Flood Car Worth Buying?
#1
Flood Car Worth Buying?
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...9145/overview/
Need some help from the Corvette gurus on here. Looking for another C6 and came across this one. Branded title, dealer said the car had flood damage about a month ago, only got into the floorboards and they had to do some electrical fixes under the seats. Willing to offer an extended warranty. Lots of red flags here or go for it? Car is obviously in great shape otherwise but I’m not sure whether this would be a steal or a steaming pile. Don’t care about resale value at all. Just looking for a reliable C6 to daily. Also they said they would reduce the price to 13,900. I would have to fly to PA to check it out and either drive it home or waste the trip. What do you guys think?
Need some help from the Corvette gurus on here. Looking for another C6 and came across this one. Branded title, dealer said the car had flood damage about a month ago, only got into the floorboards and they had to do some electrical fixes under the seats. Willing to offer an extended warranty. Lots of red flags here or go for it? Car is obviously in great shape otherwise but I’m not sure whether this would be a steal or a steaming pile. Don’t care about resale value at all. Just looking for a reliable C6 to daily. Also they said they would reduce the price to 13,900. I would have to fly to PA to check it out and either drive it home or waste the trip. What do you guys think?
Last edited by Blake Brooks; 10-18-2018 at 04:10 PM.
#3
With that being an LS2 a clean titled car would likely be between 16-20 so not enough of a discount for me to take the risk. Especially with how electrical these cars are it would worry me there may be damage even if it hadn’t developed yet.
#4
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No, at any price. Flood cars are electrical nightmares. You will also have great difficulty selling it down the road. Move on and spare yourself the headaches.
#6
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You will get a bunch of No/No way/Don't do it/Run away screaming responses on this subject. I say there is a risk of electrical problems that MAY or MAY NOT rear their ugly heads. Some people on this forum took a chance with a flood car & had great luck. I would say that with enough of a discount, it may be worth the risk
#7
Safety Car
The issue with flooded Corvettes is in the passenger foot well.
Behind the toe board is a little compartment that many very important electrical components live in.
This includes the Body Control Module and a fuse / relay center among other things.
Even though someone says the water didn't get higher than the foot wells, that is already too far.
Corvettes *without* flood damage are already finicky when it come to electronics.
You DO NOT want one that has had any water in it.
Tracy
Behind the toe board is a little compartment that many very important electrical components live in.
This includes the Body Control Module and a fuse / relay center among other things.
Even though someone says the water didn't get higher than the foot wells, that is already too far.
Corvettes *without* flood damage are already finicky when it come to electronics.
You DO NOT want one that has had any water in it.
Tracy
Last edited by TraceZ; 10-18-2018 at 05:02 PM.
#8
one question to ask is how long did it sit in the flood? Cars aren't really meant to be sitting under water for long periods of time so besides electrical issues you will end up with mechanical issues too.
#9
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Wouldn't touch a flood car at all!
#12
Racer
This car may have major issues or little to no issues. Why not ask a forum member in the area to go by and take a look and test drive for you? If it were in my area I would be happy to do so. Anyone that has owned a C6 for a few years can do a basic visual and operational inspection and let you know if they see major red flags and whether it is worth the trip or not. I would check the engine compartment and underbody for obvious corrosion. All lights for condensation and interior for dampness/smell. Turn it on and run through the DIC and see what sort of zaps you see.
Really comes down to how much risk you want to take... if the car turns out to be a mess you would likely be stuck with it and the money you have sunk in it. I would work them down on the price another couple grand as well... if they don't want to negotiate walk away.
Really comes down to how much risk you want to take... if the car turns out to be a mess you would likely be stuck with it and the money you have sunk in it. I would work them down on the price another couple grand as well... if they don't want to negotiate walk away.
#13
Drifting
You mention that you are "looking for a reliable C6 to daily". My guess would be that with that in mind, this might not be the car. Too big a gamble. Even with a great price, I'd walk. But that's just me.
#14
Instructor
I have bought a dozen rebuilders and have had minimal issues. Even so, I would not buy a flood car. Problems will take the fun out of driving the car. As has been stated, these cars are very electrical. Even opening the doors goes through a computer.
#15
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Willing to "offer" an extended warranty or willing to "give" you an extended warranty. What terms???
