Getting rebuilt title on salvage hail damaged car? (or: is this worth looking into or don't bother)

Car in question: http://lexington.craigslist.org/cto/5125632303.html

It's a modest bit over our intended budget and isn't an auto- but is also one of those cars that SWMBO would likely say that it was worth putting those aside to get since she loves they way they look too.

But... it would mean going through the process to get a rebuilt title on it after it was (apparently) salvaged due to hail damage. Which honestly doesn't look too bad from the pictures- but would be difficult to tell for certain without actually seeing it.

I know (in general) the process for getting a rebuilt title for a salvaged wrecked car- but when it's salvaged due to hail damage, what needs to be done to get the rebuilt title? Replace/repair the hail-damaged parts even though the damage may be only cosmetic?

It already has the salvage title, so as long as it's not the Florida death title, there may not be anything more than register and drive (along with all the ims/seal business that comes with these). Check with your state on registering. If you're lex, ky you may need a mech/body inspection from a qualified shop that it is safe to operate (what a qualified shop is can be a little sketchy).

If its kosher with your syate, and you plan on keeping it for a long time,I say why not.

Pretty sure you just need to replace any broken glass and get the inspection. Do remember that the salvage inspection will be of the whole car not just the damaged parts. So while it may be obvious that there is hail damage due to the golf-ball effect, the inspector will be looking everywhere. If he finds something else wrong-worn or damaged suspension for example-it's on you to fix it. Did it get hail damage because the guy has no garage, or because he stuffed it in a ditch right before the hail started? The title will just be stamped "SALVAGE", not WHY it was stamped.

For five grand I'd dang sure take a look at it. The IMS/seal stuff would worry me a lot more than a salvage title.

At 146k, there is a good chance IMS problems would've already manifested themselves.

My 996 (also a 2001) had no IMS or RMS problems at 112k. Not that that mattered too much as I had both changed when the engine came apart, but still.

@StainlessWings, if you seriously consider it, see if the seller agrees to a PPI and allows the mechanic to replace the oil filter so they can cut open the filter that is on the car. You really don't want to find any metal or plastic bits in there as that's going to cost you about book value of the 986 to fix.

I think your sig other can learn to drive stick on that.

KY is simple for getting the salvage turned in to a rebuilt. You would take the car as it is to your county courthouse with the application for rebuilt title. Your sheriff's office does an inspection that verifies the VIN, no broken glass, headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, brights, windshield wipers, and horn. That gets you paperwork that you take to Frankfort. Has to be done in person, but don't bring the car. They will take your application plus the sheriff's inspection and give you paperwork that you take to the courthouse. The courthouse gives you a license plate and Frankfort mails you the rebuilt title.

Assuming nothing else is wrong and it isn't a scam, do it. Do it now.

Just don't fall too in love too early. Maybe I'm cynical, but the super cheap "there's really nothing wrong with it" never seem to turn out (or smell) as good as we hope they will.

Thanks wae! I'd read about what it takes in documentation if you rebuild a salvaged car, but wasn't sure if it were as simple as just confirming that nothing safety/mechanical was wrong.

Oh, I'll be plenty cynical if I go and look at it. Just read up on the IMS bearing issue, would definitely be asking about that and looking the car over very closely. It's a bit of a haul from here, but if it did check out would likely be a hell of a lot of fun.

The seller is of course exaggerating at lesat a bit with regards to the value- KBB puts a Boxster S with that many miles at about $4800, not the $13k they say, so at least according to it they're solidly OVERPRICED for a salvage-titled car. NADA puts it much higher, but that seems to be about normal.

I wouldn't agree with kbb on that one....I never see them that low without serious issues. If you pass on it let me know because I may take a look.

Cotton wrote: I wouldn't agree with kbb on that one....I never see them that low without serious issues. If you pass on it let me know because I may take a look.

Discussed it a bit with SWMBO- and ironically half the reason we're not going to go after it is that it IS so close to our ideal for a long-term 4th car, and at the moment we're more looking for something a lot cheaper that the plan would be to keep at most through the winter. Were we to get this, if (or rather, when...) our situation changes (for example if we have kids as we want to...) we'd probably need a different car so it would mean having to sell it. We'd rather save getting something like this until we're more confident we can hold on to it for a long while and enjoy it- assuming gas engine cars are still legal at that point. :P We'll keep looking for the right car for us at this point. :)

So, if you're interested in it go for it- I'd love to hear how it works out!

In reply to StainlessWings:

Cool thanks. I know that color combo isn't for everyone, but I love it. I will call this week and feel them out.

Offer them $2,500 and drive it till something popped and part out the pieces. If KBB is 4,800 and it has a bad title they should expect about half of that. Someone should do it.

I want to buy it and drive it til it dies meanwhile referring to it as my beater Porsche just to be a dick

If you can get into it for cheap, it might be worth a shot but otherwise i'd say nope nope nope.

Rebuilt title cars generally sell for about 75%-80% if they are fixed correctly. I have sold several rebuilt title vehicles this past year and have found the 75-80% figure to be accurate.

If the car is not a scam $4900 is not a unfair price.