What's a reconstructed auto title?
I'm scanning the car For Sale ads, and see some pretty ridiculous claims.
"2003 lexus es 300 with 9,000 miles, pearl white color, power everything. seats are ripped as a cause of vandalism. have a pennsylvania reconstroctive title. runs and drives great. "
Usually the spelling is worse, and all CAPS. This ad has puncuation, at least. I'm seeing "reconstructed" one-in-twenty or so.
"2003 lexus es 300 with 9,000 miles, pearl white color, power everything. seats are ripped as a cause of vandalism. have a pennsylvania reconstroctive title. runs and drives great. "
Usually the spelling is worse, and all CAPS. This ad has puncuation, at least. I'm seeing "reconstructed" one-in-twenty or so.
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salvage titles, run run run [:D] 0 -
It means it was once totaled and the bank won't loan you any money on it. 0 -
Been wrecked..or under water..and 'rebuilt'...generally by some 'throw bondo and spray can it' artist.
Insurance company has totaled the car, and jerked the title.0 -
Right after I posted, the next two were reconstructed, different towns, but probably the same guy. All three were Lexus autos.
I've never seen the R word on a craigslist Volvo ad.
I'm researching my next car. I drive 35K/yr, and want a comfortable ride.
The mechanic who does the inspections, etc, says to buy a Jap car.
1995-96 850 Turbo or 850 R [probably].
Infiniti G35 [I'll wait a few years, if at all].
Acura TL [I'll wait a few years; maybe for the wife].
Lexus ES [Maybe]
New? Never. Not with 1/3 depreciation in the first year.0 -
Totaled or water car....remember 350,000 cars were flooded in Katrina in New Orleans alone.
I would advise you not buy a used car unless its been checked by a mechainc.0 -
New Vehicles can have a salvage title if stolen or damaged by falling off the delivery truck prior to selling. Salvage vehicles usually bring 1/2 to what a clean title would bring. Be for warned some States can take a salvage title and "Wash" it to a clean title. Run a carfax report or have a mechanic look it over. Paint work, new interiors, water damage can not be hidden easily. 0 -
as another posted said have a mechanic look it over good. That said, if you drive a vehicle until it's junk a "R" title may be the way to go. Gives you a vehicle you might not of been able to afford if it was a clean title. My 93 F150 4x4 and the wifes 2000 Continental are both "R" title. Looked at a 2003 Grand Cherokee with 32,000 miles last month, light hit in the right front, didn't blow the bags or crack the windshield. Could have bought it for $2500 but passed as I was a little short of cash at the time. Know the guy who bought it, he put $2200 into it and it looks brand new. Kelly Blue Book lists it for 13000 to $17000 (of course with a good title) 0 -
I've bought a couple of vehicles with salvage titles, but then again I drive the wheels off a vehicle and don't worry about trade value. Good friend of mine makes a living buying totaled cars from the insurance company and rebuilding them. I trust him, or I probably wouldn't have bought the ones I have. As someone else said, they CAN be a bargain, but have to take it case by case and know what to look for. 0 -
here we call them salvage titles,it would not bother me in the least to buy one as long as I know why it was moved there in the first place,I have bought several over the years that had been wrecked and rebuilt,I would not want to buy one that had been flooded,too much electric stuff that could go wrong later on but a good rebuild can be as a new one,I bought my wifes truck new,, A 2001 dodge quad cab,in 2003 she totaled it by hitting a cow in the road about 10 o'clock one night,I bought it back from the insurance company for $1600,bought another front cap and other parts from a wrecking yard,rebuilt it myself and had it repainted,all for under $1500,she ended up with a very nice truck with under 25,000 miles on it for around 3k,paid for,she has been driving it ever since and it has a salvage title 0 -
Some times it is really bad sometimes not so much like the last guy said if you wreck a vehicle and the insurance company totals it you can then buy it back but with a salvage or reco title. It could be something as small as body damage but with cost of parts and labor it is cheaper for the insurance company to just give you what the car is worth. 0 -
My big worry would be if these were warmed-over NO Katrina victim cars.
GOTTA be a buttload of them floating around!
[xx(]barto[xx(]0 -
Rebuildables are big business here. The demand for these is high enough that it is hard to buy a wrecked car cheap around here.
I know 2 guys who buy wrecks and rebuild them to sell for a living. I am not afraid to buy one. Often times a new bumper, airbag, fenders and paint is all that is needed and you get a new car for pennies on the dollar.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Sperry
Right after I posted, the next two were reconstructed, different towns, but probably the same guy. All three were Lexus autos.
I've never seen the R word on a craigslist Volvo ad.
I'm researching my next car. I drive 35K/yr, and want a comfortable ride.
The mechanic who does the inspections, etc, says to buy a Jap car.
1995-96 850 Turbo or 850 R [probably].
Infiniti G35 [I'll wait a few years, if at all].
Acura TL [I'll wait a few years; maybe for the wife].
Lexus ES [Maybe]
New? Never. Not with 1/3 depreciation in the first year.
You need a new mechanic. Todays US built cars are kicking butt in the quality area. Toyota KNOWS the virtual engineering they used caused a real measurable drop in quality. Look at a FOrd Fusion of the Chevy Malibou. They are awesome rigs that will go 250,000 miles easy!
2007 recalls;
VW
New Beetle
1,002,000
Toyota
Sequoia
533,124
Chrysler
Jeep Liberty
149,605
Nissan
Altima
140,582
Hyundia
Tucson
128,300
Chrysler
Dodge Nitro, Jeep Wrangler
80,894
Suzuki
Forenza, Reno
75,697
VW
Passat, Passat Wagon
58,800
Chrysler
Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler 300, Dodge Caliber, Dodge Magnum, Dodge Charger, Dodge Nitro, Jeep Compass, Jeep Liberty, Jeep Commander, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler
50,665
Nissan
Infiniti G35 Coupe
23,934
GM
Chevrolet Aveo
17,676
Nissan
Versa
16,309
GM
GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook
13,032
Ford
Expedition
10,0620 -
I have bought 2 salvage title wranglers, both were wrecked. Still driving the wheels off one of them, sold the other and didnt loose a dime. 0
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