lx 450 salvage title

[napjulius]

greeting,

still on my quest for the perfect cruiser i came across a '97 lX450 with 168k for 5k. from a second owner.

the owner did tell me that the LX has a salvage title but is in good working condition. she has some service records. carfax shows the records come from MARS auto performance in Florida.

sometime in '99 w/ 33k miles the original owner must have been in an accident. the LX was rebuilt and used for some more years when it found its way to a dealership. then it was sold to the current owner. the owner has put some good 100k since owing the vehicle '02 or '03.

i realise that there is more to buying a car than just doing a carfax report (i read on the forum that Lexus provides records regardless of dealership, i will give them a call) but i was wondering if anyone has a cruiser with a salvage title? is it recommended? and some tips on how to go about inspecting a salvage title vehicle would be appreciated?

thanks

 

[T Y L E R]

Run...run away.


Quit scrapin the bottom of the barrel dude

 

[drifter]

I just picked up a 97 for $2200. Get a List of Damage and pics . I just Posted pic of my 97 lx 450 The salavage title Should be her in a week or so. It makes it hard to resell.

 

[malottki]

Dudes, This could be a perfectly fine truck.. From what I have read on here the ins. companies total these trucks out for no reason and people buy them back...Could only have been banged up alittle...Have a local cruiser head check it out and go through it with a fine comb.. See what the problems are if any and go from there.. Good luck

 

[bpassmore]

i totalled mine and bought it back. it is still a great truck.

 

[kidglove13]

I bought my 94 FZJ80 and it to was a previous salvaged title from a second owner. I did alot of research on the vehicle and it was a theft from the first owner whohad it for 14 years and the second owner had it for one. I got copies of the insurance peper work and the vehicle had no damage during the theft the original owner did not want it back and the second owner bought it at auction for almost nothing.
My rig is a very clean rig with only 138K on it. It took some time but I finally got a clean title for it now as well.
Good luck.

 

[T Y L E R]

.
My rig is a very clean rig with only 138K on it. It took some time but I finally got a clean title for it now as well.
Good luck.

Could you elaborate for the benefit of the guys in the states .. good points taken on the reasons for salvaging. How did insurance originally handle the salvage title? How did eventually obtaining a clean title change your insurance etc?

Peace,


TY

 

[kidglove13]

I do not know how insurance originally handled the salvage title. When I went to register my rig in Virginia and get a state title they said that the title was salvage and had to remain so. So I talked more with the state salvage title division and had to fill out a bunch of forms with regards to any salvage repairsthat were done and the cost for those repairs and a safety inspection as well. But since the insurance company paper work showed no major mechanical or body repairs done to it just about $200 bucks for some cosmetic crap they agreed to issue me a clean title. How this affected my insurance I do not know I just pushed for a clean title. Every state is different in how they handle it. Plus I do not know the full details of the above mention rig. But I would think that if you think the rig is worth buying I would look into the salvge title regulations in your state and see what can be done to get a clean tilte if you can. It all depends on the extent of the damage to the vehicle and how much leg work you are willin to do. If you get the rig for an unbelievable deal than do the leg work or just leave the title as salvage.
You need to also call your own insurane company to see what they think. These are all things that I learned in this process, but as I said my vehicle had like no damage. Like others have said above insurance companys will total out vehicles with very little damage.
In short it all depends on how bad you want the rig and if you think it is worht it.
I guess I was lucky but research pays off.

 

[TomH]

...

sometime in '99 w/ 33k miles the original owner must have been in an accident. the LX was rebuilt and used for some more years

...

One thing to keep in mind - the value of the truck in 1999 was probably about 30K. That's a lot of damage for an insurance company to total a vehicle.

 

[onewhippedpuppy]

One thing to keep in mind - the value of the truck in 1999 was probably about 30K. That's a lot of damage for an insurance company to total a vehicle.

Exactly. Most insurance companies won't total a vehicle unless the repair cost is at least 70% (+/- depending on company) of the vehicle total value. $21k+ worth of damage is a SERIOUS accident.

I've owned one salvage vehicle (Chevy Silverado), but I knew exactly what was damaged and repaired as I bought it from the guy who repaired it. It was also about 1/2 price as compared to a clean title truck. A '97 LX with 168k for $5k is not 1/2 price. There was recently a LX for sale in Wichita with a clean title, similar miles and price. That's not nearly cheap enough for a branded title.

 

[gotmud]

My insurance company salvage titled a car becuase it was stolen and unrecovered after 30 days. The car was later found, intact with only minor damage. However, it still had a salvage title that later became a restored salvage title after inspection. I think some states/insurance companies may handle this differently. The OP could have a vehicle that wasn't wrecked at all.

 

[drifter]

In WA. My 97 lx 450 Title Will be stamp as a Salvage Title. The body shop gave me a list of part that are very high priced. I could have drove it home butt the body shop had pulled it apart already. I locked at some of the Pic of truck on Mud and the trail damage is pretty bad. My salvage Title truck is Not an off road Truck. It is a very clean Socker Mom truck.

 

[onewhippedpuppy]

Just remember that if your title is branded as salvage for ANY reason, your value instantly drops significantly. So I'll repeat myself, don't buy a salvage title vehicle, even a theft recovery, unless it's a smoking deal or you plan to drive it for life.

 

[REKCUT]

Your talking about a $5000 truck not a $20,000 truck. Make sure its less than non salvage truck and a deal, but if your looking for a trial rig your going to rough it up it may be a good start. I wouldnt at all mind a theft recover truck or a hail damaged truck. I would not want a flood salvage at all.

 

[kidglove13]

As everyone here knows that buying an 80 is a committment that one must be willing to undertake and if you do you will be happy. It is just a matter of understanding what you are becoming involved with. You get alot of opinions here and they are all valid. I too did alot of reading about buying salvaged vehicles, you just have to do your research on the vehicle, or just look for something else and you will find your rig. In the end you have to be the one who is happy not everyone else. I underdstand it is a tough choice but, do what makes you happy and work on your rig and love your rig and drive the hell out of it because that is what it is all about. Remember it is all about enjoying what ever 80 you decide to buy and that you are happy. Now just go out and buy an 80 already.

 

[john_eckels]

Did you try searching Autotrader to get a comparrison of values in your area. 5K seems a bit high for one with a salvage title at least around where I live. Just make sure it wasn't salvaged due to water damage. Keep in mind that big SUV's are out, and the economy is in shambles so you have a LOT of bargaining power when buying.