Damn kids.

"It's a "Porch-uh"" (ikazuchi)
09/09/2016 at 13:41 • Filed to: car shopping

Why are so many FR-S/BRZs for sale salvage titles? Oh, right.

So I’m looking into “fun” vehicles to buy after I !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and the Toyotabru twins are on my list (along with the NA Miata, S13 240sx, and Jeep XJ). Seems like half of them on Craigslist are salvage title with “some minor collision” that totaled the car. Are these things easily “totalable?” And I don’t mean that as “Are they easy to spin into a tree?” but as “Does a minor collision result in high repair costs?”

The whole point of selling the M5 is to get something that is cheap (or cheap-ish), fun to drive, and I can beat on it without too much worry (the M5 is too much of a collector’s item to beat on it). So I’m not too worried about resale since this will be a track car I hope to keep a while, but I don’t want it to cost what I paid for the car to fix a minor hit at the track.

DISCUSSION (18)

Rico > It's a "Porch-uh"
09/09/2016 at 13:48

It’s probably the market segment these cars ended up in.

Leadbull > It's a "Porch-uh"
09/09/2016 at 13:50

Skinny tire problems

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > It's a "Porch-uh"
09/09/2016 at 13:54

Nah, they can handle some minor bumps without getting totaled, but they are a pretty small and lightweight car. So it is easier to damage them to a greater extent.

It’s a perfect candidate for a fun track car, as are the Miata and S13. Benefit to the Miata would be cheaper consumables/upgrades, although the Toyobarus are still pretty affordable as track cars go. The FR-S/BRZ will also afford you a bit more utility in transporting stuff to the track and around town. The S13 just makes for an awesome track car, since it isn’t being used to pretend you’re a D1 superstar on city streets like most of them are.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Rico
09/09/2016 at 13:55

This^

Most of the totaled cars you see happened doing dumb stuff on the street. It’s a byproduct of being driven by young idiots who think they’re hot shit.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Leadbull
09/09/2016 at 13:57

This definitely lends a hand.

Ash78, voting early and often > It's a "Porch-uh"
09/09/2016 at 13:59

As a general rule, the lower value the car, the easier to total. If you’re looking at NA Miatas with a wholesale value of $2,500, it just takes a couple panel replacements in a minor fender-bender and the insurance company just says "F it." Not so much with the Toyobaru, but I can see this being the case with the NA, 240, and anything else from the era.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > It's a "Porch-uh"
09/09/2016 at 14:00

My BRZ accidents led to normal repair bills. Nothing outrageous and nothing close to total-worthy.

Have you considered the SW30 MR2? Drop a 2ZZ in and it’s a baby Lotus.

BeaterGT > It's a "Porch-uh"
09/09/2016 at 14:00

Must be the same kids that are giving all these Elise’s salvage titles./s

It’s not the age of the buyer, it’s the buyer.

jimz > It's a "Porch-uh"
09/09/2016 at 14:00

sometimes, it depends on if (and how many) airbags deployed. seat-integral air bags (SIABs) will tear up the seatback when deployed, which means the seat needs replacement. side-curtain air bags (SCABs) tear the headliner up and will also likely break the A, B, and C pillar trim panels. Front passenger airbags are notorious for breaking dash substrates and cracking windshields. add that up to the collision damage itself and you very well might be looking at a write-off.

the other possibility is that the owners had insufficient insurance coverage in the first place.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Leadbull
09/09/2016 at 14:00

If it were wider and grippier, they’d just be farther past the limit when they lose it.

It's a "Porch-uh" > Rico
09/09/2016 at 14:02

That’s my guess as well.

It's a "Porch-uh" > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
09/09/2016 at 14:04

I had a SW20 that was fun, but had some snap oversteer issues. Not sure how well the SW30s do, but been kinda off the MR2 since.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > It's a "Porch-uh"
09/09/2016 at 14:06

I never considered that an issue. #NeverLift

But yeah, if that’s an issue for you, stay away from anything mid or rear engined.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Leadbull
09/09/2016 at 14:09

Bro driver problems

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > It's a "Porch-uh"
09/09/2016 at 14:15

What’s your guess with you picture. Over-steer into the right side ditch or under-steer in the left side ditch? I say over-steer.

Arrivederci > It's a "Porch-uh"
09/09/2016 at 14:28

Not easily totalable, but many have been piled up. I know personally 7 people who have crashed theirs. Of those, I think 3 were actually totaled.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > It's a "Porch-uh"
09/09/2016 at 15:30

If you are considering a Miata, definitely look at an NB2 instead of an NA. Much cleaner, a little faster, and still the same simple car really. It should be an easy time finding a low mileage one that hasn't been riced for not a lot of money. But if you have the money and don't care much for the convertible aspect, definitely do FRS/BRZ. Still relatively uncomplicated and much more modern. I imagine all of the salvage titles are because the car is relatively cheap and a lot of body work just gets super expensive quick.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > It's a "Porch-uh"
09/09/2016 at 15:32

They are made of aluminium which makes them more expensive to fix than steel. The bigger issue is that they are cheap quick cars driven by a lot of idiots who think they know what they are doing but really don't.