Insurance on Repaired write-off cars?

xrailgun on 20/12/2017 - 23:26
Last edited 20/12/2017 - 23:28

Inspected a 2014 Toyota 86 today with a buddy who's a hobbyist mechanic/modder, with OBD2 scans and 4 test drives. Everything seemed good, BUT on checking PPSR, I got these.

NEVDIS Written-off Vehicle Notification:
QLD, 27 Oct 2017, Inspected
• I01A [Impact | Passenger front | Heavy panel]
• I03B [Impact | Driver side | Light panel]
• I39F [Impact | Airbag side | Major mechanical damage]
• I40F [Impact | Airbag curtain | Major mechanical damage]
QLD, 17 Aug 2017, Repairable Write-off
• I01A [Impact | Passenger front | Heavy panel]
• I03B [Impact | Driver side | Light panel]
• I39F [Impact | Airbag side | Major mechanical damage]
• I40F [Impact | Airbag curtain | Major mechanical damage]

The vehicle also comes with an up-to-date QLD inspection pass, and RWC.
As a newbie car buyer, those seem minor since there's no structural or suspension damage, BUT, how is this case really looking? Are any of those actually going to be problematic?

And what about looking for insurance for this car? Will I be charged higher premiums for this history?

Automotive

Comments

  • tcme on 21/12/2017 - 01:18
    +1

    Case is looking fine.
    No problem.
    No higher premiums.

    Don't pay more than 60% of the market value.

  • p1 ama on 21/12/2017 - 01:21
    +2

    As a newbie car buyer, those seem minor since there's no structural or suspension damage, BUT, how is this case really looking?

    They're not major, but definitely not minor either.

    I'd buy it as a track/hobby/project car if you can get it for dirt cheap, but I wouldn't get it to drive on a daily basis that's for sure.

  • spackbace on 21/12/2017 - 02:44
    +4

    Side and curtain airbags went off, but the above posters think it's fine? Are you fkn kidding me?

    The car has needed to have the side/curtain airbags refitted… Do you want to trust they were installed properly? There's no perfect test to make sure they work, just making sure the warning light doesn't come up on the dash.

    There's plenty of 86s on the market, it's not a unicorn. Buy another. But do a REVS before doing 4 test drives! (4 is actually pretty extreme!)

    • xrailgun on 21/12/2017 - 12:13
      +1

      Agreed, in the end we backed out and the seller refunded me the deposit. He admitted to it being fixed himself, and seemed very confident about getting any 3rd party mechanic to inspect, but I guess first time buyers fear got the better of us.

    • xrailgun on 21/12/2017 - 12:17

      Also, you seem to know a bit about 86s. The one in question was a 2014 with ~42,000km.

      There are 2 others at the same list price, both around 120,000km, one 2013 and one 2012. If they have not been written off, would they be viable alternatives? Like, how does the 86 age past the 100,000km?

      • spackbace on 21/12/2017 - 12:19
        +1

        Should be fine for 250,000+. Engine is a Subaru boxer engine

        • xrailgun on 21/12/2017 - 12:32
          +1

          That sounds great. We don't expect to put in even like 20,000km over the next ~5 years.

          Messaged the 2013 guy first. Thanks for the tips :)

  • zuuutoootuuu on 21/12/2017 - 03:16
    +1

    With airbag replacement, make sure an airbag has been reinstalled and not just a resistor to trick the self checking system.

    When buying repairable write-offs, go for ones that have cosmetic damage, if an airbag has popped, 80% of the time I wouldn't touch it.

    Find out if the person selling the car is the one did the repairing, they will have pictures of the damage prior to repairs being done.

    • spackbace on 21/12/2017 - 03:59
      +1

      Find out if the person selling the car is the one did the repairing, they will have pictures of the damage prior to repairs being done.

      I'm yet to see an owner fess up to this, normally it's either "oh no my brother bought the car from an auction", or "I didn't know it had been written off, where'd you find this out?"

      • godofpizza on 21/12/2017 - 10:54
        +1

        if the owner hasn't been upfront with this why would you trust anything else they would say?

        4 test drives? really? why would any seller allow this?

        • spackbace on 21/12/2017 - 11:37

          if the owner hasn't been upfront with this why would you trust anything else they would say?

          Pretty much lol but I'm coming from a dealership point of view, people trading cars, we don't have to think they're telling the truth, we just accept there's gonna be some lies thrown in :)

          4 test drives? really? why would any seller allow this?

          Yeah, not sure! Borders on extreme joyriding!

        • xrailgun on 21/12/2017 - 12:12

          @Spackbace: Haha it was actually 3 different people doing the test drives, we just got on and off consecutively. My mechanic did 2 test drives just to be sure of everything.

        • spackbace on 21/12/2017 - 12:13

          @xrailgun:

          But you waited till the end to do the REVS?

        • xrailgun on 21/12/2017 - 12:15

          @Spackbace: Yep. I'm kinda stupid.

        • spackbace on 21/12/2017 - 12:19

          @xrailgun:

          Learnt that lesson now haven't you? ;) But hey, at least you knew enough to do the check! Just please tell me you didn't pay more than $3.90

        • xrailgun on 21/12/2017 - 12:27

          @Spackbace: It was $3.40?

        • spackbace on 21/12/2017 - 12:27

          @xrailgun:

          Ah yeah that's the one :)

  • SPCTRE on 21/12/2017 - 10:29
    +2

    Don't buy a repairable write off unless you plan on keeping it till it dies.
    A lot harder to sell write offs. Should always think ahead what your end plan is

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