Okay guys and gals, I seek your wisdom and advice. What you say will help me determine if this car is worth the 60+ mile drive to take a look at it. My question is more about the dreaded salvage title the car has. Second owner claims the title is due to a theft recovery. He said the radio, CD changer were removed and the dash damaged, driver window smashed. Do all these things merit a salvage title? I thought it would have to be something like engine removed and other expensive things stolen or damaged to deem it a salvage title. Is there anyway that I can find out it was not due to a collision? If it's just theft, I don't mind it that much. It's just that I don't want a car that has been in an accident. So, my main question: Is it okay to seriously consider a salvage-titled car that was a theft recovery?

The car is a 1995 850 GLT. Owner said the condition of the inside and outside is excellent. Price is well under $5000. Car drives well and owner needs to seel out due to relocation. Should I be suspicious? Is this an appropriate price? Too high, too low (suspicion alert?)? I may look at the car tomorrow. Thanks so much!

Without reading all of the postings I'd like to add my experience with a salvage titled vehicle. I live in California

Recently my BMW K100 RS (motorcycle) was totaled by a rear end colision. My insurance company worked with me to set an equetable value based on the condidion of the bike and the accessories installed. Then they discovered the salvage title; they cut they're price by 50%! Even though, when purchasing the insurance, I'd explained the salvage title to my agent and asked if that had any effect on the policy. We eventually settled for 25% the value.

Today I was going to look at the car. Called the guy for directions and he said it was sold! Arghh! I really wanted to check it out with hopes of getting extremely lucky. But I am such a bad car buyer...I "pumped" myself up the previous day by looking at pictures of 850s and reading reviews and stats. All it did was make me say "go go go!" But I'm not that depressed about missing out on it. The discouraging replies made me feel a lot better about missing this chance. But I'm all set on an 850 now! I lost my '83 245 and was considering another late-model 245. (I will post the story soon after my depression subsides.) But then I see that for a few more bucks, I can get an 850...my true love. Thanks all for all the advice and insight.

In Michigan Salvaged titles are nasty for insurance. My understanding is that this is true in all "No Fault" insurance states. My credit union also won't give loans for salvage titles.

I've owned two cars that were bought under salvage title, and in both cases they were among the best cars I ever owned. One was an older Toyota, and esearch confirmed car was totalled because the airbags deployed in a front end mishap that only consumed the bumper assembly. The cost repairing the interior on the old toyota was deemed more than the car was worth. The owner had the work done, and sold me the car for book value.

The other car was my 945T. The company that I bought it from owns a laser-guided frame straightening operation. I got it for 70% of book value with 36K on the odometer, it had a ton of new parts in it and had been 'straightened' on this incredible device; the company I bought it from specializes in these kinds of recoveries, shows before-and-after pics and documentation, has the cars inspected by some insurance institute, and stands behind the quality of their workmanship for as long as you own the car. The car ran flawlessly to 165K (when I sold it) and it tracked straight and true the entire time.

David
(98 S70 T5SE Black, misc mods (mostly lighting), red calipers) (92 940GLE)
(Previous: 86 240DL / 88 745T / 94 945T)

If a car is crashed, it takes a craftsman to put it right. Cover up jobs make for crap runners. Take along somebody who knows what they are talking about, and have a look at the car. If its within reason, buy it, but if you have any doubts at all, run from it like hell and save your hard earned cash for something thats more appropriate.

Happy motoring

And the asking price is $4450 obo. I am so tempted, but some of the stories are pretty discouraging! I believe the car is currently registered.

Laws on salvage title vary state to state, but generally stay away unless you want headaches or can do a lot of work yourself. These 850s have enough issues without getting into the salvage arena.

I bought a "salvaged" 1988 244 back in Feb. 2001. Here's my experience:

Off the line I had to replace the driveshaft. My mechanic told me that someone used a driveshaft that was not for the car.

The car could never hold a perfect alignment for more than a week.

Remember the bad driveshaft? It ate up the bushings in the rear suspension and the tranny bushing as well.

A few months later, I found that whoever "repaired' the front end collision damage did not take the time to secure the front bumper shocks, and instead tied them to the body with wire.

Less than 1 year later, the rear left taillight caught on fire while I was braking, and burned the trunk area of the car.

I purchased the car with only 99,000 miles on it, and the body and interior were like new.

I sold it for $1,250 in Feb. 2002 to a college student who understood what it had been through.

I have the notion that once a car has been in a major accident, the frame has been subjected to stress, and therefore small things like alignment may take time and money to hammer out. I would NEVER buy a salvaged car again, unless you have a full understanding of how it came to be salvaged. Remember, you will most likely be spedning $$$ on components that fail or prematurely wear due to the fact that the car has been in a major collision. I've seen some nice looking salvaged cars, but looks can hide a LOT about mechanical integrity. Spend the extra $4,000 or so and get a "clean" 850. You'll save money in the long run.

I would demand all details of the claim before I put down a cent. His insurance company won't tell you anything without his permission, so get his written release that you can give to the insurance company. Have him write a letter (notarized would be better) stating that he gives his company (name them) permission to release to you all details concerning claim number (insert claim number). That way, they'll only release information about that claim, and not him personally.

If he won't do that, take a walk. If he will, and the company doesn't balk,
find out why they totaled it. Could be a good deal; could be a bummer.

Most insurence companies total at 80% value.
I know they did on my 944.

Could be, if you check dealer prices for everything there it could exceed the value....it'd still be a bit wary.

Run a carfax on her if you can, or at least take a friend that's an observant mechanic.
--
Brandon
95 854T 92k
Pictures =)

I am sure that every state is different, with respect to salvage titles, however, here is my experience.

I had a cherry, older Accord, with which a deer tried to mate at 60 mph. Amazingly, damage was limited to the front bumper, a headlight assembly, some trim pieces, a radiator, hood and windshield. Total cost was going to be a two, to three, thousand dollars. Everything else was cherry on the car so, for a few thousand dollars, I could have my car back, in pretty good shape. But, because the repair value exceeded (I think it was) 60% of the book value of the car, if I wanted the insurance company to pay anything, they were allowed to "total" the car, give me a settlement, and then take ownership of the car. That is exactly what happened except that I bought the car back from the insurance company, after the settlement, for $250, and then fixed it up myself.

The point is that as long as damage to a car exceeds some percentage of the value of a car, insurance companies can, and will, "total" a car. So if you have a really old, cherry car with a low book value, and someone breaks your tailight assembly, you could easily loose your car, if you want a settlement through the insurance company.

So, if it is likely that the damage that this guy describes exceeded a solid percentage of the value of the car, at the time this damage occured, then it is possible that the car was "totaled" without having been in an accident.

I've got to tell you that I believe that that is highly unlikely. Unless you are skilled at detecting signs of major body damage, or have someone who is, I'd steer clear of this purchase.

Could be. If it was a late theft recovery it could merit a salvage recovery. If the airbags were stolen (a common reason that cars are stolen today, and did you say "dashboard damage"?) make sure they were replaced with real Volvo airbags and not wads of newspaper. I'd try also to have a good Volvo tech inspect the car, if the "story" is true, it could be a real bargain, worth $200 for a tech's time. We try to drive cars until the wheels fall off, at which point they're "salvage" anyway. so that aspect wouldn't worry me. It should worry you if you plan to trade it in at some point. Also, it might worry your insurance company if you want collision insurance, ask them.

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