[rhino_ed]

So yes this is a Range Rover forum but how do you guys feel about people who buy total loss cars and rehash them into ... rehashed versions of the original.

I recently came across a car I used to care for a 2002 VW Jetta Tdi and found it was rebuilt. I know my old rides very well I can pick them out of pictures, especially from reference pictures.

AD:
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/bnc/ctd/1525267669.html

My photos of it just after the accident:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/4221627194/

The front left vent is missing, the engine emblem is still in my possession, I put those nexen tires on it and still have the receipts, you can tell the rear glass was replaced as it is tinted and the rest of the glass is clear. The rear bumper is not a TDI bumper. The foot rest plastic is missing because I broke it fixing the sunroof drains and pulled the whole interior out to dry it out.

VIN # : 3VWSP29M32M041757

Sad day that was.

As a general rule is it right to rebuild total losses

 

[lrscott]

Personally that looks like it is "totaled", so the vehicle will always have some sort of salvage title on it, even if it is fixed up. That will make it more difficult to sell, and due to the fact it was in an accident, the structural integrity of the frame has been compromised, which makes it less safe than one that was not in accident. Personally I would never buy a salvaged vehicle unless I was to part it out.

 

[rhino_ed]

Yea, Thats what I thought. Which is why I was wondering the morality of it. Lots of cars have salvage titles and people still buy them thinking "it wasn`t that bad if it's still running".


I would like the car back though, lots of really great memories, we did get a 05 that has leather and is in better shape. (Few more dollars but we did get a good settlement.) However other than the last 6 months I know that car inside and out.

 

[Roverrad95]

I've looked into this. Here's the problem. The car was in an accident, and the repairs exceeded the value of the car. I got that. But even if you are doing the repairs yourself, and just paying for the parts, even at a discount, you still have a rebuilt/salvage title car on your hands, which is worth much much much less than the car with a clean title. I personally wouldn't buy a salvage title car unless I paid 1/8 the value of the car and either ran it into the ground or used it for parts.

So it just doesn't make sense finacially to buy a salvage title car. But if there is some emotional attachment, and disposable income is there (which usually isn't if you own a Land Rover product), then by all means go for it. But realize, the car is basically worthless to everyone else.

 

[ferret]

My buddy in college owned several cars with salvage titles, his family was in the auto body repair business. After an accident a car would be towed to their lot and when the adjuster would determined it a total loss the insurance company would often give them first rights to the car on the cheap. They lived in PA and it was not too bad getting the car titled and registered, others states can be difficult to impossible, dunno bout Canada.

 

[Scotty]

WOW, I looked in to a salvage title at one time and came to the conclusion that no good can come from it. Unless you bought in back from the insurance and did the work yourself, or had it done, stay away! The other thing to remember is that the insurance company's now days won't cover a salvage title car, at least Nation Wide, wont! Memories are called memories for a reason, let it go don't let your emotions make you do the wrong thing on purpose. IMO

Scotty

 

[NorCal RR]

I say evaluate the repair by inspection and driving. If the work was done well, it should be basically as new. With that kind of damage, I'm sure the rear subframe was replaced and straight body panels were used. I would say the purchasing a rebuilt car for a large discount makes plenty of financial sense. If it runs and drives as it should and costs less, then it makes more financial sense than a more expensive car that was never wrecked. A buddy of mine got his beautiful 540 BMW nailed by a drunk. He wanted the car to be totalled but the insurance forked out $20K for repairs. His settlement with the drunk covered the reduced resale value of the car and then some. When he got it back, he expected to dump the car and buy knew. But after driving a rental for 2 months, his 540 felt like an old glove. It drives perfectly and a few previous problems were fixed in the process. He now plans to keep it till it dies.