Salvage Prius anyone?

Too scary for me, but then I'm a weiner.

 

Just hope you never have an accident that totals the car. I had that happen several years ago. I bought a used car, drove it for 2 years and had it totaled while sitting at a stop light. The insurance company gave me about 1/3 the value because it had a salvage title.

 

For a car as complex as the Prius is to repair, you end up paying 60-80% of a proven used Prius, with no warranty support. If anything should go wrong with the coolant thermos, transfer pump, etc, you could be SOL. Those are expensive repairs

I would be especially leery of any Prius written off due to front end damage. Bleeding air out of the cooling system can be very complex

 

It seems to me a good deal on a new one is a better deal. As is said, "the cheap comes out expensive." It is important to see the before pictures. If it only needed a fender and headlight it would not be salvaged. Add $250 for a second key if it is missing.

 

I saw an 04 Prius with 80K for $14,000. I wouldn't go salvage, just find a better deal.

 

The reason that a vehicle has a salvage title is because it was in a major accident and the insurance company decided the repair cost was excessive relative to the vehicle's value. The auto body shop selling the salvage vehicles is doing so to make a profit. How is it that the body shop can make the repair, sell to you substantially below normal market value, and still earn a profit?

Therefore, an issue for you to consider is whether the accident damage was correctly repaired or done as cheaply as possible.

As you know, salvage vehicles have a much lower market value vs. comparable vehicles with a clean title, due to warranty issues and buyer concern about how well the repairs were performed. It will be difficult for you to sell the car if/when you are ready to move on.

Prius is exceptionally complex. If you have drivetrain problems in the future not covered under warranty, expect unusually high repair costs. Unless you are a talented DIYer, a salvage Prius may not be the best choice.

 

I would not buy a salvaged Prius. You have no idea what was wrong with it really. Just what he says.

If you can't buy new, buy used. But buy reputable with a warranty and no salvaged title.

 

Run away fast. So much can be wrong with a salvage car, especially one as complicated as a Prius, it'll turn you white.

 

I actually bought an 05 salvage, although it was not salvaged due to an accident. The original owner left the windows open during a heavy rainstorm and the computer got flooded. Insurance company figured it to be too expensive to replace the computers. I got it from a guy that had a wrecked 05, he simply swapped out the computer and let his wife drive it for 6 months, until he found a Lexus hybrid for his wife. I have had it for almost a year, put over 30k on it with not one problem. It is loaded with leather, nav, bluetooth, JBL, etc, and I paid 15k for it with 21,000 miles on it. This has worked out really well for me.

 

Please do some research.
may I suggest reading all you can about rebuilt pruii at the
autobeyours.com website.
Never buy a prius with trouble lights illuminated.

 

Glad that imwoody36 joined the discussion, because he has been very helpful to Prius owners at Priuschat and elsewhere. Such a rebuild business necessarily results in some availability of takeout parts, and the accumulation of much Prius knowledge. Both of these can be great assets for the Prius community, even if we are not shopping for a rebuild.

There is at least one other rebuilder in the Sacramento CA area, judging from many salvage-titles offered on eBay over the last few years. Unfortunately we know less about that (those) operations, lacking a webstite like woody's.

It would be great to know about those, and others in the business, because people do consider the purchase of rebuilds. If done well, it is certainly a more sensible use of impaired Prius resources, rather than to wait for the parts to sell one by one.

 

Of course, the ones you REALLY have to watch out for are "curbsiders." They pretend to be private sales, in reality are either a chopshop or putting dangerous cars on the road

Please, use Carfax and verify any used private sale you are considering is not a "curbsider" or other scam. The life you save may be your own!

 

Sorry, forgot to mention that the same service is available in Canada. It's called "Car Proof"

https://www.carproof.com/Default.asp

 

Oh, a warning to anybody in Manitoba. The communist/socialist Manitoba Public Insurance isn't required to report writeoff/salvage/rebuild to other jurisdictions. They actually have set up a system that encourages auto fraud, for example they even brag about how easy it is to sell salvage/rebuild cars

Manitoba Public Insurance - New Releases & Fast Facts

Natrually, the Manitoba government considers VIN histories their own business, not yours. So a double Buyer Beware for any vehicle that is for sale in Manitoba, or was ever registered in Manitoba.

Once you're in an accident in Manitoba, better have private coverage too.

Dirty Little Secrets of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation

 

I just found this on eBay. Sounded like a deal, but not sure with a salvage title on it. I've read that a car has to have about 75% of the value lost from it to be considered a salvage. What's mentioned in this auction "sounds" like a fender bender, but how are you supposed to know?

FYI, in case anyone is interested.

 

I know a guy who sells salvaged prius'. He has about 50 of the older style and 50 of the 2004 to 2008 prius. They all are in various states of repair. He hired an expert Toyota mechanic who does all of his electrical, engine and prius specific work. He also has 3 body shops in the area that perform his body and paint work. Because of what he does he has a 100,000 mile guarantee on all of his vehicles. He is very thourough about telling what happened to the car as far as damage. I spent about 2 hours with him going over his operation, talking with his mechanic. He sells 8 to 10 prius per month. Would I buy from him? I have.

The myths about salvage title vehicles are many. The truth is that (in most states) once the vehicle is repaired it has to be inspected. This is different than a standard MVI. Repairs are evaluated and if the vehicle passes it can be licensed in that state. So if you buy a salvage title vehicle from California and you live in Missouri you may need to have the state specific inspection done. That being said, I don't know if I would buy a salvage vehicle in one state and plan to license in another state without checking the state law regarding this.

Once a vehicle has been found to be repaired and able to be licensed, most banks and credit unions will give a loan on the vehicle. The loan value will most likely be the low end of NADA. Most insurance companies will insure the vehicle, but not for new car replacement value. Definately plus and minus here.

My car was a 2005 prius with 120,000 miles. I purchased for $10,000. Because I saw this car being repaired, I know what was done. For my money this is better than a standard used car.

My advice on buying a salvage titled car is to buy locally. Get to know the operation and owner. Get a guarantee. Find out from your bank and insurance company what they will do. Know your state regulations. A little footwork can save you many dollars and headaches.

 

Can u plz give me contact info of this guy, who repairs salvage Prius and sells , I have 2006 salvage Prius, runs very good, I need another salvage repaired Prius, thane n have a nice day.

 

Rebuildable Prius 04 up

gen two only. from here!

 

I bought a salvaged 2007 from a body shop in San Jose, Ca. and although he told me where it had been repaired I still could not find any sign. It drove so well with only 5K miles on it I bought another one, a 2008 (package 6) with only 1400 miles from the same body shop. Have had no problems and would buy another from him if I ever wear these out. Don't get paranoid about a salvage title. By the way when I took it in to have a light replaced the dealer did it under warranty since there was no record in their data base that it was salvage.