2016 GT with 5 previous owners

[Zrussian13]

Is it cheap? If it is and you can do your own work it might be ok. Auctions can be a gamble.

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[ORRadtech]

Reading the carfax I got the impression that it spent a lot of time bouncing between dealers. So it may only have a couple of "owners" with the rest passing the title around to different dealers.

It would only be a steal if you are capable of doing all the work yourself. Have you ever done any sheet metal swapping or repair? Do you weld? What about body work and painting? All that adds up quickly and I highly doubt $5k is going to touch that if you have to farm it out. And that's not even considering any mechanical damage or repair.
Also, it's exceedingly unlikely that your state would let you drive it without repairs. Most states require a salvaged vehicle be inspected for safety before letting it be registered. And the inspection/ registration process is not a walk in / walk out deal. It can take months to process.

 

[dzonis77]

I just saw what you said about how you want to daily this and you have only $5K for repairs.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but in my opinion there is almost no scenario in which it makes sense for you to buy this car. The only exceptions would be if you are highly skilled in multiple key automotive shop skills, OR you know this car is in decent driving shape. It will not be likely to save you any money over buying a more expensive car that is already known to be in decent condition.

And even if this one IS in good driving condition, you probably have to be ok with driving around with that big gash in the side, because you won't be able to fix that halfway decently for $5K either.

I got the repairs for the damages alr lined up. 5k is for everything else

Is it cheap? If it is and you can do your own work it might be ok. Auctions can be a gamble.

I would get the door ~400, get somebody to replace it (I think the ballpark for the work would be like 250?). Try to get rebuilt title and then after some time ship it to my dad in Europe where they estimated the repairs to be ~900 and he would enjoy it.

Reading the carfax I got the impression that it spent a lot of time bouncing between dealers. So it may only have a couple of "owners" with the rest passing the title around to different dealers.

It would only be a steal if you are capable of doing all the work yourself. Have you ever done any sheet metal swapping or repair? Do you weld? What about body work and painting? All that adds up quickly and I highly doubt $5k is going to touch that if you have to farm it out. And that's not even considering any mechanical damage or repair.
Also, it's exceedingly unlikely that your state would let you drive it without repairs. Most states require a salvaged vehicle be inspected for safety before letting it be registered. And the inspection/ registration process is not a walk in / walk out deal. It can take months to process.

I would replace the doors and hope it passes ?

 

[Skye]

If things unfold where you get the car and are preparing to ship, shipping companies will do a thorough inspection, for safety purposes and function checks. If you can pass a state inspection, the shipping inspection will be about the same.

If you've not already considered the quarter panel damage...for safety purposes, the shipping company might not accept that. You'll need to ask. Some dents and minor damage is often OK. Jagged materials, are often a fail. They don't want it affecting other vehicles, or the person walking next to it.

 

[dzonis77]

If things unfold where you get the car and are preparing to ship, shipping companies will do a thorough inspection, for safety purposes and function checks. If you can pass a state inspection, the shipping inspection will be about the same.

If you've not already considered the quarter panel damage...for safety purposes, the shipping company might not accept that. You'll need to ask. Jagged materials, are often a fail. They don't want it affecting other vehicles, or the person walking next to it.

Wdym people ship cars which are split in half.

 

[Skye]

Wdym people ship cars which are split in half.

That's something I cannot explain.

I've shipped a few cars as the owner/operator. In each instance, there's the paperwork, right? Once that hurdle is passed, they then do a general field inspection. It's a routine function check to confirm the car is safe and roadworthy.

As to shipping something rougher than that, reach out to a few shippers, explain yourself and ask. They probably have a web site or doc package detailing the process. You won't be the first, so they can probably give you several examples of what to expect as well as what won't fly.

 

[ray=out]

If your dad can get that quarter panel damage fixed for $900, go for it and ship it to him now. If you are going to keep it to drive around with this kinda damage for more than a week, I would strongly reconsider.

 

[dzonis77]

If your dad can get that quarter panel damage fixed for $900, go for it and ship it to him now. If you are going to keep it to drive around with this kinda damage for more than a week, I would strongly reconsider.

The panel doesn’t seem to be damaged too bad though?

 

[ORRadtech]

It seems like you have already made up your mind. I wish you luck even though I don't believe you know what all you will be stepping into.

 

[dzonis77]

It seems like you have already made up your mind. I wish you luck even though I don't believe you know what all you will be stepping into.

Not really and I also don’t think it’s gonna sell anywhere around my budget

 

[Skye]

I realize the OP might have already researched the following. I did some general reading this morning on titling and insurance in the state of Illinois. I was genuinely curious what one would be dealing with in purchasing a salvage vehicle.

Different states have different regulations. If you're approaching these topics, read up on the rules within your state.

I can think of two broad scenarios:

1. Purchasing a salvage vehicle, getting it roadworthy, registering in IL and later shipping it out of the country.

2. Purchasing a salvage vehicle and getting it drivable. Never registering it in IL. Never insuring it. The vehicle will be shipped out of country.

Scenario 1:

Cars marked as "salvage" in the state of Illinois cannot be registered or driven on public roads.

Cars previously identified as salvage can be repaired, inspected and titled as "rebuilt". With a rebuilt title, the car can then be registered and driven in Illinois.

Illinois allows companies and individuals to be licensed as "rebuilders". It's my interpretation the Rebuilder will apply for the inspections and re-issuing of title.

There are two inspections involved:

1. A state safety inspection.
2. A state inspection of VIN, placards, title, Bill of Sale, etc.

The first inspection is a roadworthiness check out and test, while the second ensures the car wasn't stolen and re-badged as something else.

