Buying a totaled Tahoe

[SRTH8R]

There is reason it is totaled. Salvage title makes it not worth much in my book. Why would the guy buy it back and sell it for the price he paid. Why go through the brain damage just to get the same amount insurance was going to give him. Looks like you need to add rear bumper, flares, mirror, front fender looks a little wrinkly and whatever pieces of the front bumper. Not hard to find 100-150k mile tahoes in one piece.

 

[Gzes]

If he's a friend then I see why he buys it and sells for same price. Yes it's salvage but for someone to keep it's fine for him. Parts are inexpensive at junkyard shouldn't hit $1000 in parts including quarter

 

[maxamillion125]

There is reason it is totaled. Salvage title makes it not worth much in my book. Why would the guy buy it back and sell it for the price he paid. Why go through the brain damage just to get the same amount insurance was going to give him. Looks like you need to add rear bumper, flares, mirror, front fender looks a little wrinkly and whatever pieces of the front bumper. Not hard to find 100-150k mile tahoes in one piece.

Like I said, he's a friend of mine and doing me a favor. The interior is immaculate I don't think anyone's ever sat in the back seats. The service maintenance is every 3,000 miles on the dot, he's always brought it to the dealership and I know for a fact its never been drove hard or abused. The guys a 70 year old retired doctor, you won't find a better maintained tahoe.

 

[SRTH8R]

You asked for opinions. That is mine. If you have the tools, skills, and paint capabilities them by all means give it a whirl. Obviously your labor costs you nothing, but I see $8-9k by the time it's done. Then you are still left with a totaled tahoe worth about $6k. Good luck in your decision.

 

[jomulk56]

If the pillars and frame are straight it's worth a shot. With CL, eBay, and junkyards you can easily find the parts to fix it.

 

[livingez_123]

Easy fix, new rear quarter panel, 2 doors and misc little stuff.

 

[maxamillion125]

Thanks guys I'm pretty sure we're gonna buy it from here. He's gonna hassle with his Ins and see if he can get the buy back down to 5k. If not we'll probably still take it. I found a door and quarter panel in the same color, $550 for both.

 

[NJ04HOE]

6k? Mine was totaled 3 months ago and I brought it back for $650.
It doesn't look bad,the inside is clean as hell and you know the service history so i'd say go for it.

 

[Red Rider]

i would look into what it takes to get rid of the salvage title. My friend bought such a truck and it was a real hassle to get the 'salvage' removed from the title.

Then look at what trucks go for in your area and see if it is worth it.

Your time does have value (I assume) since you could be doing something else with it, so i would calculate that in the equation as sell. ie; if you were not fixing this truck, are there other things you need to be doing.

Good luck.

 

[fiatdale]

Easy kill. That center post might be in though, its probably going to need a slight pull. If you want to do it yourself, a large tree and a come-a-long. As far as the doors go - just replace them with used. Quarter panel - you can get a used quarter, end up doing more damage than needed to it, or just buy a new GM part. It will save you a LOT of time if you do the work yourself. Glue 90% of it, only welding around the tail light pocket and at the lower rear. Hopefully the hinges for that rear door aren't messed up, they can be a pain to replace. Also, that dog leg is going to need a pull too. Always do your pulls before cutting ANYTHING off.

As far as the value, I think I would buy it cheaper than $6k. Sounds like a bit much, given the work needed. Granted its an easy fix - but you're still going to have some good time and parts added in there. Id say own it repaired for $6k. Still going to have a salvage title.

---------- Post added at 10:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 AM ----------

Thanks guys I'm pretty sure we're gonna buy it from here. He's gonna hassle with his Ins and see if he can get the buy back down to 5k. If not we'll probably still take it. I found a door and quarter panel in the same color, $550 for both.

That's not a bad buy, the only thing that it being the same color will be good for is trimming out the door. They're still going to have to paint the quarter, front and rear doors, and blend the fender. Good luck getting the used quarter off in one piece without ******* it up. There is foam on the inside which has one hell of a bond to the metal. Only way to get it to separate is to hit it with the torch, which, if you're careful you can do it. If you've never done it before, you will easily warp the metal. Now you're throwing filler in it. More work, more time, more money.

---------- Post added at 10:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:43 AM ----------

I would buy the parts used and do the work myself

And Im not trying to discourage you, but have you ever done body work before? Its going to take a bit to get that quarter right, and that dog leg.