I was abou to but a 1994 Volvo 850 turbo Wagon with just under 150,000 miles. The car has no leaks and runs very well. I just ran a CARFAX report on it and way back around the time it was bought, it had severe water damage. It was given a "Salvage Title". The report cleared it of having any structeral or frame damage though and now it has a title and passed an inspection check of most everything just last year. The car supposedly runs great and has no rust. So, do you think a car like this that needed some or maybe lots of rebuilding and refurbishing is still good? I am wondering if I should buy it or not. This is going to be my main car, so I need something good.

-Thanks

 

If the water damage was done when the car was practically new, I would not hesitate to buy it with the Salavage Title. But I would get one heck of a deal on it. Dealers do want to take a car in on trade that has a salvage title so they really lose their value. I had a Honda once with a salvage title from when it was practically brand new, and if wasn't for that 12 point Buck jumping in front of my daughter I would still have it today. At the time I bought the car it had a KBB wholesale value of $3700 and I got it for $3,000 and the dealer was only going to give the guy $2500 on trade. So find the KBB wholesale value of the car and offer less.

 

Thanks for the advice. He would sell it to me for $1,400 and I dont think he is aware it used to be a Salvage Title. Also, the car is in Maine now, and he says he aquired a clear title.

-thanks

 

$1400 that's nothing today. I sold one with a blown engine for $800. I would ****** that sucker up in a minute.

 

Thanks for the advice. I am not really sure how to read or understand the CARFAX report. The first time the damage was mentioned, it said this:

08/01/1994 New Jersey Motor Vehicle Dept. Title #942220004 First owner reported SALVAGE TITLE/CERTIFICATE ISSUED[/b] FLOOD DAMAGE TITLE ISSUED
[/b]
Then, many other times on the report, it has that again like this.
05/22/2001 Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Dept. Title #AL844807 SALVAGE TITLE/CERTIFICATE ISSUED[/b] FLOOD DAMAGE TITLE ISSUED[/b] RECONSTRUCTED TITLE ISSUED[/b] REBUILT TITLE ISSUED[/b]And the second one I pasted from the site was in 2001, where the first was in 1994. I wonder if this means it has had water damage more than once, or if it was claimed more than once?
I'll try and copy the whole report:

Date: Mileage: Source: Comments: 02/15/1994 NICB Vehicle manufactured and shipped to original dealer
08/01/1994 New Jersey Motor Vehicle Dept. Title #942220004 First owner reported SALVAGE TITLE/CERTIFICATE ISSUED[/b] FLOOD DAMAGE TITLE ISSUED[/b]
08/10/1994 57 New Jersey Motor Vehicle Dept. Clark, NJ SALVAGE TITLE/CERTIFICATE ISSUED[/b] FLOOD DAMAGE TITLE ISSUED[/b]
08/15/1994 Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Dept. Holden, MA Registered as personal vehicle
10/07/1994 136 Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Dept. Holden, MA Title #AL844807 Title or registration issued Loan or lien reported
04/25/2001 Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Dept. Jefferson, MA Title #AL844807 Title or registration issued Loan or lien reported If you are buying this vehicle from a private seller, check to be sure any associated lien on the vehicle has been paid off.[/align] [/align] 05/22/2001 Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Dept. Title #AL844807 SALVAGE TITLE/CERTIFICATE ISSUED[/b] FLOOD DAMAGE TITLE ISSUED[/b] RECONSTRUCTED TITLE ISSUED[/b] REBUILT TITLE ISSUED[/b]
05/23/2001 97,076 Massachusetts Inspection Station Middleton, MA Passed safety or emissions inspection View what was inspected
05/23/2001 Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Dept. Danvers, MA SALVAGE TITLE/CERTIFICATE ISSUED[/b] RECONSTRUCTED TITLE ISSUED[/b] REBUILT TITLE ISSUED[/b]

 

A salvage title is not necessarily a bad thing, if the car was repaired properly. As most people shy away from them I would definitely get the price waaaaayyy down.

 

Thanks for all the advice. I think the car would be perfectly fine as well.

-thanks