"Milky" (jordanmielke)
02/18/2016 at 15:45 • Filed to: Lotus elise, Elise, :otus, salvage title
1
43|
"Milky" (jordanmielke)
02/18/2016 at 15:45 • Filed to: Lotus elise, Elise, :otus, salvage title | 1
| 43 |
Seems like any Elise in the $20k range has the most miles or a salvage title. The prices on these has pretty much bottomed out anyways right?
My old SC400 was totaled for over ten years before I bought. The only evidence of that was after I crashed it and saw bondo under the cracked paint.
Currently the best deals on Autotrader, salvage above and clean title below.
CalzoneGolem
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 15:48 |
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Could mean a little could mean a lot.
BeaterGT
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 15:49 |
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I think it depends on your state and insurance.
Little Black Coupe Turned Silver
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 15:50 |
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It depends why it was deemed salvage.
I know a guy who got a C5 Z06 from Katrina, because of water damage. That being said, he drove the car back to WI and it’s been his track toy ever since, so gutting the interior didn’t matter to him. It also wasn’t really that bad of damage.
Something like that? Go for it. It just depends on a car by car basis, about what happened to make it salvage.
d15b
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 15:50 |
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I don’t know. A pure performance car that is a salvage title makes me feel a bit nervous.
AfromanGTO
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 15:51 |
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A lot of the time insurance companies will total a Lotus for minor wrecks. Those reflectors on the back of the wheel wells are easy to break, and impossible to find.
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d15b
> d15b
02/18/2016 at 15:51 |
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That being said, I wouldn’t want a salvage minivan either (wife and kids).
daender
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 15:53 |
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Salvage title = ALL the reasons for track day/race car, bro.
Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 15:53 |
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I bought a salvage title car, I thought I know what I was getting into. Turns out I made a big mistake and basically threw away thousands of dollars on a car I couldn’t trust.
Aaron M - MasoFiST
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 15:55 |
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I’d want to get a lot more information. You’re talking about a carbon fiber and aluminum car, so if it was in a real wreck the chances of repairing it correctly and still making some money off of resale are incredibly low. This is both good and bad. On one hand, it means that the likelihood that the initial damage was so bad the structural integrity is compromised is lower...on the other hand it means the odds of shoddy repair work are higher.
Given the Toyota drivetrain, I’d buy a super high mileage Elise long before I’d buy one with a salvage title.
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Milky
> AfromanGTO
02/18/2016 at 15:55 |
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From what I’ve read a parking lot bump could mean a cracked clam. Aaanndd its totaled. The one above listed that as its reason for being a salvage title, but thats far from the worst thing.
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Milky
> Little Black Coupe Turned Silver
02/18/2016 at 15:56 |
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Car by car basis is solid advice.
IMO a cracked/fixed clam isnt a deal breaker.
Opposite Locksmith
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 15:57 |
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The 31k doesn't have crazy miles that's what I'd choose
TractorPillow
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 15:58 |
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As an ex elise owner, salvage title can happen from very little. Wirewheel is a great company that buys slightly wrecked lotuses and does a phenomenal job fixing them. The owners name is Hayes and he's a great guy. The only salvage elise I'd get would be from wirewheel, but I'd throw away any plans on an easy resell.
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TractorPillow
> Aaron M - MasoFiST
02/18/2016 at 15:59 |
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Correct on everything but carbon fiber. It's a Fiberglass reinforced plastic.
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Milky
> Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
02/18/2016 at 16:00 |
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This is what I’m worried about.
Chewbakkah
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 16:00 |
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Yeah, a ex-racecar driver and dealer rep in Houston once told me that the clam shell on lotus is the biggest downfall. Since its one major piece and (if i remember correctly) fiberglass it is expensive to replace.
Jay Lauer
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 16:00 |
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Depends upon the incident and the quality of repair.
I’ve owned three salvage cars. I wouldn’t say that they’re bad, but just know that a salvage car is never 100% again.
functionoverfashion
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 16:08 |
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As others have said, it has to be an individual basis, and it’s hard to know unless you genuinely know the person involved in the repairs, or the owner at the time of the repairs. And you can trust them. With a car like that, it might be less important because of the rarity. A salvage titled Jetta is probably close to NEVER worth it. Lotus? With a clean inspection from someone knowledgeable and trustworthy? Maybe.
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Milky
> TractorPillow
02/18/2016 at 16:13 |
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Good to know they do a good job at least. Looking at Elise’s because it’d be nice not to lose a ton value VS a new Miata.
A salvage title might wreck that.
.... I’ll see myself out.
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Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 16:18 |
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I bought my car from a Russian truck driver who lived in a house in the middle of a strawberry field. That should have been my first indication that something was amiss.
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BeaterGT
> TractorPillow
02/18/2016 at 16:18 |
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That’s where I plan on buying mine!
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Aaron M - MasoFiST
> TractorPillow
02/18/2016 at 16:19 |
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Correction accepted. That said, as any Corvette owner can tell you, FRP is just as bad for bodywork as carbon fiber, if somewhat cheaper.
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Milky
> Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
02/18/2016 at 16:27 |
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Never trust a commie.
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Milky
> functionoverfashion
02/18/2016 at 16:29 |
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This is currently where my mind is at.
Would have someone else inspect it at the very least.
Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 16:37 |
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Based on the miniscule price difference in the example you listed, I would gladly choose the one with the clean title. It is worth $5k just for the peace of mind avoiding a salvage title. But salvage title certainly gives you WAY more wiggle room and negotiation on the price. If you could save $10k or more, then I would say it is worth it. Of course this is only after a thorough professional inspection.
Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 16:43 |
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I’d want to see what the damage was and see some ‘before’ pictures.
And then I’d want to take it in for a *thorough* inspection... which might cost a couple of hundred bucks, but is money well spent because then you’ll know for sure whether the thing is a basketcase.
EDIT: Oh and if it was in a flood or had a bent frame, forgetaboutit.
DrScientist
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 16:43 |
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there’s 2 questions in play...
worth/value... and safety.
the value, and what you are going to pay for it, and depreciation, and what’s going to happen when you are ready to get rid of it is completely personal... and will vary on a buyer-by-buyer basis.
the safety thing is a bit more clear.
was the car “totaled” because it had massive cosmetic damage? but all of the structural and suspension and safety elements were completely fine?
if a car is unsafe following repair, it should probably not be allowed back out on the road, but i’m sure that isn’t always the case. and who is the judge of that repair?
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TractorPillow
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 16:45 |
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Shoot, no question between the two. You can find decent Elise's for 30k give or take, non salvage. I bought a 62k elise for 24,000 and sold it two years and 14k miles later for 27,500 (and no repair costs in those two years). It was the best car I've ever driven. Wish I woulda kept it instead of getting the viper.
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TractorPillow
> Aaron M - MasoFiST
02/18/2016 at 16:46 |
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Oh yeah it’s terrible. And the car is basically two pieces - front and rear clam. Fortunately some guys have started making decent aftermarket ones much cheaper (and faster to deliver) than Lotus OEM.
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TractorPillow
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 16:47 |
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Have you been to the Lotustalk forums? That's where to buy.
wiffleballtony
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 16:57 |
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The prove gulf would have to be bigger than 5k for me to go salvage.
Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 17:15 |
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As far as the car itself is concerned...it might not be too bad, depending on why it was totalled. If it was because of flooding or frame, just walk away.....Now as far as insurance is concerned, you won’t be able to get anything but liability coverage on it. If you try to resale the car, you’ll have problems, just because of the type of title it is, but if you are buying tht car with the intentions of hooning it until the wheels fall off and are no longer able to be put back on, have at it!
If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 17:54 |
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Some states won’t allow you to register salvage titled cars for road use, and some insurance companies refuse to cover them.
RyanFrew
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 17:58 |
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I would definitely be willing to pay an extra $5k for a car with 10,000 less miles and a good title.
The frumious Bandersnatch!
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 18:31 |
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Nothing to add, but here’s what I found searching locally for Lotus. Quotes are from the ad.
https://martinsburg.craigslist.org/cto/5451661316…
“IT LOOKS LIKE A LOTUS, BUT IS IS CALLED A FINO”
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https://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/5437064547…
What, why is this here? Here’s why:
“It has a factory turbocharged 1.5L 4cyl motor and came with suspension designed by lotus.
————————————————————-
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/538443…
“It loves to be kept inside at night, but loves to play out in the sunlight with the other automotive enthusiast.” [WTF!?]
—————————————————————-
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/544016…
“ How it got from Texas to the barn in rural Virginia where I found it covered in pigeon crap is a mystery.”
gamefreak32
> Milky
02/18/2016 at 21:36 |
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Honestly depends on the damage on an Elise. Clam damage can total a car and is an easy fix, buy a new one and paint it. Structural damage is never ok in these cars. Aluminium can not be replaced on these cars due to the contruction. The frame is aluminium which is glued together with special adhesives. Aluminium does not retain structural integrity after bending and being bent back. Once you get enough force to go into the elastic phase of it, you can’t go back. You can with steel by heating it.
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gamefreak32
> gamefreak32
02/18/2016 at 21:43 |
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There is a crash box in the front and rear bumpers that take impacts and can be replaced. But if the car is hit harder than about 35 mph it won’t take the entire impact.
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Milky
> TractorPillow
02/19/2016 at 10:19 |
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A Viper is my boyhood/current dream car, don’t say that! But good to know that you went “high” mileage and nothing bad happened because of it.
I’d just rather get low miles because I drive a lot and I’d like to spend under $30k. Looks like I’ll have to choose between the 2.
I browsed Lotustalk last time you mentioned it, but keep forgetting about it. Thanks for the reminder again.
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Milky
> DrScientist
02/19/2016 at 10:23 |
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Most Elise’s I’ve seen totaled are from breaking/cracking a front or rear clam. Why I made this post, really not the end of the world IMO.
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Milky
> RyanFrew
02/19/2016 at 10:25 |
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Yea thats where I’m leaning, it’d just be nice to keep it under $30k.
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TractorPillow
> Milky
02/19/2016 at 10:29 |
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It was mine too: http://oppositelock.kinja.com/make-an-enthus…
The only thing I like about it is how it looks, the seats, and the roller coaster feeling of acceleration. Otherwise it’s really not fun to drive :( the elise ruined me for driving feel.
You can find a 35-55k mile elise for around 30k, especially with some haggling. Everyone lists them for more than they sell by a few g’s. I’d buy a high mileage one over a salvage any day of the week. I sold my elise in 2 days of having it listed; would have been 6 months if it was salvage with half the miles.
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DrScientist
> Milky
02/19/2016 at 11:06 |
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which are giant pieces of fiberglass? expensive to fix, but not structurally important?
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Milky
> DrScientist
02/19/2016 at 11:23 |
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Yes exactly that, sorry should’ve been more clear.
After thinking about its the difference between getting a nice Elise with peace of mind. Or just getting one as cheap as I can.