So I bought a car with a rebuilt title on eBay...

[DrumminBoy]

Link to Auction
I'm going Friday to check the car out and pay, is there anything specific I should be looking for? You can definitely tell it was in an accident by the gaps in the quarter panels...but if the damage is all aesthetic should I be ok? Without a rebuilt title this car books private party at $6200 in fair condition...is this a good deal for $3400?

And no, it will not be riced.

 

[Viper GTS]

I'll give you a hint, if the damage was severe enough to warrant a rebuilt title it was not likely a small accident.

Viper GTS

 

[DrumminBoy]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
I'll give you a hint, if the damage was severe enough to warrant a rebuilt title it was not likely a small accident.

Viper GTS

Not large enough for a salvage title though

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
I'll give you a hint, if the damage was severe enough to warrant a rebuilt title it was not likely a small accident.

Viper GTS

Not large enough for a salvage title though

here in NY, a rebuilt is a salvage that was fixed and passed state inspection.

while you're at it, buy this from the same guy and put it in your civic.

it also looks like he just buy cars off auctions then sell on ebay for a profit.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
I'll give you a hint, if the damage was severe enough to warrant a rebuilt title it was not likely a small accident.

Viper GTS

Not large enough for a salvage title though

A rebuilt title is a salvaged car that was rebuilt.

 

[DrumminBoy]

I was under the impression that it was never salvaged...does this ruin the deal or can it still turn out to be on ok car?

 

[QurazyQuisp]

Here in Michigan,

It is very hard to get a title from salvage to rebuilt.

The inspectors make sure everything is PERFECT before they will remove the salvage title.... I Know several people that have done this, and overall said it was not worth it because of the lengths they had to go to to get a rebuilt title...

who knows what it's like in florida though.

 

[necine]

Looks good.

 

[Pepsi90919]

why would you buy first then ask here? looking for affirmation for your shitty purchase?

 

[waggy]

heh why do people buy these and then ask questions? usually its better to find out what a "rebuilt title" is BEFORE buying it!

I would NEVER purchase a salvaged or rebuilt vehicle (unless a classic for show). just not worth the potential problems.

 

[NutBucket]

Well, it could have been in a crash or it may have been stolen and stripped. The deal is you never know. Its a good deal if it was rebuilt well AND if you never plan on selling it.

 

[clickynext]

You just never know what'll happen with that kind of thing. You may have gotten a great deal (only if you don't ever plan to sell the car again) or you may have just gotten a pandora's box full of problems.

 

[thedarkwolf]

blah blah blah aslong as the price is right and the car was fixed right I don't have a problem with them. I don't follow civics but that looks pretty cheap to me for a 99 civic so you probably did okay. My current mustang has a rebuilt title and 3 years later I am not dead. The downside is when you go to sell it a lot of people freak when you say it has a rebuilt title and won't even consider it even with the cheaper price so it may take a little longer to get rid of.

 

[kevman]

Do the Following

1. get the title history
2. From that find out what state it was registered in
3. call that state's DMV, find out what comapny insured it.
4. Call that insurance company and ask specifically about hwat was damaged on the car and why it was declared a loss

That will get you an idea of you're getting into. I would shy away if it has any possibility of Frame damage.

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: kevman
Do the Following

1. get the title history
2. From that find out what state it was registered in
3. call that state's DMV, find out what comapny insured it.
4. Call that insurance company and ask specifically about hwat was damaged on the car and why it was declared a loss

That will get you an idea of you're getting into. I would shy away if it has any possibility of Frame damage.

This is good advice, but it still looks risky.. many states (RI for example) don't care if the car was sitting at the bottom of a pond for two weeks or was totaled & slapped back together, they'll still issue a clean title & the VIN may not be the original so it might not help either.
Further, I know Honda's maintain their value very well, but this car is 6 years old, has 80k
on it AND has the rebuilt thing too..its your money, but if you'ed asked me ahead of time I'd have said no way.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: waggy
heh why do people buy these and then ask questions? usually its better to find out what a "rebuilt title" is BEFORE buying it!

I would NEVER purchase a salvaged or rebuilt vehicle (unless a classic for show). just not worth the potential problems.