Flood or collision
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2017
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From: Conway South Carolina
Flood or collision
If you had to choose between two cars, one with minor flooding(Just over the door sill onto the carpeting), and another that was in a collision, which one with a rebuilt/salvage title would you choose? I've come across a couple cars at reputable businesses, but anytime I see rebuilt/salvage, warning bells start going off.
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Dec 24, 2022, 01:30 PM
@C7GSM7VERT
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From: S.F. Bay Area,CA
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2022
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From: MN
I'd never buy a flooded car unless I was prepared to replace all upholstery and wheel bearings.
Regarding collision, key is to understand the collision and whether it was fixed properly. Get a body shop to look at frame damage and any indications that spent airbags were replaced with new genuine airbags.
Also know that they can be difficult to sell; lower price and longer time. Also, some insurance company's won't insure them, or if they do, at a lower price. Chances are you won't get a warranty on a rebuilt salvage.
Regarding collision, key is to understand the collision and whether it was fixed properly. Get a body shop to look at frame damage and any indications that spent airbags were replaced with new genuine airbags.
Also know that they can be difficult to sell; lower price and longer time. Also, some insurance company's won't insure them, or if they do, at a lower price. Chances are you won't get a warranty on a rebuilt salvage.
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Flooding can have long term electrical problems for a long time and a C7 has a lot of electronics.. collision you would have to know every detail of what happened and how it was fixed.. I'd personally run far away from both unless it was given to you for free...
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Neither, you won't know the full extent of the damage.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2022
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From: Phoenix, Arizona
Another thing to think about with flooding, was it salt, brackish, or fresh water? While I personally wouldn't buy a flooded car at all, salt or brackish water exposure should be completely out of the question regardless of price. The hidden corrosion factor is just too great.
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Racer
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From: Effingham county GA
My concern with the minor flooding of a car is the electronics. You did define minor flooding as: Just over the door sill onto the carpeting. If the electronics did not get wet, I pick the flooded car.
Race Director
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From: Holly Springs NC
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I'd go for option 3, for the same money, a higher mileage, older C7 with neither problem.
Keep in mind, look at the reactions here in this thread. Trying to sell a flood or totalled C7 is very difficult. Higher mileage and/or older C7, not much of a problem.
Keep in mind, look at the reactions here in this thread. Trying to sell a flood or totalled C7 is very difficult. Higher mileage and/or older C7, not much of a problem.
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Realistically, I would keep looking for a car with no jaded history. But, just for the sake of the thread topic, I would probably choose the collision car if I knew what the extent of the damage was.
Too many other cars are out there.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Saw' em off TX
Lots of misinformation on this thread. Currently drive a salvage 2015 3lt z51 from a flood. Car is great. Has put about 20k miles and 5 years since the salvage. Insured through Geico like all my other cars.
slavage cars get purchased just as easy as non salvage if they’re priced right. I see perfect c7’s on the for sale forum for months and months because they’re not priced to sell. Price a salvage car to sell and it will sell.
As for the question. Whichever one can show you the work done. I bought mine from a poster here who detailed the work done. There are tons of gypsies on Facebook selling salvage. Tread lightly if they can’t show you the work done.
flood titles can be great bargains as most insurers will total most cars if flooded above the door jam. Good luck!🍀
slavage cars get purchased just as easy as non salvage if they’re priced right. I see perfect c7’s on the for sale forum for months and months because they’re not priced to sell. Price a salvage car to sell and it will sell.
As for the question. Whichever one can show you the work done. I bought mine from a poster here who detailed the work done. There are tons of gypsies on Facebook selling salvage. Tread lightly if they can’t show you the work done.
flood titles can be great bargains as most insurers will total most cars if flooded above the door jam. Good luck!🍀
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2022
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From: MN
My one experience with a rebuilt salvage was a 2016 WRX. Paid $16k for it with 15k miles, and the mid-level options. It had slid into a telephone pole on the driver's door, and been very nicely repaired. At the time, equivalent comps were going for about $24k, so there was a significant savings. No warranty from Subaru, but that's OK as I was going to tune it for E30 anyway.
Had the car two years and added ~20k miles with almost zero issues. One control arm bushing had to be replaced, and I had to have the driver's side door re-keyed; total cost less than $100. I sold it for $16k right before Covid hit and made the market wonky, so I basically just paid the state taxes to drive it for two years.
Would I do it again? It depends. Assuming it was fixed properly. For a daily driver? Sure, if the price is right, knowing that it can be difficult to sell later. Maybe a rebuilt one would be perfect if you plan to track it. But for a 'precious' car? mmmm maybe not. If the market is geared towards high-priced, babied and pristine vehicles (like the C7 market generally is) there won't be many buyers willing to pick up rebuilt vehicles.
Had the car two years and added ~20k miles with almost zero issues. One control arm bushing had to be replaced, and I had to have the driver's side door re-keyed; total cost less than $100. I sold it for $16k right before Covid hit and made the market wonky, so I basically just paid the state taxes to drive it for two years.
Would I do it again? It depends. Assuming it was fixed properly. For a daily driver? Sure, if the price is right, knowing that it can be difficult to sell later. Maybe a rebuilt one would be perfect if you plan to track it. But for a 'precious' car? mmmm maybe not. If the market is geared towards high-priced, babied and pristine vehicles (like the C7 market generally is) there won't be many buyers willing to pick up rebuilt vehicles.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
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Cars aren’t totaled for “minor” flooding a flood car can develop all sorts of crazy issues later as electronics corrode. So given that choice I would take the wrecked one.In real life I choose neither, save your money and buy a better car or stop being cheap, you’re not going to save anything buying a salvage car unless you want a track car and you’re going to gut it anyways.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2022
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From: MSP
If I had to choose between the two? Collision.
Flood is too much of a wildcard. I can inspect and fix collision damage. Flood damage has a high chance of wicking up wire looms and becomes an expensive nightmare to fix.
Flood is too much of a wildcard. I can inspect and fix collision damage. Flood damage has a high chance of wicking up wire looms and becomes an expensive nightmare to fix.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,488
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exactly when an insurance company sees water up into the dash the car is an instant total as it’s USUALLY a disaster later…..
Last edited by JD'S WHITE 93; Dec 25, 2022 at 11:23 AM.