Would You Buy a Refurbished Car?

[Donald64]

I've been playing with this idea for ages:
Toyota Aygo Peugeot 108 and the Citroën C1 are virtually identical.

Their attributes are:
Quality parts are cheap.
They don't rust. Usually, at least there are many cars that have excellent body shells.
Very Low Mileage Engines from scrapped cars are cheap.

So, buy a cheap one with a blown engine.
Fit all new suspension, brakes, bushes, engine/gearbox and exhaust system. Tyres and battery too.

This is what I would like you to consider...
Would you buy such a car?
The work would be photographed and copies of receipts for everything.
It would look immaculate in every way.

One year warranty. Right down to the last bulb.

Of course it would not be cheap.
I can produce such a car including initial purchase, all of the above goodies for $1300. All in.

I've done this on three similar cars.

About one week of my time. Extra to cover warranty work and overheads.

Such a car would need to sell for $3500.

Or around $1k above the price of a low mileage one. I would expect to sell to parents buying as a first car for their kids.
I've perhaps answered my own question. New drivers hammer their first cars?

Probably a daft idea from an eternal insomniac.

Better stick with the new washing machine rental as a business idea.

By the way, those fairly universal exhaust rubber mountings that slip over two pegs. One on the body, the other on the silencer?
Many makes of rubber only last a very short while. Risking a lengthy prison sentence should yours fail on the way to work.

Genuine Toyota ones last for decades. No splitting.
Not too expensive at $3.11 in comparison to $1.98 for aftermarket. They will outlast you, they are so good.
Night

 

[charbaby]

Personally I would not as I don't have that skillset. I'm more of a maintenance/replace parts guy in order to keep things running for a long time.
However it seems as though you are indeed skilled enough with all of the tools and have the proper space to do this type of work as well as knowing the availability of parts for these vehicles. Nice skill/trade to have!
And if you can sell for a profit or keep something for a fun vehicle, that adds to the spender of the hobby.

 

[Kira]

So you're asking the title question to see how full of potential buyers BITOG is?

Sounds like you have done and are considering doing more of these refurbs one at a time.
How do you feel about the outcomes of the 3 you've done so far? How long did each one take to sell?

 

[Tdbo]

If it was refurbished properly, met my needs and the price was right, sure I'd consider it.
However a refurbished anything is only as good as the person who refurbished it.

 

[cptbarkey]

I do, but moved on from regular passenger vehicles. Too many nuts and flakes. Buy low, sell high.

 

[JavierH19]

No matter what they say have it pre inspected by a good shop.

I've seen the aygo and it would be a great 4 seat car in the us especially since the hybrid gets 60 mpg US. If they made it a foot longer it'd be great. It's really a 2 door hatchback with tiny rear doors and seats.

 

[hemitom]

Totally refurbished like your plan I would absolutely buy one.
in perspective probably millions of Hyundai's
and kia's running around with new engines and somewhat gone over I would assume !

 

[Selmorides]

Refurbished sounds weird. Refurbished iPhone or iPad, I get it. Isn’t it just a used car that’s had a few repairs? I worked in a dealership in Buffalo that sold resale cars. What? They’re used cars. Oh, no, they said. These are different. One of the salesmen said it was his idea to call them that and he was expecting more than an attaboy, meaning $$$, but he was disappointed. The price was set and we negotiated the repairs it needed. Of course, it still had to pass New York State inspection to be sold. What kind of car doesn’t rust? Is the body made of compressed cardboard or soybeans like a Trabant?

 

[dadto2]

I assume that when I buy a used car, it could be refurbished. If it works the way I expect it to for however old it is and however many miles are on it, I don't care what you call it.

 

[Selmorides]

Most if not all used cars sold at a dealership would considered refurbished. I think that’s somebody’s idea of a buzzword to get your attention, elevate your perception of just another used up car. Dealers have to have an inspection report on file if they want to sell you a warranty.

 

[Kurtatron]

I would only be persuaded if the documentation looked professional. If the seller shows me the OEM part receipts, photos of work done, and walks me through the work he did, then I might bite. But just some dude saying it was refurbished, and trust me bro attitude, no way.

 

[The_Jeff]

The closest you'll find in the US market is Factory Certified; supposedly the dealer goes through from stem to stern with a several hundred point checklist. You then get a longer factory backed warranty than you get if you bought the car new.

In reality, the dealer does the minimum to skate by. Imagine if you had the choice between *having to* replace a part with a new one vs only having to if it breaks during warranty, someone catches it, and corners you against a wall.

If, and only if, a car had a part that was known to only last 50k miles while the chassis and everything else lasted to 300k would it make sense to offer refurbishment. This is SLIGHTLY visible on things like Nissan Leaf high voltage battery packs.

There was an operation in northern Maine that refurbishes Army Humvees, and, IIRC, city busses. They have the benefit of reliable government money. Postal LLVs are another good candidate for complete rebuilding.

Then you get semi tractors and "gliders", all new frames and axles that you fit an older cab and powertrain to, retaining the older VIN, and ability to run period-correct, pre-DEF engines.

In short, it can be done, it's being done, but for bigger stakes than your Citroen.