Salvage Prius anyone?

ArizonaHybrid · 03-04-2008, 05:12 PM

Ok everyone I have been shopping for a Prius. I found an autobody shop here in Phoenix that is selling rebuilt title.

He sold a 2004 Prius with 39,000 miles for $13,500

He has a 2005 Prius with 62,000 miles for $12,500 It is white with the Beige interior, no options just basic Prius. It was a right front fender, front bumper accident which is fixed now, but has the rebuit title. No airbag light and they did not deploy form the accident. He also gets the lamp, light inspection required so it just has that blemish on its title.

He also has a 2006 with rear end damage that he will part with for $14,000 once it is fixed in a week. Once again rebuilt title.

What is everyones opinions on this? Is it worth it to save a few thousand in price? I notice that a "clean title" used runs for 17,000 plus. Thanks for everyones input in advance.

M. Oiseau · 03-04-2008, 05:16 PM

Too scary for me, but then I'm a weiner.

seasalsa · 03-04-2008, 06:17 PM

Just hope you never have an accident that totals the car. I had that happen several years ago. I bought a used car, drove it for 2 years and had it totaled while sitting at a stop light. The insurance company gave me about 1/3 the value because it had a salvage title.

jayman · 03-04-2008, 06:37 PM

For a car as complex as the Prius is to repair, you end up paying 60-80% of a proven used Prius, with no warranty support. If anything should go wrong with the coolant thermos, transfer pump, etc, you could be SOL. Those are expensive repairs

I would be especially leery of any Prius written off due to front end damage. Bleeding air out of the cooling system can be very complex

Mr.Vanvandenburg · 03-04-2008, 08:33 PM

It seems to me a good deal on a new one is a better deal. As is said, "the cheap comes out expensive." It is important to see the before pictures. If it only needed a fender and headlight it would not be salvaged. Add $250 for a second key if it is missing.

bigbearballs · 03-14-2008, 09:32 PM

I saw an 04 Prius with 80K for $14,000. I wouldn't go salvage, just find a better deal.

Patrick Wong · 03-14-2008, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArizonaHybrid

Ok everyone I have been shopping for a Prius. I found an autobody shop here in Phoenix that is selling rebuilt title...What is everyones opinions on this? Is it worth it to save a few thousand in price?

The reason that a vehicle has a salvage title is because it was in a major accident and the insurance company decided the repair cost was excessive relative to the vehicle's value. The auto body shop selling the salvage vehicles is doing so to make a profit. How is it that the body shop can make the repair, sell to you substantially below normal market value, and still earn a profit?

Therefore, an issue for you to consider is whether the accident damage was correctly repaired or done as cheaply as possible.

As you know, salvage vehicles have a much lower market value vs. comparable vehicles with a clean title, due to warranty issues and buyer concern about how well the repairs were performed. It will be difficult for you to sell the car if/when you are ready to move on.

Prius is exceptionally complex. If you have drivetrain problems in the future not covered under warranty, expect unusually high repair costs. Unless you are a talented DIYer, a salvage Prius may not be the best choice.

Godiva · 03-14-2008, 11:52 PM

I would not buy a salvaged Prius. You have no idea what was wrong with it really. Just what he says.

If you can't buy new, buy used. But buy reputable with a warranty and no salvaged title.

richard schumacher · 03-15-2008, 02:13 AM

Run away fast. So much can be wrong with a salvage car, especially one as complicated as a Prius, it'll turn you white.

wired · 03-15-2008, 02:46 PM

I actually bought an 05 salvage, although it was not salvaged due to an accident. The original owner left the windows open during a heavy rainstorm and the computer got flooded. Insurance company figured it to be too expensive to replace the computers. I got it from a guy that had a wrecked 05, he simply swapped out the computer and let his wife drive it for 6 months, until he found a Lexus hybrid for his wife. I have had it for almost a year, put over 30k on it with not one problem. It is loaded with leather, nav, bluetooth, JBL, etc, and I paid 15k for it with 21,000 miles on it. This has worked out really well for me.

03-04-2008, 05:12 PM	#1
ArizonaHybrid Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Salvage Prius anyone? Ok everyone I have been shopping for a Prius. I found an autobody shop here in Phoenix that is selling rebuilt title. He sold a 2004 Prius with 39,000 miles for $13,500 He has a 2005 Prius with 62,000 miles for $12,500 It is white with the Beige interior, no options just basic Prius. It was a right front fender, front bumper accident which is fixed now, but has the rebuit title. No airbag light and they did not deploy form the accident. He also gets the lamp, light inspection required so it just has that blemish on its title. He also has a 2006 with rear end damage that he will part with for $14,000 once it is fixed in a week. Once again rebuilt title. What is everyones opinions on this? Is it worth it to save a few thousand in price? I notice that a "clean title" used runs for 17,000 plus. Thanks for everyones input in advance.

03-04-2008, 05:16 PM	#2
M. Oiseau 6sigma this Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 239 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Re: Salvage Prius anyone? Too scary for me, but then I'm a weiner.

03-04-2008, 06:17 PM	#3
seasalsa Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 1,199 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Salvage Prius anyone? Just hope you never have an accident that totals the car. I had that happen several years ago. I bought a used car, drove it for 2 years and had it totaled while sitting at a stop light. The insurance company gave me about 1/3 the value because it had a salvage title.

03-04-2008, 06:37 PM	#4
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 6,465 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 4	Re: Salvage Prius anyone? For a car as complex as the Prius is to repair, you end up paying 60-80% of a proven used Prius, with no warranty support. If anything should go wrong with the coolant thermos, transfer pump, etc, you could be SOL. Those are expensive repairs I would be especially leery of any Prius written off due to front end damage. Bleeding air out of the cooling system can be very complex

03-04-2008, 08:33 PM	#5
Mr.Vanvandenburg Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 130 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Salvage Prius anyone? It seems to me a good deal on a new one is a better deal. As is said, "the cheap comes out expensive." It is important to see the before pictures. If it only needed a fender and headlight it would not be salvaged. Add $250 for a second key if it is missing.

03-14-2008, 09:32 PM	#6
bigbearballs Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 30 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Salvage Prius anyone? I saw an 04 Prius with 80K for $14,000. I wouldn't go salvage, just find a better deal.

03-14-2008, 11:52 PM	#8
Godiva AmeriKan Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 10,026 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #1 Nominated 3 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 6	Re: Salvage Prius anyone? I would not buy a salvaged Prius. You have no idea what was wrong with it really. Just what he says. If you can't buy new, buy used. But buy reputable with a warranty and no salvaged title.

03-15-2008, 02:13 AM	#9
richard schumacher nacreous lacquer Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 4,131 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Salvage Prius anyone? Run away fast. So much can be wrong with a salvage car, especially one as complicated as a Prius, it'll turn you white.

03-15-2008, 02:46 PM	#10
wired wired Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Concord, CA Posts: 30 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Salvage Prius anyone? I actually bought an 05 salvage, although it was not salvaged due to an accident. The original owner left the windows open during a heavy rainstorm and the computer got flooded. Insurance company figured it to be too expensive to replace the computers. I got it from a guy that had a wrecked 05, he simply swapped out the computer and let his wife drive it for 6 months, until he found a Lexus hybrid for his wife. I have had it for almost a year, put over 30k on it with not one problem. It is loaded with leather, nav, bluetooth, JBL, etc, and I paid 15k for it with 21,000 miles on it. This has worked out really well for me.