Is it ever ok to buy a water damaged car?

[Rockinacoustic]

Found an listing on autotrader for an '05 Acura RSX type-S with 30,000 miles on it for $8k. It's from a private owner and he lists the car has a salvage title from water damage. Is there any circumstance under which this is a positive buy or should I stay away like the plague?

FWIW, I'm a college student looking for my first car, so this would be my everyday ride.

 

[ElFenix]

good lord no.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

hahaha $8000

 

[Raduque]

If you need body panels or doors and windows for a project car maybe.

 

[The Stigenator]

8K for a water logged car.. how about NO!

 

[Bignate603]

I'd take a gamble on it if it was really cheap (like <$1k) but $8,000? Yeah right, I'd never touch a flooded car for that much.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Thanks for the emphasis on the 'no'. My search continues...

 

[alfa147x]

I'd take a gamble on it if it was really cheap (like <$1k) but $8,000? Yeah right, I'd never touch a flooded car for that much.

This or if it was a Willys MB!

 

[Pliablemoose]

The reasons you never buy a water damaged car

1.) The electronics/electrical connections will be problematic due to corrosion and contamination for the rest of the vehicles life.

2.) water will likely have gotten into areas where there should only be oil, and shorten those components life considerably

3.) Mold on the interior and HVAC systems is likely.

4.) Dirt, flood water is dirty and the contaminants (sand) will lead to accelerated wear of all moving parts exposed to the extra abrasion.

 

[Strk]

Exactly how severe does it have to be in order to be considered "flood damage" or is just the insurance company's discretion?

 

[MovingTarget]

As a project car? Maybe, but good lord not for that price! They would be lucky to get rid of it for ANY price.

As someone who lives where Hurricane Season is serious business, RUN!

 

[Saga]

If you intend to remove/replace the engine and most of the electrical internals anyway, go for it.

But as stated, first car for a college kid? Terrible, terrible idea. Probably the only thing you could possibly do with worse inevitable financial disaster is getting married.

 

[StageLeft]

I would do it. Our new Prius was water damaged, hence the great deal. Dealership told me the Hybrids are impervious to water, though, so I am not worried.

 

[jlee]

I would do it. Our new Prius was water damaged, hence the great deal. Dealership told me the Hybrids are impervious to water, though, so I am not worried.

Naturally- how could an egg filled with computers and batteries possibly be hurt by water?

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Naturally- how could an egg filled with computers and batteries possibly be hurt by water?

Don't be surprised by unintended acceleration

 

[BW86]

If I was looking for a track/project car that I was going to rip apart I would jump on it

 

[CraigRT]

Electronics in that car will be nothing but trouble during ownership if you plan on driving it.

I'd avoid, even if the price looks awesome

 

[Stefan Payne]

Yes I would buy it, if it's a relatively new car and I have to pay less than 1000$.

What needs to be replaced:
Electronics that came in contact with the water
Cables that came in contact with water.
You have to do something for the rust (before it becomes a problem)

And you probably need a new (used) motor, a new buildup is recommed.

With other words: that 'car' is a pies of junk and needs a lot of work, before it's reliable...

 

[paperfist]

Exactly how severe does it have to be in order to be considered "flood damage" or is just the insurance company's discretion?

Usually (if it hasn't been scrubbed yet) you can tell by the water line. If it's low like seat level it's typically not bad, but the higher the water goes the more electronics it usually takes with it. You also have to look to see if it's muddy inside which means it took a dive in a lake. If it's fairly clean inside it was probably storm water which isn't so bad.

Flood cars typically aren't running when they flood so no the engine isn't always a need to replace. Electrical motors and computers are the high priority replacement.

It's up to the insurance company to determine is the car is totaled from a flood. The owner can also apply pressure saying they don't want the car anymore.

 

[TwinsenTacquito]

A friend bought a water damaged Acura about a year ago. He asked me what kind of car to get, but took none of recommendations. He got the thing, told me it was a flood car. He got it for like $2,000 under MSRP, as it was a new car. The guy that sold it to him told him it was a flood car, but was "super honest" about it, so it was cool. He said the guy at the Nissan dealership was sleaze because he would go barely under list price. Here's the good part:

My friend told me that the guy said he, "replaced all the parts that would be effected by water." Boy could have I been a dick. I said nothing. The way to replace all the parts of a car effected by a flood is to park it in a garage. Then pull it out of the garage. Then pull a new car into the garage. Replaced.

 

[zerocool84]

$8000 is too much for one without water damage let along WITH.

 

[exar333]

<$2000 and I might bite; anything more than this is too much.

 

[MotF Bane]

I would do it. Our new Prius was water damaged, hence the great deal. Dealership told me the Hybrids are impervious to water, though, so I am not worried.

Dealership lied. Electronics died.