How scared should I be of salvage title?

[neckbone]

I'm going to be looking at 3 cruisers this week. Two 97 LX450s both under 150k (both at used car lots) and one 99 LX470 with 220k (individual who has owned it since 110k). One 450 looks to be in great condition with everything working, but it has a salvage title. The other also looks to be in good condition, but both front seats have a 6" tear in the them. The 470 is in great condition, new tires and has had the timing belt and water pump replaced in the past 2k miles. the major issue with this one is the paint. Owner says it was a factory defect causing it to be very splotchy.

The salvage 450 and the 470 are the same price, the clean title 450 is 2k more. My issue is they're all 2-3 hours away in different directions, so I'd like to narrow it down before I start driving all over hell andnhalf of Georgia. I'm leaning towards the salvage 450, but really want to tap into the wealth of knowledge here before I go looking. I kniw this forum is biased towards the 450's, but what should i be looking for in these trucks? Any information or comments are more than welcome.

 

[Mighty690]

With those choices, I'd be inclined to go with the vehicle that has the most documented and consistent maintenance history. I'm not familiar with the legal aspects of salvage title, but I believe there is some increased risk you assume.

 

[retrofive]

Hard to say on the salvage. Could be marked because it was stolen or marked because it was thrown off a bridge.

 

[OffGridOverland]

You won't get full coverage on a salvaged title.
I'd spring for the 470 myself.

 

[LINUS]

Depends the state you live in.

From what I was told recently (could be a full rumor, no backing knowledge here) - salvage title vehicles are automatically "at fault" in CA if you have a 2 car accident.

Seems suspicious, but you never know with CA laws - here in WA it just means it's a salvage title & it's generally just worth 50-60% of a non-branded title.

If the 2 450's are the same price, that salvage better have a heck of a lot of good points over the clean title, maint history being the big one - seats can be recovered in a day /$675. A neglected drivetrain, not so much on the quick or cheap.

I'd have that salvage on a lift & inspected if you get anything close to serious on it.

 

[LandCruisinMy93]

I see it as you need to buy it for what it's intended to be used for. If you're going to wheel it fairly frequently I'd buy the salvage title because you're not going to be as sad if you beat it up. If it's a family hauler, transportation to a camp spot, biking/hiking trail type of rig then reliability, comfort and fuel economy should be the concern...470. If you plan on doing any mild off-roading on occasion but the rig will spend the majority of its time cruising city streets then I'd spring for the 450 with a clean title, that way you have a more capable off-road rig than the 470 with a better aftermarket and you're able to insure it with full coverage and hopefully accessory insurance like I have, that way if some jack wagon ever hits your rig or you wreck it, you should be able to easily replace the vehicle itself. All food for thought.

 

[Kernal]

What are the selling prices of each vehicle?

 

[neckbone]

The salvage and the 470 are $6k, the clean 450 is $8k. I'm buying it as a spare car as i have a company vehicle I usually drive for work and personal. Since its a spare vehicle, I'd like to keep it around 5k or as close as possible. the 470 is nice, and it has center diff lock, but it's not as cool as an 80. And, the air suspension just makes me nervous.

 

[tominboise]

I'd steer away from a salvage title - if nothing else it makes it harder to sell on when you want to move it.

If all else was the same, I'd be looking at the 470 myself. Hard to beat the V8.

 

[neckbone]

My main use for it is going to be pulling my kayak around. So, 4wd may get used some getting into sweet honey holes, but no hard core wheeling (that i forsee).

 

[neckbone]

How reliable is the air suspension?

 

[retrofive]

470 then

 

[LINUS]

470 then

Yup.

Love the SA of a 80/450 - but really I'd do a 100 especially if you ever tow anything.
Slightly nicer cabin ergonomics too, I think - outward visibility is still awesome where the new 200's seem to have a bit of a C pillar blindspot (& mucho $$)

I will say I'm not in love with timing belt motors, but the 4.7 (Toy in general) - would be my exception.

If you really don't think you'll need a solid front axle, I'd do the IFS just for simple road manners (90% of all our use, really - aside from bobbed/trailered types).

 

[1FZj80]

i would not buy the salvaged title unless you had body shop invoice detailing all work performed. Otherwise you are trusting a used car salesman which is risky and could be a can o worms
generally 'salvaged' means the cost to repair damage is greater than the value of the vehicle and insurance paid owner market price, became legal owner and auctioned the vehicle damaged and transferred ownership which became a salvaged vehicle.

 

[jaymar]

I believe salvage-title vehicles are illegal for on-road use in some states, and even if not, you'll take a hit on resale value (if that's a concern) and there may be insurance issues. Not sure whether it might prevent you from taking it to another country. That said and strictly speaking, a vehicle with relatively minor damage that costs more for a SHOP to fix than the "salvage value" of the vehicle can wind up "totaled" by the insurance co.--resulting in a salvage title when there's really not all that much wrong. Or it was stolen and then recovered, as retrofive said. (I didn't know that would yield salvage status.) That's best-case, of course. Worst-case, there's something lurking that might kill you, the truck is haunted, someone died in it, or it was confiscated from a deeply disturbed individual who WILL find you, and is checking the forums as we speak... See what you can dig up, starting with one of the VIN checking services and the insurance co. VIN site that tells you if it's stolen (though there can be a long lag-time on that). Also call the state DMV with the VIN, to check status. You should do these things even if it's NOT salvaged.

 

[b16]

Sure he takes a hit on the resale, but he is also getting a bargain on the purchase so it is a bit of a wash really.

I would have no problem purchasing a salvage rig if I knew why it was salvaged.

 

[jaymar]

True, but upgrading a salvaged vehicle and reselling can be a losing proposition. Then again, if he's like me, he's never selling anyway.

 

[Summiteer]

Salvage title aren't always the devil. I've bought three vehicles with marked titles and have gotten great deals on them and they've all been great vehicles. Just give the vehicle a really good inspection, bring a friend or two that you trust and have them drive and look at it as well.
You can do anything with a salvage title that you can with a normal title. I've got one now with a loan on it, it's got full coverage, it's registered and I can drive it anywhere you can take a non blemed vehicle.
Again just go over it with a fine toothed comb and test everything in every way you can. If it was a proper rebuild it should be good as new but save you 25-35%

 

[BVCOTaco]

I have a 97 with a salvage title, but it was due to hail damage. I didn't care about it since it is going to be built for wheeling and I got it for a great price and 3x locked! It is was major damage, then definitely check the frame and area where the repairs were done.

 

[Steve D]

I just bought a salvage titled 80 series and it was a pain to bring it across state lines. The vehicle had been titled in 3 states since it was repaired but Georgia still required an inspection. I am sure it will impact the process when I go to sell it but the 80 was all set up the way I wanted (RTT, bumpers, sliders, skid plates, drawers, fridge, etc.) For an unmodified vehicle, I would steer clear of a salvage title.