Hoping You can give some insight

[rangerfan24]

Looking to buy a salvaged car. Its significantly cheaper, and from what I can tell so far the repairs will be worth it but I am not 100 percent sure. The quarter panel and has a big dent near the tail light. also above the wheel well are the small ones. Could an auto body shop get these out and what do you think the estimate would be? Also, the hood is dented and I was wondering if you think it looks like it needs to be scrapped or if thats fixable. How much do ytou think the job would cost? Can I do it my self? Also, any info on salvage cars. Anything to avoid. Any tips and advice. Is it even possible to come out ahead? Will I need to have it go through some special test If I fix most of it myself? Thanks

 

[Drew99GT]

The car is salvaged for a reason - the cost of repairing it is more then the car is worth.

Unless you're swimming in cash and auto body expertise, run far away. Like a flock of seagulls!

 

[mpvue]

the worst part about a salvage car is the hassle of getting a reconstructed title, which SEROUSLY lowers the resale value. some states make it very difficult to get an 'R' title.
is that a V8 equipped G8? I'd pull the drivetrain for a hot rod project IMO.

 

[Drew99GT]

What happened to that car? Did someone practice baseball on it or something???

 

[Johnny]

I personally would not tackle that job myself. I'm no body man, but I bet a body shop estimate would come in somewhere around 4K-6K. That is a lot of sheet metal damage, plus what the eye cannot see.

 

[mechanicx]

Cues up Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood

.

 

[Drew99GT]

Was the car totaled by an insurance company?

Johnny, I bet the cost of getting that car back to original is over twice your estimate just on the body work alone!

If I've learned anything in my life, it's that the cost of repairing a car usually is 3 times what you think it is.

 

[rangerfan24]

Its the stupid quarter panel. I found two doors new. I found rear bumper and front bumper. I can get a hood and probably get that on myself. The accident report said that the car was on loan? So if someone damages it will they salvage the car if the person does not completely own it or something? From the outside, the car does not appear to have anywhere near 8,000 worth of damage. I don't know it feels fishy and legitimate at the same time...=/

 

[rangerfan24]

The doors will be replaced. No body work there. The bumpers replaced. All for about 800 from the parts I have found. The mirror is 50. Easy fix. It really is a question of the right rear and how much money that would drain.

 

[rangerfan24]

The salvage yard told me that they thought it went into a fence or something from the looks of the damage. They said the frame was not bent and that they drove it and it was all cosmetic damage. I figured I'd be able to figure out how to do the doors, especially with some BITOG help. The bumpers must be doable with a new grill at home. The hood is expensive new but maybe I could find a decent one of those. That leaves the right rear....

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Chassis damage?

 

[Drew99GT]

Salvaged usually means totaled - ie. it costs more to fix it professionally then what it's worth. That's why it's sitting in a junk yard. That should give you a clue!

That car might be the vehicle equivalent of the movie "The Money Pit". Fixer upper!

 

[rangerfan24]

Also, not really looking for resale. Id be looking to fix it paint it up a nice blue with black triangle on hood and make it look mean and drive it for 15 years till it blows up.

 

[Chris142]

Crash repairs are very expensive. My moms car was reciently hit, well she t-boned a guy that turned in front of her. The cost to fix this was $3500 and that was using used parts from a junkyard. The cost to use new parts was close to $5k.

 

[tomcat27]

I have a fair amount of body/paint experience, and I also used to work at a junk yard that specialized in newer cars - so we sold alot of "repairables" - obviously we made a fair amount of money on them - so we always tried to be straight with the buyers. if you pay someone to do the work, you will never come out ahead. if you do the work yourself and dont need a car that is perfect, you can get a deal. certainly there are risks - but trust me, there are risks with ANY used car.

 

[01rangerxl]

Doors will be expensive and a lot of work as far as swapping all the hardware over. Other than that, I'd mostly be concerned about any mechanical problems. Bumper covers and such are not a big deal, but the stuff you don't see might be the deal breaker.

 

[rangerfan24]

Alright. Its got 40,000 miles on it. Car is 12.5gs. I could go get the doors for about 550, plus 400 for the bumpers. 50 for mirror, and then pray I could find a cheap hood somewhere and a fender. I guesstimated it would be maybe 1200 to paint? That would bring it to around 14 plus body work on the quarter. Idk, seemed liek an ok deal but maybe not. The tires on it are potenzas, same tire that comes on it stock so I was gonna give it benefit of the doubt that it was not a burnout or abused car. Its young enough to do the tranny fluid and coolant. For the door hardware swap, what would I need? Is there something special to move the inner door panel to the new door? I have plenty of time in the summer. Lots of it. Its more frustration that gets to me.

 

[crazyoildude]

salvage titles could be a big problem in some states

 

[crazyoildude]

you can get aftermarket body panels and maybe even doors if you can pay 20% of the book value and locate the parts than maybe but check your laws on salvage titles and check them carfully dont listen to heresay

 

[rangerfan24]

I'm in new york. Any body have any experience with them? The cars in North Carolina. I found the hood on iautobody parts for 300 plus 150 for the fender. It is aftermarket but it is warrantied so I guess I could careless. So 500 for hood, fender, 500 for doors, plus the stupid bumpers. Its the quarter panels. Wish somebody did auto body work and could give me an estimate on just the quarter.