeah everytime you got into it with the bottle it broke the rear end..We replaced 5 rears...Then put it on a frame machine the rear tub was cracked, and right frame rail had to be replaced. 10 grand later and it still broke rear ends everytime you got on it...On motor it was ok...Just a thought

hennesseycpl

dont buy it, find a clean title low mileage for 3000 more. if the guy gets a chance to drive both cars even the wrecked z06 should make up his mind that he would rather have the z06

Goonie

lol i hope its a misprint and its only 17k cause that's all I would pay... and thats even high for a car thats salvaged.

LT Malice

iTrader: (3)

No, its $27K. It was 30K, but he talked it down a little.

Goonie

well as you can see it's wayyyy too much for a salvage title car... tell your buddy to stay away and find himself a nice Z06 for the same money.


go to corvette forum for sale section and you will see that you can get a nice low milage z06 for under 30K

longdaddy

i'd rather take a car with 10 times the mileage and no accidents.

no, the build quality is higher and vettes tend to stay rattle-free far longer.

glennhl

Just resale alone makes a Salvage car worth about 60% of a non-salvage car. Run, don't walk, away from this car!

ryan319

i agree with everyone, way too much money. a repaired salvage car is only worth the wholesale (or trade in) value of the car at most.

plus unless he is paying cash for it he'll have a hard time finding financing for it too. most banks won't finance salvage cars. i know cause i've had several of them over the years.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

I would pass on this rebuilt title car, unless you could get it for 2/3 of normal price or better. Because that's what you will get when you resell it.