[s-cars] Salvage Title

[Scott Munger]

FWIW, I bought an '87 Mazda 626 when I was in high school at an Allstate
insurance auction in Colorado.  The title was salvage, as I believe it has
to be by law in many circumstances which bring a car to an auction.

The car had no major blemishes and was bulletproof for 2 years of *high
school* driving.  All I ever did was change the spark plugs and oil.  And
yes, it was insurable (not sure about collision, but I had it insured for
liability and comprehensive).  I sold the car, with body damage that I
incurred in an accident on Vail Pass and a stereo theft, for 1000 more than
I bought it for (bought for 2750, sold for 3750).

Cars ended up at the auction for all kinds of reasons.  Some were the
obvious... totalled in accidents, blood stains on the interior...  Others
may have been part of an estate sale, a repossesion, a death, etc.  But...
they all had salvage titles except a few notable exceptions where they would
paint on the windsheild 'clear title'.

I think to rule out a car simply because it has a salvage title may cause a
good deal to be missed.  The truth is, a car can have a colored past that
doesn't really affect the mechanical condition of the car.  You may want to
pass up a date with a colored past woman... but not with a car!

IMO, if you check it out mechanically and bid on the car such that you hedge
the risk of a costly repair, you may have a deal.

On the other hand, just because a car has a clear title, doesn't mean diddly
squat.  It's very easy to filter a title through different states and clear
it up.... in fact, there is even a check mark box on the Arizona (my current
home state) DMV registration  "lost title".

HTH,
--Scott Munger
'93 S4

BTW, it seems we care about this stuff more the older we get.... in high
school, I was psyched just to have a car that ran.

> Can one get insurance for a such a car?  I'm betting not for the car
> itself, but what about liability?
>
> Any other thoughts?
>
> Your collective help and wisdom is greatly appreciated.
>
> Greg J
>
>
>