Salvage WJ?

[CrispyCracker]

So I've been looking for a WJ and I stumbled across a 2004 Overland with only 62,000 miles in another state. As the informed folks in here know that makes it sort of a unicorn .Photos look great, for what that's worth. Seller (a doctor) was asking 6500 bucks and agreed to 6000. Seemed very up front and honest. I asked him for the VIN and he sent it. Once received I ran a Carfax and the title came up as salvage/rebuilt from a "total loss" accident in 2007. First of three total owners. Oof. Carfax says no frame damage and no airbags deployed. Called him back and he said he was selling it for his late 80s father-in-law and he had no idea it was ever in an accident. Offered to drop it to $5500. Now I'm sorta between a rock and a hard place.

So, question: have any of you ever bought a salvage title vehicle? Or do you avoid them like the plague? I do plan on having a local mechanic check it out thoroughly before purchase if I decide to move forward. Just wanted to hear some forum opinions. Thanks.

 

[Cottontail]

Private party KBB costs for an Overland in my area in good is $5700 and in fair is $5200.

In light of the salvage title, and depending on what its going to cost you to go get the truck (or have it shipped to you) I think that $5500 is way too high. My number would definitely not start with a 5...

I had a 2004 WJ Laredo 4x4 and we sold it at about 225,000 miles for $2200. Comfortable Jeep and served us well for almost 200,000 miles. We bought it in southern MO, so I had to pay for a flight to Kansas City and the trip back to TN on top of the price, but I paid like $70 for a one way ticket on Southwest, so that distance wasn't a deterrent for me.

I also have a 1996 ZJ that at about 50,000 miles was in a rear end accident and was around $500 from being totaled. I ended up driving it another 200,000 miles and 16 years after it was repaired. A repaired vehicle can be as good as new depending on the damage.

 

[CrispyCracker]

Thanks, Dirk. Agree with your logic entirely. Cost for a 2004 Overland in my neck of the woods with the aforementioned mileage is over 6K. I do admit that 5500 sounds high but finding them with that sort of mileage just doesn't happen. I know because I have looked for months. I'm actually willing to pay an extra grand or so for a vehicle that I plan to keep for 10 years (as I have my first WJ). But I know little about salvage vehicles so thanks for the insight. It's interesting to hear a positive testimonial about a previously wrecked vehicle since so much negativity surrounds them.

Going to chew on this a little while longer before I make a decision. Just lined up a mobile mechanic to go through the vehicle thoroughly before I arrive. Any other input will be appreciated.

 

[yfarm]

Spoke with owner of a body shop about rebuilt or salvage title vehicles. His advice stay away. Says they are impossible to value. Suggested worth no more than 50% of book. Insurance may be an issue if you want more than liability coverage. All of this related to a 2014 JKU. Bottom line from him- buy as low as possible and plan on keeping vehicle forever, better yet don't buy.

 

[BigDaveZJ]

It's PROBABLY okay, but given the amount of damage it would have taken to total it out, and it being a unibody, I'd be very hesitant.

 

[Mitch502]

Given that it happen so long ago, and has been driven since, I'm sure it's fine.

With that being said, typical rebuilt title cars are approx 75% of normal titled value...


He will be lucky to get more than $4300 out of it...If you want it, I'd play hardball, but I wouldn't feel bad about low balling and walking away either...he will regret not taking your $4000 offer when no one else will touch it.

 

[Se7en62]

Are you sure it isn't a scam?

 

[CrispyCracker]

Mitch, that's a good point. The Carfax does show that it's been driven 20K miles or so post-accident. The buyer is adamant that I will find nothing wrong and quickly OK'd me bringing a mechanic. Swears it was his father-in-law's vehicle and the guy no longer drives. Put new tires, brakes, battery, etc. in it recently. Says it has never been offroad. We'll see.

