Hey All,

I'm brand new to the Corvette scene, but I was considering purchasing a salvaged 01 Z06. I'm going to check it out next week. So far, the only information I have on it is that it has 25,000 miles and has a salvaged title. Besides the obvious, what are some things I should look out for when test driving the car? It is being offered at way below blue book ($15k), and I am a little suspicious. What are some signs to jump on the deal, as opposed to stay awayfrom it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

 

Personally I would stay away from it period. No matter how good it may seem, and no matter how well you treat it or upgrade it afterwards, you will never sell it. Reason being, people will never know the true damage. Get a loan spend 10k more and get one you won't have to worry about.

 

Being I'm an insurance adjuster... there's nothing wrong w/ the salvaged title. See if you can get a copy of the repair estimate to see what all was done. The C5's body panels all bolt on so it's just plug and play. Damaging them doesn't affect the car's structure at all. Now if a rail was mangled (frame rail) and had to be sectioned I'd probably walk away unless it was repaired at a top notch shop. A freind of mine just traded his '98 coupe in on an '04 z06. He'd bought the coupe used and loved it for like 3 years. Upon trade in they showed him where both rails had been sectioned up front... major work, but it was done flawlessly and he'd have never known.

Now if it was a flood car then that could make a great project... most insurance companied will total a car if it's been flooded to the dash (or PCM area) because we don't want to deal with tons of electrical gremlins down the road.

I know a few people who've rebuilt flood cars w/ great success....

Have fun!

 

I'd run from it unless you're planning on building a race car out of it or use the car as a donor car for a high performance car kit. You might have all sorts of issues when it comes time to license or insure it.

X

 

Well, we just had a season of hurricanes and flooding in Florida, so I'm guessing there are some cars out there that didn't make it onto the ark... Look for electrical gremlins and mildew smell...

 

If that's the case, check under the seats for rust.

X

 

Find out the details of the damage. If it were collision related it can be put on a laser rack to ensure it was corrected to within factory specs for a couple hundred dollars. Yeah, the body panels themselves are nothing on these cars. My guess will be a flood victim.....and that means walk away. Look for dirt in the fuse boxes, under the dash areas, nooks and crannies will be full of grime because nobody cleans them good enough to hide the damage well.

 

You buy this car its yours for life.

 

Better call your insurance company too. I looked into buying a salvage titled car on time... Insurance company (USAA) will not insure them.

 

Understand that 99.99999% of potential buyers would never buy a vehicle to be used on the road if it has a salavage title. It's that simple. Run away from it. Don't walk run. Its not worth the current and future problems as well as what you don't know regardless of what anyone tells you. So as the previous poster said its your for life if you buy it.

Why do you think they are offering it at such a great price? There is no such thing as a free lunch.

 

Run like hell from this car and dont look back!

 

DO NOT BE SCARED ABOUT BUYING THIS CAR. There is nothing wrong with buying a car with a salvage title. I live in New York and rebuild salvage cars for fun (rather than let them get stripped for parts.) There are a couple of things you should consider before you buy this car.

1) Before you drive this car drive a nearly brand new Z06. This way you can compare how the brand new car drives to the salvage car. If the salvage car drives like the new one then you are in good shape.

2) You are buying this car for way less than one without a salvage title is worth. Many people will tell you that your never going to get alot of money,for you car, most people dont want a salvage car, blah blah blah.... but your not paying alot for it so unless you plan on selling it, that shouldnt be a problem.

3) Bring the car to a body shop and have them look at it. They will know it has been hit and they can tell you if it has been repaired properly, have them check the frame and the alignment. If the car can not be aligned properly, it was not repaired properly.

4) In reference to the comment above, about insurance companies insuring salvage cars, this depends on what state you live in. I live in New York were a salvage vehicle has to pass an additional state anti-theft inspection as well as the safety inspection. I was told by a couple of insurance companies I got quotes from that the status of the title does not influence prices.

5) Find out why the car was totaled. Repair costs are extremely expensive, and its very easy to have a totaled car that can be easily repaired, but using brand new parts and paying full price for labor will inflate the price and the car will end up totaled.

If you have any more questions or there is anything I can help you with, shoot me a PM. Good luck with your purchase.

Rob

 

If anyone comes across flood damaged ( up to pcm - easy to replace) or a theft recovery with gutted inside or missing body pannels or wheels. Send me a PM.

Looking for at least TWO, one coupe and one ZO6 or TWO coupes.

Prefer Yellow coupe, no magetic suppensions, stock or Z51 suppensions 2002 or newer. must have 6speeds. or any color 2002 or newer ZO6.

I have a few friends that want dedicated C5 track cars.

we will put in Cages, trans, oil coolers, better suppensions 04 ZO6s, seats ect.

Not quite TCC, GT1, ITE or T1 race cars but a dang good DE cars and most likley not street legal.

TIA

 

You can't get better advice then this.

 

Strongly disagree and a poor use of your money.

 

Hey all,

I really appreciate all your help in this matter. I am actually in the Bay Are, CA and have to find out if my insurance will cover a salvaged title. Still no further details, but I'm not sure if I will be able to get the car checked out to the extent people are telling me. The guy selling the car to me said it comes in next week and that he works for a startup online auction company that sells salvaged cars. He said he would try to get the info of the car for me before the auction actually started, so I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Thanks and keep the comments comin!

 

I think you need to go back and read again. Cobra4B who is a Ins. Adj. lays it out on the line about the pro's and con's and you think it's a poor use of money.

 

If you restore cars professionally it might be O.K., but in the era of car fax etc. this car will always be blemished and bring significantly less money than a car with a clean title. Don't waste your money---
Run, don't walk, away from this.

 

Obviously, opinions are pretty polarized on this issue. You're just going to have to decide if you're willing to gamble on it. If the price is the difference between getting a Z06 in "some" condition and a Prelude in perfect condition, I think I know which way I'd zwing...

 

what the hell... am i missing something here? who really cares what the resell value is? maybe i'm the only one, but i buy cars to drive and have fun with, i am not worried one bit about what i can sell it for later... if the car is:

1) in good overall condition
2) a car you want
3) has no problems with insurance or smog
4) is a reasonable price

then get it, nuff said.