How does a rebuilt title affect the value of...
I'd say go for it if you can have the car inspected before buying it.
I've been buying cars with salvaged titles for years. As long as you know what to look for and have a trusted mechanic who can throughly inspect the car you should be OK.
I recently purchased an 02 Z28 with 20k miles that has a salvaged title. The car was the victim of a "fresh water" flood. From what I can gather the car got about 2" of fresh water in the interior. A buddy of mine who owns a shop purchased the car and gutted the interior all the way down to the floor pans. He repalced all the carpeting and rear seat foam as well as the motor on the drivers seat. The oil, T56 and Rear fluids were also replaced. He also replaced the exhaust with an SLP Loudmouth and swaped the wheels for 5 spoke ZR1 wheels. The car cost me 10k total which included all the work that was done.
I agree that at resale time you will not get close to book value on a salvaged title car but I buy cars that I plan to keep and drive so it's not that big a deal to me. Also, on my 3 previous cars that had salvaged titles I did well at resale time considering what I had payed for the cars originally. I figure an 02 Z would have cost me 18-20k with a clear title so for me it was well worth it. The car has no ill effects and has no interior odor from the water that got inside.
Good Luck!
I've been buying cars with salvaged titles for years. As long as you know what to look for and have a trusted mechanic who can throughly inspect the car you should be OK.
I recently purchased an 02 Z28 with 20k miles that has a salvaged title. The car was the victim of a "fresh water" flood. From what I can gather the car got about 2" of fresh water in the interior. A buddy of mine who owns a shop purchased the car and gutted the interior all the way down to the floor pans. He repalced all the carpeting and rear seat foam as well as the motor on the drivers seat. The oil, T56 and Rear fluids were also replaced. He also replaced the exhaust with an SLP Loudmouth and swaped the wheels for 5 spoke ZR1 wheels. The car cost me 10k total which included all the work that was done.
I agree that at resale time you will not get close to book value on a salvaged title car but I buy cars that I plan to keep and drive so it's not that big a deal to me. Also, on my 3 previous cars that had salvaged titles I did well at resale time considering what I had payed for the cars originally. I figure an 02 Z would have cost me 18-20k with a clear title so for me it was well worth it. The car has no ill effects and has no interior odor from the water that got inside.
Good Luck!
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
That price is WAY to high. With a clean title, it's probably only worth $13,500- $14,000. And they want $10,400 for it? Granted, hugger orange is somewhat rare, but that car does not have collector value at this point in time w/a salvage title, and you can paint any car you want hugger orange 
I'd stay clear of it, unless they came down a good amount.
I'd stay clear of it, unless they came down a good amount.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 329
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach
I personally think that people are worried about salvaged cars way too much. I bought mine already done, the thing got hit on the front passenger fender, so they replaced that and the hood, and repainted the entire car, I even got the receipt for the body work done on the car in case anything was wrong with it. I have had no problems with my car or any other salvaged cars I have bought. As long as you brought it to a respectable place to have it looked at, go for it. I paid $9200 a year ago with 20,000 on the clock. The best thing abut it is that the money I would have spent on a clean title I put into go fast parts! And being able to say I just waxed your $40,000 car with my $10,000 car!