Se7en62, fairly sure it's not a scam. Buyer shared his office location and phone number for mechanic. That's not to say that he's being completely truthful. I find it tough to believe that he "had no idea" it was a salvage vehicle. He sent me a black-and-white photocopied photo of the title/vin. From what I'm told Texas color-codes titles so salvage vehicles stand out. Why not just send a photo of the actual title? He also insists that he can easily sell the Jeep "for $7K or more..." but his asking price is less than that and OBO. Funny how car sales tend to test the bounds of some people's capacity for honesty. I'm the naive guy who always risks losing a sale since I don't want a lack of full disclosure on my conscience.

Like I say, all I care about is the vehicle's condition. If it has issues I walk. So thanks very much, all. I'm much better armed to negotiate and make a decision now.

 

[Mitch502]

I think a lot of people are very overly cautious now days about online deals like this...Scams are easy to catch...when they don't answer you or don't want to meet in person, it's a scam. There isn't any round about way to scam someone when you're standing in front of someone.

 

[jclaudii]

I agree with several here. The jeep is worth what people are willing to pay....with that said, I would contact a insurance company and ask what they would insure the vehicle for...I doubt you will be able to get full coverage but then again who knows.

Another thing to consider is if the owner or when it was wrecked had a damaged odometer the cluster can be swapped and the mileage of the new cluster could be displayed instead of the actual mileage of the Jeep. A good sign of this is the leather seats would be worn, steering wheel could look rough, overall the jeep will show mileage.

Finally I would call the DMV to verify that the VIN is good and lein free.

 

[BigDaveZJ]

The new tires would be a concern to me too, given other components of the situation. Easy to hide funny wear patterns from a tweaked unibody with new tires.

 

[Mud Dawg]

On a salvage title, I just wouldn't expect much when you go to sell it. Expect all your potential buyers to bring up the issue and/or walk. If you're ok with that and everything else checks out, go for it.

 

[NatersXJ6]

I've bought both Lemon-Law return and salvage vehicles. I've also salvaged and rebuilt vehicles myself. My wife has had a seemingly minor accident that took her Highlander to within $1000 of being totaled as well. It doesn't take much to start adding up $15 or $20k in damage when you start paying for factory parts and professional labor.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. I would be more concerned about the "selling for my father in law" part, although I also had a family member move cross country and leave a car at my house to sell for him, so that does happen. I would investigate the name of the person on the title. It sounds like a potential flipping scam to me.

If you work on your own stuff, get a good price, and enjoy a nice car. If you don't work on your own stuff, you might want to rethink a 13 year old anything.

 

[UtahBlues]

Sight unseen, no, walk away.
Could be a deal, could be the worst mistake you ever made.
Unless you or someone you trust can inspect and DRIVE it, I say pass!
I bought my '01 Laredo 4.7 last year with 84k on it from first owner for 4k. Deals are out there, just be patient!

 

[MOguy]

Repairs are expensive, the grand doesn't have the greatest resale. I may not take much damage to total one out. The damage could be completely cosmetic and now be just fine or the damage could affect the performance of the vehicle.

Someone above mentioned the new tires could be there to hide an issue.

If you can drive it and it drives perfect I maybe $1500? It is a 14 year old salvaged title Unibody. I am not sure if I would even want a 14 year old unibody if it didn't have a salvaged title. I had an 01 Grand and got rid of it way before 14 years. I drive a 79 one ton and an 01 TJ. I prefer older vehicles but not my older Grand. My 01 had a door issue from a small impact. There was no apparent damage but the body shop was never able to get it fit right again. I leaked slightly and there was extra wind noise.

The I don't know it was my father-in-laws car is also suspicious. I call BS on that statement. I know how well my father-in-law takes care of his cars and I am sure most here do.

Another thing to consider is insurance. My insurance has no issue insuring for a salvaged title for liability but does have an issue with providing comp and collision. I was looking at a totaled vehicle in the past. I called my insurance and they said they would have to look into the past of the vehicle to see if they would allow comp and collsion but even if they did the coverage amount would be GREATLY reduced. I never bought the car.

If you are financing it the bank may have issues with it also.