Need help determining the value of a damaged car, and a VIN number report

[coolred]

I found a Honda civic on autotrader.com that was hit in the drivers side door and it got pretty smashed up. I know you can't be totally acurate just viewing the pics, but assuming it is body damage only then can anyone give me there best guess at what the cars worth and how much it would cost to fix it. I have put all the pics in my yahoo briefcase, linked here. Also here is a link to the car on the autotrader website. As it says it has a little over 75,000 miles with all the options listed. So whats your best estimate on the worth of the car and the cost of repairs?

By the way the pics ending in 32, 33, and 34, best show the damage to the car. Thanks

 

[coolred]

I emailed the seller and asked him more about the damage, to see if it is body damage only, or if there is anything else wrong with it, but am still waiting for a reply

 

[EagleKeeper]

Check what the cost of a replacement door would be at a local salvage yard.
Add it the cost installing the door and painting it to match the car.

Take the wholesale value of the car, add 10% and deduct the door cost.

Then plan on repainting the car rather than the door.

 

[StageLeft]

Do you have VIN To run a check on it? Is this a salvage title or just major damage? Either way those repairs are going to cost a substantial sum.

 

[RossMAN]

Isn't your budget for a Honda Civic still $12,000? You can buy an almost new LX sedan for that kinda dough.

 

[amdskip]

Is it possible the frame is bent on that car like at the bottom of the door? If not, the car would probably be a great thing to pick up. Take a test drive with it and see if it drives straight. I realize you may have to pull some of the body off to drive it but it must drive straight or else you are just asking for trouble.

 

[coolred]

I have decided after evalutaing insurance costs and some other things, to decrease my budget to around 6,000 dollars rossman.

Unfortunately I am not close enough to be able to give this car a test drive

I don't have the VIN as it was not listed, but I am in contact with the seller through email so i should be able to get it. I asked him about the title, but he did not have time to answer my questions earlier, hopefully he will get back with me later today. By the way what exactly does it mean when you get a salvage title, I mean what exactly has to be wrong with the car to get one?

 

[d33pt]

salvage just means that the car has been declared a total loss by the insurance company..then they pay off the owner, and repossess the car to resell it in salvage auctions for repair to be put back on the road.. if this guy is selling it privately, it probably wont' be salvage titled... and when a car gets salvaged it could be anything from flood damage, to collision, to theft and a gutted interior... so sometimes you can get a real good deal on a salvage car

 

[coolred]

He did say that he was in college and just couldn't afford the repairs and he only had liability on it. I just recieved another email from him, but it was just another attachment with all the pictures in it. I emailed him again, hopefully he will actually respond this time.

He said on autotrader that it is rebuildable or can be used as a parts car.

 

[StageLeft]

I really can't say I have any experience in body work repairs and I'm pulling this figure from my ass but I would guess it could cost in the vicinity of $2k to repair that.

 

[coolred]

By the way can anyone tell me or guess what that orange sticker on the front windshield is?

Also he just sent me a reply with this VIN number, but not much else.

1hgej7224wl061967, can anyone run that for me?

 

[coolred]

I understand you just pulling that number out of your ass, but if it is any where near correct, it seems to me like it would be worth it. 4500.00 for a 98 Honda civic with 75,000 miles on it, sounds pretty good to me.

 

[coolred]

FREE Record Check Results


VIN: 1HGEJ7224WL061967
Year/Make/Model: 1998 HONDA CIVIC HX
Body Style: Coupe
Engine Type: 1.6L L4 PFI VTEC 16V
Manufactured In: UNITED STATES
Search Results: 7 records found in our database


IMPORTANT! The 7 records on this 1998 HONDA CIVIC HX will confirm a clean history or uncover potential problems. Find out by ordering the complete CARFAX Vehicle History Report.



Thats all i could get from the free carfax report, can anyone run it for real for me? Is having 7 records bad?

 

[StageLeft]

A friend guessed $3k to repair it but it depends on a closer inspection to see how many components have been hit and also I wonder if the chassi is bent?

I would have to say personally that without a close inspection or having it brought into a shop I'd steer clear of this. It's just so darn risky.

 

[coolred]

Thanks skoorb, I definately won't buy it unless I know it's a good deal. I plan to ask the guy to get an estimate on it for me,

 

[coolred]

Does anyone know what the cost of painting a car is?

 

[AUMM]

i beleive its around 200-300 for painting

 

[StageLeft]

<< i beleive its around 200-300 for painting >>

Maybe if you get Bubba the painter next door to throw a coat of housepaint on it

 

[coolred]

Thanks, thats not too bad.

 

[coolred]

No Bubba quoted my at 150.00, LOL

So what do you say it cost Skoorb?

 

[StageLeft]

I dunno I'm already outclassed with all this car stuff anyway. I wish somebody with a clue would come in and post where I've tried I just can't see a good pain job for $200-300.

 

[coolred]

Alright, thanks anyway, I have to go to work, so if you could bump this for me once or twice, that would help, thanks

 

[308nato]

2/22/2001 Rollover Totalled 68,539 miles

12/??/2001 Accident 75,021 miles


POS. Run as fast as you can away from this turd.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Quality paint job will be $500-$700.

That will go down to the bare metal, sand, fill in pits, prime, paint, and seal.

$100-$200 will paint over and anything that is defective will start showing up within 6 months - year (once the warranty expires).

Looking at the pictures, you have a door ($500), front fender($100), lower molding($50), possible lower frame damage and body frame where hinges are.

Find out who the insurance co is and ask them about the accident report. They should also be able to provide the damage estimate.

Funny that the damage looks like some-one hit the car. That may mean that it was a hit-n-run. Otherwise, the fault vehicle would pay for repairs, not the owner - unless that owner drove in front of the other vehicle.

Suspect that you are pushing $4-6K in repair costs with decent paint job.

Is there a clear title?

Suspect that it is a red lemon!!!

 

[StageLeft]

Rollover and then this accident 7 000 miles later? Yuck.