Looking to purchase a new daily driver that I can use for a 27-mile commute (current daily driver is on its last legs - 2001 Honda Civic 223k miles). I've been actively looking for a Fit and came across this salvage title 2009 Fit Sport. I have the CarFax, no structural damage on the report and the car was serviced with proper maintenance. I saw it this past Saturday, drove well, and no glaring issues. What else should I be concerned about?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks guys.

 

Any details on what caused the salvage title? Does it look like there were repairs performed?

 

This is all I have from the CarFax and the current owner said the car was hit in the rear. No structural damage reported in the carfax either.

 

While I am leery of vehicles that carry a salvage title, non-salvage-titled vehicles are not necessarily 100% trouble free. It looks to be in great shape, but I would take a close look at the areas that were repaired.

 

Biggest question is price. I would not even consider a salvage title vehicle unless it's significantly discounted compared to a non-salvage. Even if it's absolutely perfect it will have lower resale when you are done with it.

I'd start by checking out kbb.com and see what the private party sale price is for a non-salvage car. Then I would subtract at least 25% from that if I were going to buy it.

That car, with a clean title, is probably worth about $4,000. So, if it's in the $3,000 price range, drives well, and was repaired well...I'd consider it.

Also, check with your auto insurance provider before purchasing a salvage title vehicle. Some companies don't care and some won't insure them.

 

I recently picked mine up(i'm in OC too). I looked everyday for months on offerup, craigslist, facebook. Ive test driven ALOT of them in LA, OC, and SD and still see them on Clist.
I've also pulled many carfaxs. ($10 each) and usually pull them then ask questions. If something doesn't line up with the story of the car, i don't bother.

I was so tired of looking, i was considering salvaged title cars. Alot of them looked perfect, because the person selling them knows what they're doing, almost spotless.
If thats a 09, salvaged with 100k or less i'd say it should be around 3000-3500.
I lucked out and found a clean title orange 09 in LA for 4k flat with 98k.
Also, if the car has been for sale for i'd say more than 2 weeks or so, it's not a good deal cause there are many people looking to buy these and theres a reason why they havent sold!

 

 

Car looks like its was repaired well in pictures. Make sure all your dash lights work when you turn the key to aux. Lift and look underneath, maybe better to pay for a PPI.

 

Unfortunately, the seller didn't understand English well and sold the car out from underneath me when I had agreed to a price and date of sale. Sadly, I didn't want to deal with salvage titles after this experience and ended up finding a great deal on a 2013 Golk Mk6 GTI. Bummed I won't be joining the Fit family.

 

Photos:

 

Several of us here also own Golf's Ours is a 2017 Golf Wolfsburg.

Overall probably not as dependable as a GD or GE Fit and definitely not as inexpensive to operate, but certainly fun to drive! Enjoy the new ride!

 

Love the BBS, ride height, and clean mods. Do you know the history on the car?

Modified VW's, like other cars, can be good or really bad.

 

 

Congrats on the GTI! I will trade you for my Fit.

The GTIs were also on my short list for commuter cars. I had a bad experience with my Audi just before the Fit, so I swore never a VWAG-car again. I hope you (and everyone else's) experiences with your VWs are trouble-free and smooth!

 

 

I know the op has already moved on but... heres my input:

GOOGLE THE VIN. with some luck, you'll find pictures of the car, pre repair. the biggest thing I look for is air bags. If they deployed, thats a NO from me. and lastly, as long as the engine bay compartment is in good shape .... I'm game. here's my car ... prior to repair .... door, fender, bumper .... I rolled the dice, and made the purchase for 6k






(yes, my car is salvage title)

 

All 20k miles of it's life? LOL

I think you have to wait till at least 100k to give a viable report.

 

i feel very sorry for u that you have to keep a car that long. lol