The state of Illinois allows for permits to be issued, giving the driver the ability to drive a salvage vehicle to and from the inspection station.

To the insurers, I'd call and check for coverage and how much. IDK how any insurer would view a rebuilt car, if it'd be seen as a greater liability or not. The coverage will be enough time to get it to the shipper, but still, I'd get an estimate.

For shipper inspection, if it recently passed the state inspection, odds are good it will pass their inspection. I'd ask about the document requirements. In this example, it reads like the sender will not be the receiver. That might require some additional docs to keep the vehicle moving through to the end. The vehicle will be loaded onto a hauler. At port, the car will be driven onto the ship, where packed rather tightly with others for the journey over.

Scenario 2:

Shippers have several options, one being "container", where instead of being driven, the vehicle is placed inside a shipping container. Pushed or driven. A simple inspection does have to happen.. Fuel, leaks, fire hazards, etc. Otherwise, once it is inside the container, it stays to the very end. Do not register. Do not insure. Tow to shipper. Place in container and ship. Car would arrive at the far end with the title marked as "salvage". I won't guess at the document requirements, especially for the receiving end to import and register there. And there'd be the issue of how to handle the vehicle, once free of the container at the other end. If it is drivable, great.

Scenario 1 treats the vehicle as any other. Scenario 2 treats the vehicle more as an incomplete project car. The second option will cost more for shipping, but forgo many of the hurdles, documents and time of scenario one.

Either path involves a shipper and transit; I'd discuss the plan with these people first, focusing on document and inspection requirements.

Best Wishes on the project.

Edit,

Many EU countries require the chassis to be stamped with the VIN. For US Ford models, VIN stamping is not done. For EU, AU and NZ, Ford does place a stamp under the seat.

^ This could be a problem when being received at the far end. If they demand a chassis stamp, it might be additional $$$ to have the car certified as being built with that VIN.

Engines can be swapped. Placards can be replaced. Hence, the under seat stamp requirement. I've read threads that Ford stamps the VIN in other places, elsewhere on the unibody, but I've never confirmed that, never seen a picture of it.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/th...below-the-seat-to-check-the-vin-number.47715/

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/th...dy-located-ford-mustang-ecoboost-2015.196861/

https://www.mustang7g.com/forums/threads/where-is-the-stamped-vin-number.169171/

https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/search/technical-data-sheet/

In the threads I listed earlier, S550 cars sent to AU and the UK were stamped in the area we've discussed.

It's only one Member, but one in Germany, in an older thread involving a 2017 Eco, was having problems finding their VIN. IDK if that was a US import in Germany, or if he ever found it.

Back to the attached...

In this photo, there's a cut in the carpet, VIN underneath. In all the photos I've seen with a VIN underneath, the cut to the carpet looks uniform, like it's being done at the factory. I can see that. Cut that it is, it's always in the same place with the same appearance. A customs official overseas might not be so considerate if they were cutting the carpet themselves.

In my '22, there's no cut in that location. Between the push pin of the floor mat and the push pin holding the carpet down, the carpet is in-tact. The carpet is to heavy to feel anything underneath it.

Interestingly, my carpet is cut, behind the second pin, well under the seat, to support a wiring harness underneath. The flaps are there to fold the carpet over the harness, so there is no bulge. I pulled that back as far as I could to then feel for anything at all, and it all felt smooth.

I did some more searches again this morning and the topic is as opaque as it was before. I couldn't find any more threads, pictures or new insight.

Is Ford stamping the VIN to support an AU/NZ/UK requirement? Maybe. Given the option, I'd like to see Ford stamp all our Mustangs this way.

Edit,

FWIW, I went back out, pulled the pin holding the carpet down on both driver and passenger side, to get more reach. Using the backside of my hand, I attempted to feel anything resembling a stamp or mark and could not. Maybe US vehicles aren't stamped. Maybe they are, but I could not pull carpet back far enough to confirm.

 

[SCP440]

Car repairs rarely cost what you are expecting on stuff like this so double your estimate at least.
In my view it has to be cheap and when bidding you will be up against people who are looking to use it as a parts car and lie about the mileage on the engine and drive train when they come to sell it. Have you noticed how its only ever low mileage engines that come up for sale ?
Another thing actually go and look at it, you might be surprised at how bad it looks in the flesh.

 

[Joe Gonsalves]

I have a friend that buys cars at auction. He's a body repair guy. By the time he's done, he's spent about as much as he would if he just bought one undamaged. That's the illusion with these things. You think you are getting a bargain but after you fix the obvious and then the not so obvious, is when you realize you didn't make out like you thought you would. I don't get it personally. My advice keep looking.

 

[SCP440]

By the time he's done, he's spent about as much as he would if he just bought one undamaged.

Exactly, a mate bought a car for his wife that '' only needed a bumper and a light'' By the time he had finished he had spent more that if he had bought a perfect one as the bumper was 3 times what he thought it would be, the crash bar under it was bent and the light had to be coded to work so it had to be new and was a crazy price.
It has been written off for a reason.

 

[ORRadtech]

I have a friend that buys cars at auction. He's a body repair guy. By the time he's done, he's spent about as much as he would if he just bought one undamaged. That's the illusion with these things. You think you are getting a bargain but after you fix the obvious and then the not so obvious, is when you realize you didn't make out like you thought you would. I don't get it personally. My advice keep looking.

Yeah, that's what I've been trying to say from the beginning.
I think that people's perception hasn't caught up to reality yet. Pre COVID it was possible to buy a totaled car, repair it and come out ahead. Not so much now days.

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