Reconstructed Title

wannarace928 · #1 02-11-2007, 10:03 AM

I was just wondering about something. I am about to put close to 5k$ into my SVX, (I paid 3500$ for it, and I have already put 1500$ into it) and it has a reconstructed title. If you take care of the car and fix it up nicely to have no mechanical issues, and keep all service records from this point on, how much does a reconstructed title affect the value?

A little more info: It has been 11 years since it was totalled. When it was totalled it had 14k miles on it, it now has 161k miles on it, so it has had many years of use without problems. The reason I am putting so much money into it right now, is because someone didnt take very good care of it and the engine and tranny are shot.

ensteele · #2 02-11-2007, 12:31 PM

I don't know. It would depend on who wants to buy it and if that makes any difference to them or the state that they live it.

Suby Fan · #3 02-11-2007, 01:08 PM

for every other car? quite a bit.... for a well mantained svx? not as much.... it would devalue it at most 500 bucks

Mike621 · #4 02-11-2007, 08:31 PM

To give you an idea, a close friend of mine had someone run into his SVX, totalling it. Because of the recon. title, the insurance only wanted to pay out approx $500.00 for the car, and it was a really nice car. Luckily, a recent bill of sale from when he purchased it allowed negotiation for a higher price.

davew833 · #5 02-11-2007, 09:23 PM

Reconstructed title doesn't mean much to YOU as a long-term owner or to a private buyer IF the repairs have been done properly (and it sounds like they have in your case.) It can, however, be a bargaining chip dealers (retail and wholesale) and insurance companies use to sometimes artificially deflate the value of a car, especially if you're trying to trade one in or get a claim paid.

Having branded titles (flood, reconstructed, salvage, etc.), supposedly keeps the unsuspecting consumer safe from unscrupulous sellers and shoddy repairs, but inconsistent application and enforcement of DMV laws across the country means that a shady dealer can always find a way to turn it to his advantage.

Speaking of shoddy repairs, it reminds me of when I used to deliver parts for the local Infiniti dealership. One day, I delivered some body and front suspension parts to a small, dimly-lit shop whose only visible repair equipment consisted of jumbo cans of body filler. The "technicians" there were trying to piece together a totaled M-30, and arguing about which damaged front suspension parts really needed replacement! I felt bad for whoever ended up with that car!

AlcyoneDaze · #6 02-12-2007, 06:04 AM

Sometimes you feel bad and sometimes you don't. If you don't know how to buy a car, leave it to someone who does. Demand service records, run a magnet around the body, take the car to a trusted mechanic, haggle over the price and be willing to walk away (doesn't work if theres an SVX in front of you

) - buying a car? caveat emptor