Hello all, first off I am brand new here and just wanted to say thanks for such a good board, I have been looking for a 99 frc for months now that met my budget. I finally found one that has a rebuild title, I have spent the last 3 days on here searching and reading everything I can about rebuild/salvage titles, pm'ed edensknight (havn't heard back yet) so I wanted to throw this out. I had a budget of no more then 17,000 and that is what the car would cost.

I have the money in hand, this would be my third vehicle 95 jeep wrangler lifted of course lol (winter, DD) 300C (primary, every bolt on, custom ported heads cam, etc..forged motor, 250 shot N20 waiting for diablo to release the CMR programing to dial it in., and meant to cut the miles off my 300, and because I have always wanted a vette.

Now even after all the searching I have done on here, it seems some have no problem with a rebuild others do, for my purpose I don't get rid of vehicles, I keep them because I mod them the way I like, this vette if I get it, I plan to put a big cam, headers, exhaust, and intake with a 100 shot of nitrous lol and leave it like that, maybe new heads eventually. I am taking my performance shop owner/friend with me to look at the vehicle he has 20 plus years working on vettes/mustangs.

17,000 for a rebuild title 76,000 mile frc coupe i am including some pictures of it, would the popular thought be to just walk away? Thanks for helping me make up my mind, I am at an impass.

 

A lot would depend on why it was salvaged. If it was a flood car I'd walk away and not look back. If it was totaled in a crash and your mechanic can't see any long term issues then maybe you're alright. You did say you were keeping it so you won't have to deal with selling a salvaged car later. Typically it is advised hat you take "blue book" and cut it in half if you are willing to take the risk.

 

sounds like you have someone capable to check out the car for
you...if he gives his approval...then it becomes a question of
price..

Of course 16K for car would be a better deal..considering miles
are medium/high...but if you're planning on some extensive mods...
then probably shouldn't worry about 1-2K..and the salvage resale
isn't going to be an issue for you if your not planning on selling
the car anytime soon.

As for why the car was salvaged...everyone always says..oh..it
was a theft recovery. Because they don't want to mention anything
about a crash or flood..

 

Can't you see that huge gap between the front fender and drivers door near the bottom. I can see that in the pic, so I would bet I would find tons of thing if I saw this car in person. I would walk and spend just a few more bucks for one that has not been crashed!

 

there is a sticky here about common C5 problems. do yourself a favor, inspect every one of them! as long as the current owner lets you!

read the codes with the DIC, instructions on the forum, write down every one of them, and if its a history (H) or current (C) and look up what the cause is, codes can help find hidden problems.
make sure the display on the climate control lights up and isn't always dim
take it for a good test drive and make sure the turn signals work...all of the time
see if the owner would let you lay down a small amount of rubber somewhere (somewhere safe and not on a public road) and make sure that the traction control comes on without all kinds of beeping and "service active handling", "service traction control", "service anti-lock brakes" on the DIC.
make sure that when you put int in reverse that the backup lights really come on (not just when you unlock it, but when in reverse)
make sure that the power seat(s) work(s) in all directions; also move the driver's seat all the way forward and check for tears and impressions of the motor assembly in the carpet under it. if there is excessive carpet wear and/or tears it probably means that the PO used the easy entry feature, which tends to drive the rear up/down motor linkage into the carpet under the seat every time it goes back. it tears up the carpet, and breaks the power seat track. $550 for a new one (if you have memory seats) at very low cost forum supporting GM parts vendors.
he might think you're crazy, but test drive it on a rainy day or put a hose to it and check for leaks (especially if it was salvaged due to a collision) the rear glass leaks sometimes. also run water down the windshield and let it drain as it should under the hood. no water inside = good, water pouring into both driver and passenger's sides under the dash = bad. there is a whole sticky somewhere about the C5 leak TSB.
check to make sure it has the column lock bypass installed, this was a factory recall and should have been done by now. although there are aftermarket versions which work better than the factory recall solution.

definitely get full details on why it is a salvaged car. pictures would be great also! as mentioned, if it was flooded, just walk away, the electrical problems you will have will never be worth it.

I bought my C5 which was in almost perfect condition. semi-high mileage, on a dealer's lot, clean carfax. within a week of buying it I found all of the above problems with my car. the first thing I bought for it was a service manual so I could start diagnosing and fixing the problems. the dealer had my money so they told me to go suck an egg. turns out they had lied about its certification status (I talked to GM personally who confirmed it). I have fixed most of the problems with the car, but I still have money I need to spend to fix it all.

it may be hard to walk away from this car if things don't seem to add up, but you will be spending more time tracing electrical gremlins and fixing expensive problems than driving if the car wasn't rebuilt properly. You can't possibly ask too many questions when talking to the owner about it!

 

I see this on the passenger side to.

