Anthony01

A guy at my work has a 1993 Convertable for sale. Its red inside and out w/ a white top, and its a 40th anv. edition. There is little less then 39,000 on the odometer. I looked the car over and its in wonderful shape. No problems that I can see.
Now the bad part is, it was seized in a drug bust and now carries a Salvage title w/ it. Guy wants $15,000 for it, but is it worth it w/ a title like that, and why give it a salvage title when it was seized and not wrecked

Thanks

Pete K

A salvage title will depreciate a car by 30% or more. I would not care if my car had a salvage title. I keep things and do not "trade up". I have had my 87 for 15 years and could not car what the title said. I enjoy the car regardless. Most of the world will frown on a salvage title. DO NOT pay anywhere near retail for the car. Just my 2 cents

kalister1

$15,000 is TOP DOLLAR for any 93, low mileage, perfect condition. Most people will tell you that a salvage title will cut the value of the car in HALF. The 40th anniversary car is Ruby Red, inside, outside and the convertible top.

Pete K

A ruby red car is the true 40th aniversary car. All others had the logo sewn in the seats regardless. The car was made during the vettes 40th anniversary. But it is not considered a 40th anniversary edition.

joecaver

For me, I would not buy any car with a salvage title.

AORoads

Pete apparently lives by his creed if he's got a car that long. Most of us who say we're gonna keep this car forever, don't. And that's the rub: if you try to sell a salvage title, it won't go well, or easily or for what you thought it was worth.

If you have doubts, go to a new car dealership and speak with the gsm there. You know the story of the car (maybe) and why it has that title. The next buyer won't necessarily believe you and, in the case of any kind of use for a trade, they won't care. It'll be dogmeat to them. But don't take my word for it, ask a dealer what they can get for a car with that title. That is, if they're honest and don't wash the title through a few different states, auctions, buddies at other dealerships and come out with a clean title.

fjm59vette

Dont buy a Salvage Title Car !!!!

Pete K

Red Tornado

personally i would zero problems with a salvage titled car, based on the assumptions:

1. its in good condition with no apparent problems
2. i got it damn cheap (which is fair)

$15k, i would tell him to suck sand. if you got it at HALF that price, then its worth considering. but NO MORE.

Wayne88

And the seller of this 'salvage' car knows this, so why should you buy it for full price ??

BTW, are you sure its 'salvaged' because it was confiscated in a drug bust, or was it in a flood or accident???

rws.1

Insurance companies don't like salvage title cars.
Buyers don't like salvage title cars.

So the value for them is somewhere between 50-
65% of a regular title car...

Z51JEFF

All 93s are 40th anniversary cars,the Ruby paint,int were options.Let the arguments begin.This is a $10,000 car.Buy it and you will have to give it away to get rid of it.

cv67

Youll be lucky to get 50% of the cars value covered through an ins co. if they even accept it, co's dont like insuring salveage vehicles.

Being siezed alone will not give the title salvage status, theres more to the story here.

kalister1

RPO Z25 is the 40th Anniversary option code. The cars that have this option code are generally considered the 40th anniversary cars. While all 93 where built in 93 (93 - 53 = 40) only the Z25 (Ruby) cars carry the option package.

jrzvette

The first question I would ask the seller is how did he come into possession of a seized car? I know DEA and other law enforcement agencies aution seized vehicles but was unaware that that would taint the title. Also, ask to see the title itself. I don't know how it works in MO but in New Jersey I'm pretty sure the title will have the amount of sales tax paid when title was transfered. From this its easy to find out what the current owner paid for the car.

That being said, run a Car Fax on the VIN, check with your insurance company to find out if they will insure a salvage title car, and for how much (both in coverage and premium) then decide if you still want to buy the car. If you do, offer him $7500 but be prepared to keep the car forever or give it away when you want to sell.

MTVette

Five years ago this May, I bought a '92 with a salvage title due to a wreck it had in '94. The seller had bought the wreck from the insurance company and them spent 6 months restoring the car. He drove it for another 6 years before he sold it to me for $13K with 64K miles. He did his work very well, and the car has run like a dream ever since. It's a daily driver and a weekend racecar. I've put 75K miles on it myself, and I've enjoyed every one of them.

The moral of which: it's OK to buy a car with a salvage title provided that it's in very good shape and you plan on driving it, not selling it.

cv67

Im assuming your friend picked it up for pennies on the dollar at an auction and is trying to make a tidy profit off you, more I think about it Id tell him to take his "prize vette" and shove it. JMO

fjm59vette

Dont buy a salvage title car !!! Definately not for $15K - maybe $5K. I bought a clean title 94 Polo 6spd with 80K miles (w detailed maintenance receipts) that you could eat off two years ago for $12K. you could probrably get one for $8K now.

Nah dont buy a salvage title car !!!

NEVRL8T

Dont buy that car and dont look back!

CORVETTEIII

O.K. so it's a salvage title. Does that bother YOU? I bought a '98 that was salvaged, wrecked in the front end but not too bad, for 9K and sold it four months later for $18,200 as a reconstructed vehicle. I have a Ruby Red '93 Anniversary with 129k on the odo with a good title and paid 7K on Ebay for it. Runs perfect, looks great, IS great. If you like the car, can afford the car, and salvage title doesn't bother you, then you have to make that call. Salvage hurts resale by about 20% of its retail value they say. Do you know the history of the car from day one? That's important too. Do you want to shop around a bit first? Just take your time and it will work out. C4's are great cars and you won't go wrong owning one.