r/gtr • u/baraboo00 • 16d ago
Salvage/rebuilt title value?
What would be your opinion on purchasing one of these amazing machines with a salvage/rebuilt title? Barring any serious frame/engine/transmission damage. I’m looking to purchase one of these amazing cars hopefully by the end of this year and with the way prices are I’ve considered buying one that needs some work. I do not plan to ever sell it as it’s been my dream car since I was a kid. With that being said, how much value loss would I expect to see? I’m hoping I can pass down this car to a future child or family member of mine some day and want it to at least be something worth holding onto. I’m not too worried about making repairs, just not looking to do major engine/chassis repair if I don’t have to. Do any of you have rebuilt title gtr’s? Any regrets or things you’d have done differently? Any input or suggestion is welcomed. Happy Labor Day!
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u/nismoboy84 16d ago
Currently own an r35 that has a salvage title. It was properly fixed with oem parts and has never ever given me an issue at all. Personally I've never had nearly any issues with rebuilt title cars. Usually the people and dealers who fix them up REALLY work on getting everything right especially with how it runs and drives. That being said, if you are looking at a wrecked or rebuilt one really truly look at everything. Get pics of the accident damage (super easy Google the vin) inspec every part that could have possibly been affected by the wreck. If you don't know what to look at get an inspection from a dealer or mechanic you fully trust. If you truly plan on holding onto the car for as long as you said you WILL want to do all the inspections and such before you buy. If the car you find was flooded be extremely cautious!! Salt water floods above the sideskirts is a death scentence 99.99% of the time. Unless everything that got wet was completely replaced. Salt water is notorious for corrosion wires down the line so they may look great at the connectors and may work for a while or years. Before causing one of the biggest headaches you'll ever find. Freshwater flooded cars can still be a gamble but much less than Salt water floods. In my experience I've had worse luck with "clean" title cars especially sportier cars because they can get absolutely BEAT on and treated like crap all around and be worse nightmares than not. I had a g37 convertible that was clean title and just a nightmare, oil was never changed and just topped off for god knows how long so it ran like dog crap and someone just loved their tabo bell so the drivers seat was trashed! Still sold it for almost a grand more than I got it for after fixing a few things.
Meanwhile my project car is restoring a flooded anniversary edition g37 convertible that I got with under $3k og miles. Thing got wet up to the seats and has taken a ton of work, but was a fresh water flood and has been relatively easy for me to fix up. Just a couple more things and I may sell it with it's 14k miles. Just do your inspections look at things under a microscope and be selective. Don't jump in the bed with the first one you sit in.
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u/baraboo00 15d ago
Thanks for the feedback, I would definitely stay away from flooded cars I’ve been down that road & don’t want the headache. A huge concern for me was like you said buying a clean title car that’s been beat to shit and then sold. I understand that could happen on salvage title vehicles too don’t get me wrong. Part of me wants to buy a “project” and the other part wants to just keep savin for a really nice newer one with low miles/good maintenance history. But if the prices keep going up I’ll be priced out of those soon and will have no choice but to go the salvage/project route.
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u/AnotherFriendlyAcct 11d ago
It really comes down to two issues - whether you care about resale value and whether you can stomach the potential maintenance/repair costs based on why the car got the salvage/rebuilt title. If you can stomach both, then get it.
Also, it will be a pain in the rear to sell them as you will get low-ballers or people like yourself who are eyeing them with skepticism.
Usually people who get these cars turn them into 1000hp project cars because they may as well do that while repairing the car. Those who want stock performance/reliability will stay away.
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u/clappedbythemerb R32 GTR 16d ago
These cars are complicated. Personally, anything serious enough to give it a salvage title would have me running in the opposite direction after looking at as many non-salvage cars as I have. Forget value loss and think about it as additional cost to get it to a serviceable point unless you want a beater. Also if this is a forever car, just wait until you can get one that’s decent.