 

Thank you for the replies, I am trying to get ahold of the owner and figure it out the guy selling it is the 3rd owner, according to carfax on 07/20/2001 it was says SALVAGE TITLE/CERTIFICATE ISSUED, on 09/27/2001 it says SALVAGE TITLE/CERTIFICATE ISSUED REBUILT TITLE ISSUED both titles were out of KY and it reports an accident in KY.

On 03/05/2002 is says New owner reported SALVAGETITLE/CERTIFICATE ISSUED REBUILT TITLE ISSUED

on 08/29/2006 Registration issued or renewed
Passed safety inspection,

The vehicle since 2005 has been serviced annually at Jim Cook chevrolet in NC. So obviously it was an accident of some kind, guess I will just have to see, this is the first vette, though that I have found that meets my self imposed price. Thanks for all the help guys I really appreciate it, 17,000 though not huge in the overall scheme of things, it is still enough that I don't want to make a 17,000 dollar mistake that is going to give me grief and become a money pit.

Thanks again

 

I see this as well now, thanks for pointing that out looks like should pass on this one then.

 

I've owned rebuilt cars in the past and I would avoid them at all costs. If you must absolutely have it and no problems persist (which could be impossible), I'd offer 50% of the clean title value.

 

Thanks guys for pointing that out to me I put a request in the for sale section for knoxville TN, and upped my limit by 5,000 to 22,000 guess I will still keep looking.

Thanks again.

 

for 17k you can get one with a clean title.

 

It's a very nice looking car, but I agree for the miles etc. you can find a clean title for the same or only a little more. I'd keep looking.

 

I can see the gap on the passenger side as has been pointed out. It also appears there is significant gap on the drivers door to fender as well.

The deal with the salvage title will be that you will have to explain the title upon your selling of the car. Which may result in a loss of capital to you.

Likewise, there can have any number of associated problems occur that are a result of the original problem.

A salvage title is nothing more than a wavier releasing previous owners of responsibility as a result of ongoing problems. It is in design to make you aware to beware and to wash the hands of those before you.

Depending on what you want out of the car it might be a good fit. Only you can make that decision. You full know what you are getting when you lay down the dough.....

 

Why does the Vette have a rebuilt title?

That is the very first question that needs to be answered.

Keep in mind that insurance company's have a tendency to determine a car is a total loss when the repair costs exceed ~30% - 50% of the cars value.

So, assuming the value at the time of repair was ~$20k, the damage was ~$6k to $10k. Thats a lot of damage.

Many times you'll find that someone purchases the car from auction and spends as little money as possible to repair it. In those cases you may find that presently the Vette seems okay, but after a few miles things start to fail - making you spend money to correct what should have been done as repairs. This can get really expensive (we had a member that was in the same boat as you are - purchased a Vette for very little $ against the BB value, salvage title - after a few months the repair costs incurred made the cost of the Vette WAY OVER the BB value).

If the Vette was 'flooded' (and not damaged due to collision), the issue is of more concern. Electrical issues can become one of the most expensive to find, repair and eliminate - just ask a few of the owners that were in Katrina.

It's your money. Consider the issues (read additional monies) that can occur in the future - then consider other Vettes that cost more that this one and do the math.

Good luck - but if you are asking opinions - run away

 

Stay away from it its not worth the headache. C5's are notorious for problems and a rebuilt one will only be worse. This is some honest unbiased advice from a long time C5 owner.

 

For a few bucks more you can do a lot better. I saw an 02 on Craigslist here in L.A. with a 122k miles for $17k. THey also had this one http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/car/416539065.html a 99 frc with 55k miles for $19.5k.... keep looking.

Rick

 

Save your money and buy one without a salvaged title, too many unknow factors with a wrecked vette. My rear end hit a guard rail, sustaining very little damage, when a semi came at me on the interstate. The diff. had a hairline crack causing it to go out months later. The car was stock at the time. You could end up spending tons of money repairing unseen damage that could cost you much more than buying one in good shape. In life you never know what will happen and you might need to sell it and you would be stuck. Too many people have been stuck with salvaged titled cars that they wished they never purchased. No way!!!

 

Try Autotrader.com

Found this one near you:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ce=&cardist=25

 

Thank you all for your help based on what was said here and by my conversation with edensknight (who really helped clarify what was what in the salvage/rebuild world) I am going to pass on this vehicle, I broke into the piggy bank alittle more upped my budget a bit, and figure I will find something to get eventually, thanks to everyone and to edensknight for your knowledge and help.

Justin

 

one more thing seller emailed this response just after I posted mine,

Yea I was'nt too sure it had been wrecked either. But it has a clear title now since it was transfered to North Carolina. I believe it was hit in the front and was very light hit, the car was fixed by Arts Corvettes in Bowling Green, Kentucky. They are a very highly prestige corvette dealership right beside the corvette manufacturing plant in bowling green. But everything had been fixed on it when I had purchased the car and there was no possible evidence that showed it had been wrecked. Thanks

Is it still worth going to look at or just run, far far away.