This morning, I had an opportunity to buy a 1998 Integra Type R at an insurance auction. Here are the particulars:

1998 Integra Type R
*** Salvage Title ***
104,xxx miles
JDM front end w/ HIDs


The good:

- Its a real-deal Type R, and I desperately want to join the club
- Salvaged due to collision, not theft; so all mechanical & cosmetic goods were intact
- Collision damage was contained to the front and wasn't too severe
- Bone stock, other than the JDM front end


The bad:

- Current Salvage title that would require inspection (I've got dealer plates, so that wouldn't have been a huge deal)
- Collision damage to the JDM front, including the hood, grille, drivers fender, bumper cover (lip was missing), drivers headlight, and core support
- I'm in Atlanta, and its in Denver; my best shipping quote was around $700
- I would've been buying it sight-unseen, and only had a few pictures to go on, so acessing the repair costs was difficult

It ended up bringing $6,500 plus another $365 buyers fee on top of that. I figure with fees and shipping, I would've had about $7,500 in it before any repairs. After I repaired half of the JDM front (or replaced it altogether), took care of any unexpected repairs (there are always some of those), and had it inspected to obtain a rebuilt title, I figure I would've ended up with about $10,000 in it.

I was pretty bummed that I didn't become a new R owner this morning, but it just seemed like a little too much money to pay, given the fore mentioned drawbacks. I really want an R, but I still want to be patient and get a solid deal. So, I guess I'm looking for a little reassurance that I made the right choice to wait for another one to come around. What do ya'll think?

- Eric

 

I think you made a wise choice. Was it through copart, Iaai or another auction?

I buy tons of cars from both of them and I know how it is to want the car so bad but then you see that price going up and up and up and then you're to the point where you still want it but then you're feelin like you're pay WAY too much..

I bid on an s2k yesterday that I REALLY wanted and I set my bid where I thought for sure I was gonna get it and it ended up goin for 200 more . It was hit realy hard in the rear to where it wasnt worth fixing but I needed parts off of it to fix mine plus I would have made atleast 3k off the extra **** I didnt need.

 

Deal-breaker already for me. Not even counting all the other problems.

 

It was through IAAI. Yeah, its hard to keep your head about you when you're bidding on something you really want. Plus, theres a completely different dynamic to buying a car you plan on keeping. You feel like you can step up and pay a little more, because the profit margin doesn't really come into play. I still like to buy cars knowing that I can make a little money on them, even if I do keep and drive them for a while. The R would've been a keeper for sure though.

 

if you bought it, i had an extra jdm itr hid driver side for sale.. cheap too.. =\
maybe next time..

 

I know... I had already marked it for reference. Oh well.

 

You can spend and extra 3g's and have a clean title one.

 

Why spend this amount in a car that need big attention when here in the section car for sale a guy in atlanta or near area he's selling a 2001 ITR PY clear tittle for $7500 and just need minor attention??? Just my two cents!!!!

 

I think you made a wise decision passing this car up. You can easily find a higher mileage, clean titled ITR that has been taken excellent care of for just a couple thousand more.

A clean title, and USDM front unless the car is JDM are two very important factors when considering your purchase, IMO.

I suppose it all depends on what you are specifically looking for, but with regards to value, there is a much better car out there waiting for you at the $10k price tag you discussed.

Best of luck shopping around.

 

$10k investment in a car that would not sell on here for $10k is bad....

You did a good job passing on it!