Buying a totaled Tahoe

[maxamillion125]

Still too much. Your choice, and you're going with it. Good luck.

Not sure what your problem is but I just don't see how you think this is a bad deal. Lets go over some of the facts.
Insurance estimated it was worth 12k
I'm buying it for 4k
I've already found the two passenger side doors in the same color for $850 total, I can install them.
I know the vehicles history and how it was treated, its mechanically sound
Immaculate interior
The only question mark is the quarter panel. Which I'm either going to leave as is, have a body shop do their best to make it look half decent for $500-800 or so. Or just replace it with a used one and paint it.

 

[SRTH8R]

He is just looking out for you and being realistic. The doors may be the same color but they won't match 100%. They would still need them painted and fender blended to do it right. Sounds like he does it for a living. $850 at a body shop won't go far. $1200 to repainted my rear bumper with no damage other than cosmetic on my TBSS. As far as I know you can't get full coverage insurance on a salvage vehicle. In the end it's what makes you happy. Sounds like you are set on doing it. So buy it and start a build tread already.

 

[YukonXL04]

Insurance company said it was worth 12k before the wreck. Now with the salvaged title even when fixed properly you would be hard pressed to find someone willing to buy it for even 6k. That is where he is saying its not worth it financially...You cant compare its salvaged value to a clean title value....

However that doesn't mean you cant go for it.

SRTH8R $1200 to repaint your rear bumper!!!??? I had quotes around $400 from great body shops here to repaint my wife's TL rear bumper...

 

[fiatdale]

Just trying to look out for you man. Ive done body work for more years than I want to admit. I know how these things turn out, and I fix and flip salvaged vehicles just like this. You're paying too much.

 

[SRTH8R]

1200 was what the body shop quoted to insurance when a little teeny bopper rear ended me stopped at a light. Red jewel tint coat is a pita to match, and I belive it's a 3 stage color. For $400 it kinda sounds like it would be repainted on the car. Could be wrong. 300-350 is what our lot rot bumper repair guys charge where I work. New pad, misc clips and labor. Fine by me I wasn't paying for it.

 

[maxamillion125]

I just called the DMV and if the vehicle is older then 5 years it gets branded as a totaled vehicle retained by the owner NOT a salvaged vehicle and I keep the original title. There is no salvaged title and the vehicle is perfectly legal to drive and there's no inspection or any other hoops to jump through. If I ever sell it all I have to do is let the person know that it's been branded as a totaled vehicle by the Insurance company.

 

[NathanJax]

If I ever sell it all I have to do is let the person know that it's been branded as a totaled vehicle by the Insurance company.

That's gonna be your problem... that's what others are trying to say.




Personally, if it's a vehicle your gonna keep and run in to the ground, and NOT worry about resale, I'd do it. However, if you ever go to sell it, it's not gonna be worth what you're gonna put in to it.

 

[fiatdale]

Personally, if it's a vehicle your gonna keep and run in to the ground, and NOT worry about resale, I'd do it.

Must buy it cheaper than $4k.

 

[maxamillion125]

That's gonna be your problem... that's what others are trying to say.




Personally, if it's a vehicle your gonna keep and run in to the ground, and NOT worry about resale, I'd do it. However, if you ever go to sell it, it's not gonna be worth what you're gonna put in to it.

I disagree if I show them the pics of how it looked when the Ins said it was totaled and also the Insurance estimate showing there was not any structural/frame damage. I don't see it being a big deal. Insurance companies total cars all the time for minor fender benders.

 

[YukonXL04]

If I were buying a used vehicle that had been deemed totaled regardless of how well the repairs were, I would still want a significant discount