Hi all,

I am new to this forum.

I am going to look at a Honda Fit Sport with 32000 miles. It is a salvage title with front bumper and radiator damage. All appears to be repaired. No airbag deployed and I have seen the car fax.

I am planning on a preinspection prior to buying, but wanted to see if any of you have dealt with salvage title Fits. If so, what are your thoughts on buying salvage for relatively minor damages.

Seller has it posted for $8900 which I will try to significantly lower due to the title.

Here is the post from Craigslist: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/6032061329.html

Thanks!

 

Welcome to the forum!

Man if that wasn't a salvage I'd be all over that. A taffeta white in MANUAL! *drool.

Seems peculiar that it was considered salvaged due to radiator support damage.

Seems he dropped the price to 8500 as well.

If the motor runs strong and everything looks to be where it should be, consider it. I just have a hard time buying a salvage unless I intend to keep the car until it dies simply because resale value will be pretty low. Granted you shouldn't be paying a premium for a salvaged vehicle in the first place.

Best of luck!

 

Thanks Shinjari. I will be checking out the car soon if it's not already bought by someone else this weekend.

Many of the Honda Fits for sale are salvage title it seems. I don't mind the salvage title since it will get banged up around SF, but it needs to work well enough for commuting.

 

I agree, if resale value doesn't matter to you then go for it.
Both my parents have salvage Toyota Camry 08 & Matrix 09 for 4 years with no problems at all.

I bought a salvaged/rebuilt 2013 Fit with under 24 K miles (38 K km) and have had no issues in a year & half of ownership. Even sent an oil sample to Blackstone Labs for full analysis after 10 K miles (16 K km) on synthetic when the oil minder showed 20% and everything was great. No extra elements, particles, metals, etc and Blackstone claimed it could have gone on that oil to 12.5 K miles (20 K km). Basically confirming what the Honda oil minder showed.

Obviously check everything, the dipstick to see oil looks good, look at the colour of all fluids, and test drive it for at least 10 min city and 10 min hwy. Try a hard acceleration at the hwy on-ramp, when on hwy let go of steering to ensure it goes in straight line, and try a hard break if you can. Beware the engine gets noisy after 3,000 RPM, so dont worry about that - unless it rattles very badly.

Also make sure you first call your insurance company to confirm they will cover salvage/rebuilt title cars. I live in Canada, so may not be the same for you, but only the 4th company I called agreed to cover salvage vehicles.

Hope this helps,

 

You can definitely talk it down a little bit more. Check to see how the work was done before/after since the seller does have photos.

 

I recently ended a long search for a manual fit with low miles. If the repair work was done well it may be a good buy, but a salvage title will make it really hard to sell agian. make sure you have a flash light when looking and really get in there to see what was repaired. Look for small signs of rust that may turn into big rust later on.I looked at my car twice and then took it to a mechanic friend with a lift to look underneath. Many mechanics are willing to help you check a used car. Be sure it's the car you want, because with a salvage title you should plan to keep it for a long time and make sure to check different car value sites

 

Insurance will rob you if it ever gets totalled. There may be hidden damage. If a wiring harness was damaged you may have a lifetime of electrical trouble. I personally won't consider a salvage title car unless I personally know the person who fixed it and get it for a super price. I just grabbed a clean titled 09 sport with 45k on it for less than $8k. Keep looking.

 

Salvage title is only ever worth 60% of LOWEST blue book value.

Sellers always try to ask 80%+ -- but don't be fooled. If they won't go for 60% of low book, it isn't worth it. Save up and get one that hasn't been crashed.




It's a fair price for a CLEAN TITLE car that's a bit beat up. Being branded, I'd say I wouldn't pay a dime over $5,500 for it (and neither would your insurance company, should it get totalled in a crash).

 

In Oregon if you file an accident report they stamp your title most of the time, so if your car just had a 100 dollar ding ,, but the other guy had a 2300 dollar dent in a door, both titles get a stamp..

If the damage is well documented the salvage title means nothing.... from a level of damage perspective,, it does affect value..

 

You don't get a salvage title from a $100 ding, you get a salvage title when the cost to repair exceeds 70% of the value of the car.

 

Watch what happens to the suspension and engine/transmission during a crash test looking from underneath the car.
It will never be perfectly aligned again. I would not consider salvaged from the internet. It could have been put together from two halves, with harbor freight flex welder. Do you want to risk your life in a car accident to a possibly dangerously repaired car? I wouldn't.