Repairable writeoff - should I buy?

[JY350Z]

Hey all,

Currently looking at an evo V that is a repairable write off. The repair seems to be done fine, was on the passenger side from front guard to the door. Front bar lines up ok and paint is matched ok. The rest of the car is SPOTLESS, not one mark. Interior is very good condition and most importantly, the engine and electrics are fine. It's done 58000km and the rego for about 1.5 months. Car has dvd player, exhaust, bov, turbo timer and that's it.

Haggled down to $10k. Question is, should I buy it? Never bought a repairable writeoff before as I have always been hesitant. This seems to be a good buy. What are your thoughts?

 

[EVOCPE]

So when was it classified as a repairable writeoff?

Still registered?

 

[JY350Z]

Yeah still got rego for 1.5 months. Written off 2 years ago. Owner was pretty honest about it.

 

[evolutionary]

Doesn't sound right to be a repairable write off to only have guard and door repair. Needed to have at least 70-75% worth of $$ compared to market value of the car. So a $10k would roughly $7k damage. Check it's had VIV report done. Just be wary matey.

 

[JY350Z]

No, I'm saying that was the area it was hit. Obviously you can see repairs have been done from looking at the engine bay. Seems to have been a decent hit from another car but repairs seem ok. Just to clarify this car is already repaired and does not require any work. What is a VIV report?

Cheers

 

[evolutionary]

After a car is declared a repairable write off, and car is "repaired" it's needs to be inspected and re-measured for it too pass. It's like an engineers report for the car with numbers to be re registered. Vic Roads brought it in to stop shonky repairers buying damaged car and patching them up to sell. I've been in the auto repair trade for 15+ years and believe me I've seen it all. Just check all the numbers are legit and I'm assuming you know what to look for as in the diff between an Evo engine bay and a standard lancer engine bay? The strut towers on the evos had factory plates welded behind the tower to the top of the firewalls. Not trying to scare ya off, better if you know what ya looking for. It's not the same one in broadmeadows I was going to look at by any chance?

 

[JY350Z]

No, it's in Sydney mate. Thanks for the warning. I'll check it all out. If all is good though, would it be worth the money or am I better off buying a vehicle with no prior accidents for 14-16k?

 

[evolutionary]

To be totally honest, unless you buy it smashed and hand over the cash to fix it or are able to fix it yourself then you're really taking a big chance. Spew your not in melbs I would have been happy yo check it out for ya. You got any mates in the trade? Painters or beaters that can check it out for ya? $10k just seems too cheap to me that's all.

 

[4piknup]

get it checked by a wheel alignment, thats cheap and will tell you if it will crab when driven.

also any damage to the A pillar will write a car off even if it is only slight and a easy fix.

A discerning panel beaters eye would be a godsend.

are these a aluminium front end? if so they would be hard to pull straight

 

[EVOCPE]

They only had aluminium guards and bonnet, just get it checked over before you buy

 

[JY350Z]

Yeah I went with my mate who's a spray painter, he said the repair is fine. Just going back to check to make sure it's a genuine evo like you said. 99% sure it is though.

 

[evolutionary]

Sweet as matey Good luck with it.

 

[Sol_86]

He got paperwork for what was actually repaired? Give you an idea of how badly it was actually damaged. Had a mate did the same thing, bought the car and a month later was up for $$ to repair the previous dodgy repairs to steering/suspension components.

 

[evolutionary]

One more thing to check is how clean underneath, across the floor pan. Look out for body deadeners as these are commonly used to hide rust and after looking at 4 Evo 6's and knowing quite well Japan's use of salt on there roads that rust can form around the floor pan that holds the main components fixing diff to the car. And Evo acceleration+rusty undercarriage=big$$$'s

 

[JY350Z]

Ok, we went to check out the car tonight. This time I went with a mechanic and spray painter. Both said the repairs looked fine (from what was visible). We did a long 30 minute test drive. Car drove fine, very straight. Took it up to speeds of 100+ car still very stable. Took a few corners quickly and the car handled them with ease. I then decided to go flat foot through one corner and the car violently fought back. Turned around and did the corner again, same thing. In the end, owner offered $9k. Still turned it away. Thanks guys

 

[evolutionary]

Rule of thumb? If its sounds too good to be true, it normally is? Evo owners will agree ( and I'm on my 2nd Evo ) they can be high maintenance on the best of days you didn't want to get yourself into anything that might have compounded this lol.

 

[EVO-00X]

If you buy a repairable write-off its OK to repair and re-register it. I'd only be concerned if the car was unregistered.
If its currently registered then you have no problem unless the repairs were done on the dodgey and the car was put back on the road.
Just because a car has been classified as a repairable write-off in the past doesnt mean sh!t these days. You will be amazed at the sort of things cars get written off for now because the insurance companies are going stupid.
A slight 40kmh nudge breaking your headlight, denting bonnet. front bar and grille is enough to write some cars off, even when in the 2nd hand market you can buy the replacement parts for under $1000 if you DIY.

 

[TMAK]

I then decided to go flat foot through one corner and the car violently fought back. Turned around and did the corner again, same thing.

Maybe AYC kicked in. DId you see the flashing 'AYC' light on the dash?
I dunno much about repairable write off though.

 

[4piknup]

As evooox says, they writing everything off at present and eastern states are are statutory write off all sorts of easy fixes, like a new Hyundai with all glass smashed and house paint tipped over it.
To me that isn't a stat write off.
But it's worse over east I think they trying to stop the chop shops.
I have had 5 vehicles from write off auctions, my bike had to have the frame straightened and forks straightened. It rides good and troublefree for last 11 years
My ute was a hail damaged write off.
just got to have a good eye and be prepared for a surprise every now and then...

 

[evolutionary]

Nothing wrong with buying stat write offs. Id just prefer to buy it damage to fix myself or arrange to get the repairs done to know what's being done, then buying one that was written off in the past and fixed without knowing what had been done.

Perfect example was 5 years ago, the panel shop I was working at had a customer come in for measurements to be done for a VIV. It was a 3 year old Subaru forester. Car lined up to within specs, however in closer inspection we found the drivers rail had been stretched and the crease filled with foam filler you spray in wall cavities of your house, then sanding and sprayed black. Do that's why I stay away from previously repaired write offs.