Buying Repairable Write-Off Vehicle

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  spackbace on 17/02/2017 - 17:20

  +25

  Just don't…

• 

  mskeggs on 17/02/2017 - 17:36

  Unless you are a smash repairer/mechanic or have one in the family prepared to work for nothing you will pay more than buying a car without structural damage.
  That said, a few large-ish panel dents from a car park bingle will drop the asking price of a car by 25% or more, and if they do not need to be repaired for rego, and you don't car about appearance, take the saving.
  Just don't kid yourself that you can get the saving and get a repair.

  • 

    TheAsianOne on 17/02/2017 - 18:35

    The car is fully repaired and is below market price by around 3k (not to mention the only 30k driven) which makes it very appealing. Currently I'm leaning towards just purchasing a car with a clean history based on the horror stories.

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  pantsparty on 17/02/2017 - 17:37

  +1

  Haha god why would you buy either of these cars. Buy privately, something which doesn't have a bad history.

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  roundnumbersonly on 17/02/2017 - 18:59

  I wouldn't take the risk for a car that age. You might also have trouble selling it later on if your potential buyers discover that its been involved in accidents.

  • 

    airal3rt on 17/02/2017 - 21:43

    I'm pretty certain you need to disclose if a car you are selling has been written off previously, so potential buyers will know unless you're breaking the law

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  djkelly69 on 17/02/2017 - 21:44

  +4

  Are you aware a lot of insurers won't insure a repairable write-off?

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  blitz on 17/02/2017 - 21:49

  +1

  a fairly good deal

  It is not a fairly good deal.

  it has been written off

  And that's why. Honestly, just do a search: these threads always counsel against purchasing.

• 

  captobvious on 17/02/2017 - 23:51

  +2

  Its just a bloody corolla. Common as shit and thousands out there, Get one that hasnt been smashed up.

  First Car - you really dont want to drive something that has been repaired from an accident. May end up being a money pit in the end.

• 

  RockyRaccoon on 18/02/2017 - 07:55

  +1

  Also repaired cars, tend to rust as they cant get the protection quality up to new car standard.

  Plus if the auto wrecker, wants to make money, they can even be more shoddy with the repairs, and I dont believe anyone in this type of game is going spend anymore than they have to, to make a sale.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 18/02/2017 - 10:00

    Not true RockyRaccoon, all repairs MUST be in compliance with the local state laws, the cars also go over the pit before allowing them to be re-registered, a reputable auto wrecker is not going to tarnish their record over a dodgy repair because it will fail the pre rego pit check and be sent back for further work to be done

    I wouldn't buy a repairable write off full stop, not unless it was at a dirt cheap price and something you would just run into the ground anyway

    As for rusting, any car can rust but if the repair work is done by someone worth their salt, the paint and finish will be just like OEM, all paint comes from one place to be honest (reputable brands, colour matching etc not your dodgy spray can shit)

    I have had friends buy dirt cheap write offs and had no issues, but there are two sides to every story and they bought the car with the intention to run it until it died, selling it off is just not worth it once you own it as people are too uneducated with facts vs reality of a repairable write off

    • 

      RockyRaccoon on 18/02/2017 - 14:12

      +2

      I didn't say dodgy. I said shoddy. Meaning not to the standard of an original car. You say they can match the quality of a new car. That's easy to say but harder to achieve. Hence the insurance co's write cars off

      The repairer in this case isn't liable to make it last a lifetime like some insurers claim, they just need to have it clean enough to go over a pit. A pit inspection isnt going to tell you if the repair is properly prepped. It can look good and clean, but if the surface isnt properly prepared, prepsol etc, over time it will rust.

      Your friends are motivated differently. The Wrecker is building to a price. And they wouldn't be that stupid to repair it lower than the pit inspection standard, otherwise it wouldn't pass. But they will cut corners where they can.

      Also nothing here to say this wrecker is reputable

      I wouldn't go so far as to say people are uneducated with the facts. The real issue is that since they cant determine the facts, they should just play safe.

• 

  PVA on 18/02/2017 - 10:14

  Don't buy either, simple.
  Car sales is around $8 k so you saying this seller has it for $5000. That's even too dear.

  Start by ringing your insurance company and ask about insuring a repairable write off car.

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  [Deactivated] on 18/02/2017 - 14:06

  They would repair them but just and sell the rest of the problems to you

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  bradsmrbetty on 20/02/2017 - 18:15

  Depends on whether you intented to move states ever.
  You can't register a repairable write off in NSW (maybe other states to) also insurance companies don't like them very much.

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  TheAsianOne on 20/02/2017 - 19:19

  Thank for the advice! Decided against it based on OzBargainers advice.

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  leetguy101 on 20/02/2017 - 19:20

  This is the exact opposite of an $80,000 car.