My tranny is going bad in my 1999 TL. I found a 2008 Acura TL type s with 98k miles on SALVAGE TITLE, hit in the rear. the guy wants 10k for it....and he has not changed his timing belt so thats 2k right there extra I would have to spend. Its super clean with custom rims and fully loaded car looks brand new. Is this a good idea?

 

no

 

Stay far away from a salvaged vehicle.

 

Not unless you're willing to take a total loss on it. No one will buy it from you when you're finished with it.

 

All Type S's come fully loaded. So using that point to give yourself more incentive to buy it is kind of useless. To answer your question I personally wouldn't buy it, but if the car seems ok and you don't care about what's gonna happen when you go to try and sell it then go for it. Insuring salvaged cars might be difficult as well, but I don't know for sure.

 

Get the VIN and either look up photos of the damage if its available or ask for them... and as stated above - insuring it may be a problem, check first and also if everything checks out and you're comfortable with it, if I were you I wouldn't plan on being able to resell it.

 

nope I wouldn't buy it at that price.

 

Google the VIN, I bet it will come up on a salvage auction site and you can see the damage yourself.

 

Check to make sure there aren't any other problems, seeing as how it would be hard to sell it back if you find out you aren't willing to deal with more problems.
I wouldnt risk it since seller hasn't kept up with maintenance(timing belt)

 

Not for that price!

 

all great replies. And I agree with all of you, it's recommended that you change the timing belt at 90k miles and with him not changing it, it makes it seem like he doesn't care about the maintenance. gives me second thoughts.
heres the link: http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/cto/3562221731.html
very pretty paint regardless!

Now is this a good deal?
Private party black on black 2006 Acura tl with nav and 52k miles on the guy wants $15k. seems pretty reasonable? Its a clean title and all service records available; http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/cto/3593290328.html

 

DIY timing belt, only $300 in parts.

 

+1 Excellent advice!

Acura recommends changing the belt, and pump at 105k.

 

I love when people say the car they are selling is "loaded" when it's nowhere close

 

depends, if the title of the car is from the same state your going to register the car then it wont be a problem if it was register there after being salvage.

 

how the fuck is this even a discussion? Don't buy a salvage title car.

 

I would stay away from a newer car with a salvage title. And I don't remember there being any options for a TL-S besides 5AT or 6MT.

 

Helooooooo!b

 

it says it was totaled from a "small hit" to the rear .. thats complete bs in itself .. PASS!

 

It takes some pretty serious damage to SALVAGE a newer car. My eight year old Camaro was totaled, with what I thought was 'minor' damage, until it was explained to me what would be required to fix it.

The problem with a non-framed, uni-body vehicle, is a major hit will pretty much bend the entire vehicle, requiring some considerable 'straightening'. Or else the vehicle has water damage - which will also garner a SALVAGE title.

For a major 'hit-in-the-rear', a typical 'repair' for a uni-body vehicle is to simply cut the vehicle in half, behind the rear doors, and replace the rear half with the back of another different vehicle, that was 'hit-in-the-front'. And that is why it gets a SALVAGE title. Its now really two different vehicles, sort of 'glued' together.

You can determine if that is the case, by simply checking the VIN numbers on all of the major body panels. Just compare the front fender VIN with the rear fender VIN numbers. If they are different, well, ...