[s-cars] Re: S-CAR-List digest, Vol 1 #1055 - 9 msgs

[CyberPoet]

Answers:

1. You buy a car with a salvage title if, and only if, you
can afford to write the whole car when stolen, wrecked,
etc. I haven't found a single insurance company out there
who will insure a salvage titled car with liability
insurance (the insurance industry doesn't want to
double-pay total loss for any given vehicle). Talk to
various agents -- there may be one who knows how to get it
recertified for liability coverage (but get it recertified
before buying it!).

2. The value of a salvage title car can be estimated at 35%
(dealer) to 68% (end-user) of the value of the same car
with a clean title. Be advised that if any stolen ("hot")
parts were used in the rebuilding, it is possible that
those parts can be seized by the police without notice for
return to their original owners (thus possibly leaving you
without such niceties as an engine). Check the engine #'s
against the VIN at the dealer or your local police station
to help ensure against such an eventuality.

3. Audi's often get totaled out when they shouldn't because
many insurance companies use third-party adjustors who
calculate a total at a very low amount because of the
aluminum frame system of the car (there are few shops with
the equipment to correctly straighten and repair aluminum
frames). In the case of my previous Audi 200Turbo, the
adjustor totaled the car out simply because he couldn't get
the hood open in my parking lot -- the damage was probably
40% of the total value in reality.

4. Cheapest insurance I have found for the Audi (with a
reasonably clean driving record) has been at
www.electricinsurance.com
One other word on electric: they pay exceedingly well when
a car gets totaled out.

Best Wishes,
=-= Marc Glasgow

On Monday, February 10, 2003, at 11:20 PM,
s-car-list-request at audifans.com wrote:

> Questions:
>
> Is the rule you simply do not buy a car with a salvage title, or are
> there exceptions?   I realize that if I buy this car, for all intents
> and purposes, I am stuck with it.
>
> What should the price be?   Are we talking parts car pricing here?
>
> Can one get insurance for a such a car?  I'm betting not for the car
> itself, but what about liability?
>
> Any other thoughts?
>