Hey guys/gals, I need your help/advice.

- 1997 Honda civic HB
- DX model
- Stock motor 46,000 miles on the odometer (carfax confirmed no rollback)
- Manual transmission
- Basically all stock w/ just radio
- Salvaged/Rebuilt/Reconstructed title (Car was also stolen, but recovered)
- Dealer wants $6500 for it

I went to check out the car today, but haven't drove it yet. It was getting dark so I couldn't see anything visibly out of place. The exterior is immaculate, clean, no dings or dents. The interior clean also, no signs of wear.

The sales guy didn't know much about the car. He told me it's been owned by one person, carfax reported that it had 2 owners.

Another problem is, the check engine light is on. The sales guy said, "oh, there's something wrong with the idling, the mechanic will fix it tomorrow". Yeah, like I believe him.

The blue book value from kbb.com is $6,675. The dealer wants $6500. There's no way in hell I'm going to pay that much for that car.

My question is, how much should I pay for a car that has a salvage/rebuilt/reconstructed title? Plus it was also stolen but recovered.

Another question is, if I ask the dealership about the car's history, is it illegal for them to tell me it has a clean title when it doesn't?

So tomorrow, I'm going to test drive it. I already got a approved for a loan to finance it. 5.7% percent or something since I have good credit. They want $1K down. Also, they might take a trade in on my 93 Impreza L w/ about 111,000 on the odometer. It's in fair condition.

Any help is highly appreciated. To those that know me, please do me a favor and bump this. I have until 4pm tomorrow. TIA

 

tell him 5 cash or your walkin

its a salvage title car that they bought at an auction for probably a couple thousand at the most, they are trying to turn **** into gold, dont crap out and fold

 

5 cash w/ my trade in? How about 4 w/ the trade in?

 

offer him 4 k. go low and work up. If he doesnt want to give it to you for the price you want walk away. Plenty of other cars out there.

 

Thanks, any more advice?

 

3k. Its a salvaged title and the dealer is lyeing to you already. With no trade in.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sohcvtec1995 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">3k. Its a salvaged title and the dealer is lyeing to you already. With no trade in.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Now that's what I'm talking about.

 

Seriously you can find a non salvage 99-00 for less than that, I should know Ive owned about 6 for less than that.
There is a good deal on one in Wisconsin for 3500 for a 97 Silver 5 speed clean title

Hell I bought my last 98 with a clean title for 2000.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by georgejetson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Seriously you can find a non salvage 99-00 for less than that, I should know Ive owned about 6 for less than that.
There is a good deal on one in Wisconsin for 3500 for a 97 Silver 5 speed clean title

Hell I bought my last 98 with a clean title for 2000.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You're right. What was the mileage when you bought the cars though?

 

My 2000 hatch in black was 6800 bucks had 7200 miles
My 97 was silver 2000 bucks 135000 miles
My 98 was silver 3500 bucks 172000 miles
and my 99 was silver 5000 bucks 140000 miles

 

Salvage title instantly drops the value in half.

 

Good info, thanks guys.

Bump for the first shift ******, like myself.

 

I dunno but sucks here in my state, its relly hard to get a salvage titled car from another state registered here.

 

BANDWAGON!!!!



I would say 3-4K with trade in

 

w00t! **** that, I'ma offer $2K and go up to $4K.

 

damn you guys get cars cheap

 

The car is permenantly tainted. You'll have a hard time selling it when it comes time to upgrade. When I see a salvage title, I immediately drop 1/3 off the bluebook.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MasterKwan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The car is permenantly tainted. You'll have a hard time selling it when it comes time to upgrade. When I see a salvage title, I immediately drop 1/3 off the bluebook.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yup, it has a CE light, the guy claim it's something with the idle. haha

I'm gonna go test drive it, beat the **** out of it, then leave.

You guys think I should bring the carfax paper and confront them? lol

 

I wouldnt pay more than 2k for a salvaged Civic, especially a DX.

The dealer probably picked it up for under a grand and half-*** repaired it.

I've found 98 Ex models for around $4k, with clean title, and under a hundred k on the odometer.

Besides, you play hell trying to sell someone a salvage car, especially if you had $6k in it.

Unless you could get it for around $1800-$2200, I wouldnt touch it.

 

Thanks

 

Bump!

 

I would look for a different car. Some insurance company's will not insure salavged cars or they will charage a lot to insure the car.

 

Another valuable advice. Thanks!

 

KBB is a joke anyways, everyone knows they way over-value just about every car. I went to Edmunds.com where they do "True Market Value" calculations, assuming the car is a black 1997 DX hatch with a/c, in average condition (since it has a mechanical flaw that needs repair) it gave dealer price to expect around $5000. Private party would be something in the area of $4200, which is in the vicinity of what you should offer ( before trade in) considering it is salvaged.

I bought my 98 DX hatch with CD & a/c, 37K miles on it, back in March of 2000 (it was 1.5 years old) for $9400. Sticker on these cars was in the $12-13K range new. Now he's trying to sell you one that is technically almost 8 years old w/salvage title for at least half the new sticker price? That's use car dealers for you.

 

Awesome.