#16
I’m still interested in more opinions on this but it seems that the decision is pretty unanimous! My current 05 has been a nightmare and that’s exactly what I’m trying to get away from. Looks like I’m going to hold off and keep doing some searching. Thank you guys for the help
#17
#18
One of the opts have been rebuild a flood C7 for about a year now.
Electrical wise, has pretty much replaced everything, since all the boards where corroded apart. To add here, since the car is salvage, having a hell of time getting replacement modules reflashed like the EBCM even with an TDS SPS account, since GM is playing Tesla car games on savage title car as well (read GM and Tesla both don't want savage title car titled cars back on the road, and would rather sell you a new car; and controlling such on what they will allow for SPS type flashing to be done).
Now on the parts, even the torque bearings where rusted and had to be replaced, so a lot of strip down to get all the sub assemblies apart to get the water, the silt and and rusting cleaned up. Hence it not just the trapped water, but what was in the water that got trapped in the car as well. During most floods, it's the sewer system that back up and becomes part of what is water logging in the car, so pretty much anything that has collected the fecal type matter, needs to be replaced as well.
Now even after it completed, will only have about the half the resale value of a car with clean title, so still a hard market to sell its, since trying to get a loan on the car is going to be hard to find for someone trying to buy the car from you, as well as getting full coverage insurance on the car in the first place.
Electrical wise, has pretty much replaced everything, since all the boards where corroded apart. To add here, since the car is salvage, having a hell of time getting replacement modules reflashed like the EBCM even with an TDS SPS account, since GM is playing Tesla car games on savage title car as well (read GM and Tesla both don't want savage title car titled cars back on the road, and would rather sell you a new car; and controlling such on what they will allow for SPS type flashing to be done).
Now on the parts, even the torque bearings where rusted and had to be replaced, so a lot of strip down to get all the sub assemblies apart to get the water, the silt and and rusting cleaned up. Hence it not just the trapped water, but what was in the water that got trapped in the car as well. During most floods, it's the sewer system that back up and becomes part of what is water logging in the car, so pretty much anything that has collected the fecal type matter, needs to be replaced as well.
Now even after it completed, will only have about the half the resale value of a car with clean title, so still a hard market to sell its, since trying to get a loan on the car is going to be hard to find for someone trying to buy the car from you, as well as getting full coverage insurance on the car in the first place.
#19
Melting Slicks
I bought a flood Corvette in 2002. It was a 2001 coupe with 1,800 miles. I bought it from a small car lot in Searcy, Ak. The owner had about 30 Late model cars on his lot all of which were Flood cars.
He told me he had been in business for 25 years selling flood cars. The Corvette I bought looked brand new. I was Very skeptical at first. He ask me where I worked and I told Him the Union Pacific Railroad. He said he had sold dozens of cars to railroaders. I knew a couple of the guys he had sold to. I called them to ask about their experience with his flood cars. Every one of them told me they were Very satisfied with their purchase. The owner said if you repair them proper they will give you long service.
I bought the car and drove it three years my only problem was the steering rack started leaking. The owner didn't have to but he bought me a steering rack and I put it in. Other than that the car was Flawless. I sold it to a co-worker and he's still driving it.
Mainly how you repair it is the KEY to success.
Good luck if you buy one.
He told me he had been in business for 25 years selling flood cars. The Corvette I bought looked brand new. I was Very skeptical at first. He ask me where I worked and I told Him the Union Pacific Railroad. He said he had sold dozens of cars to railroaders. I knew a couple of the guys he had sold to. I called them to ask about their experience with his flood cars. Every one of them told me they were Very satisfied with their purchase. The owner said if you repair them proper they will give you long service.
I bought the car and drove it three years my only problem was the steering rack started leaking. The owner didn't have to but he bought me a steering rack and I put it in. Other than that the car was Flawless. I sold it to a co-worker and he's still driving it.
Mainly how you repair it is the KEY to success.
Good luck if you buy one.
#20
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I'm a bit of a gambler... As they say, no risk, no reward...
However, with my luck something would take a dump at the least opportune time. I think 14k could be better spent.
But, since it's your money, as long as you comfortable with the risk!!
However, with my luck something would take a dump at the least opportune time. I think 14k could be better spent.
But, since it's your money, as long as you comfortable with the risk!!