buying a SALVAGE tahoe or yukon !! any opinion ?

[yates ™]

That's just it though - you do NOT know how bad the flood was. Its all a gamble. Just because you and the other gentleman got lucky doesn't mean this guy will too.

Nobody said he would and yes you are correct it is a gamble. I just posted due to everyone else saying you will have nothing but trouble when in reality it is only a possibility.

 

[busterw]

That's not necessarily true. Depending on what type of water it was flooded in, sometimes the signs are quite obvious on how high it got. Muddy water will show a line on interior trim or behind interior trim. Salt water will leave a residue. Clean water, as you say, will leave nothing (unless you notice rusted parts behind the interior trim).

That's just it though - you do NOT know how bad the flood was. Its all a gamble. Just because you and the other gentleman got lucky doesn't mean this guy will too.

 

[fiatdale]

But to make it salvage, there has to be X amount of damage figured by the insurance companies. Meaning someone like myself has also looked at it and determined that it needs additional things than just a good carpet shampooing. We've fixed tons of flood jobs after Hurricane Ike and some other storms. Some totalled out, some didn't. The ones that did had water in the motors and interiors were too far gone to replace. Others just needed some drying out and a couple modules.

For the prices hes looking at on those salvage vehicles, personally, I would rather take the wrecked one than the flooded one.

Ill leave it at that.

 

[LOWHOE775]

Don't do it. Not worth it

 

[drroy]

if you are able to do body work and paint yourself, then a salvage can be a good deal as long as you realize resale will certainly suffer and plan to own for a while. I got a good deal on a low mileage mint condition (except for the frame and front end damage) durango a while back. the frame work cost less than a grand including tow to and from shop and i took care of everything else, in the end i saved about $5G on a truck worth about $13K. The inspection process consisted of arranging an inspection at a state inspection center which took a bit as there are only a few and a waiting list, and providing documentation proving replaced parts were not stolen, IE receipt saying they were new or receipts from salvage yards with vin # from the trucks they were pulled from. There was no mechanical /safety inspection.
I drove that truck w/o problems except usual maintenance for about 4 years. I traded it in when got the tahoe and had to fight tooth and nail with the dealer to get $1k for it, but didnt feel like selling privately where i could get a couple of more bucks for it.

My advice would be stay away from flood damaged vehicles for reasons already stated, try and find one without deployed airbags, some states like NY require new airbag components which will quickly eat up any savings

 

[04SS99Denali]

salvage cars/trucks are useless imo. one day when you go to sell it good luck nobody's gonna want it. and i can almost guarantee it will be full of issues more than what meets the eye. creeks/rattles/leaks/drive ability will always be a question, and just basic issues. theres a reason the insurance company wrote it off... your gonna spend 10k on a truck that needs 5-6k in work when its only worth maybe 19 if it was a clean title. your better off just financing a tahoe thats a little out of your price range than waste 10k on a garbage truck. the amount in repairs and sheer headaches wont be worth it. someone just traded me a 07 LTZ for my 03 H2 i couldn't be happier and deals are out there.