Should i buy a Salvage G35 Coupe?

Jonas McFeely · #1 (**permalink**) 06-01-07, 11:06 AM

Ok,so ive been looking at buying another car as a daily driver. My main choices are a '95-'99 Maxima 5 Speed, a '90-'96 300ZX Twin Turbo or maybe even a non-turbo,possibly even a high mileage '04 Maxima 6-speed.

I was browsing Ebay as usual,and i came across a wrecked G35 Coupe with a buy it now of $11,000. Its an '03 with 24k with the Automatic. Now if i were to buy one it would have to be the 6 speed. I started doing some research and found a bunch of wrecked G35 coupes all over the country with varying amounts of damage.

With my new job i could afford to finance something in this price range,and i LOVE the G35 Coupes. But i would have to buy a wrecked one and fix it up myself.

So my question is: Has anyone ever done this? Is it cheaper just to find a nice one with higher miles? Or is buying a salvage car and fixing it up a good idea/cheaper? Should i just say F it and go with the way cheaper 300ZX?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Infin...16579475QQrdZ1

urbanski · #2 (**permalink**) 06-01-07, 11:54 AM

no

edit: yes

edit2: maybe? looks like an assload of work to fix.

Adam · #3 (**permalink**) 06-01-07, 11:54 AM

Ok really it is going to cost you a couple thousand just to get the parts you'll need to get it going again. Find a higher mileage one that hasn't been wrecked or a 300ZX. That is your best route. Also, how long have you been at your current job? If you haven't been there over a year, most finance companies will not give you a loan. If they do it will be a higher interest rate.

Jonas McFeely · #4 (**permalink**) 06-01-07, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam

Ok really it is going to cost you a couple thousand just to get the parts you'll need to get it going again. Find a higher mileage one that hasn't been wrecked or a 300ZX. That is your best route. Also, how long have you been at your current job? If you haven't been there over a year, most finance companies will not give you a loan. If they do it will be a higher interest rate.

Ive been thinking and buying a wrecked one is a bad idea. Im sure Infinity parts arnt cheap. Ive found some '04 Maxima 6-Speeds for well under $15k,and that is doable. 300ZX is still up there,but i dont really want a 12 or 17 year old car.I need something reliable and fun.Interest rates arnt really an issue,im gonna get stiffed either way,it just depends on how badly i want to get stiffed. My dad knows a guy a Wells Fargo that hes been dealing with for years. Im sure i can get financed.

Adam · #5 (**permalink**) 06-01-07, 12:15 PM

A maxima though? Why not a used 03 CTS? I've seen a few around 17k.

urbanski · #6 (**permalink**) 06-01-07, 12:26 PM

no debt, pay cash

**Playdrv4me** · #7 (**permalink**) 06-01-07, 12:37 PM

Unless you are or know someone who IS a body shop, salvage yard or experienced with auto purchase and repair, wrecked cars are not a good idea for the average lay-person. What looks like minimal work can get over your head very quickly, even with little damage.

The other thing thats questionable are cars that are repaired salvages... those sometimes are worse because the person doing the repair might have cut corners or not used the right parts to do it, since its salvage already anyway.

Sometimes with Flood cars you can get lucky, but not usually. Turbojimmy on here restored a 2001 DTS flood about 2 or 3 years ago on here and as far as I know its been relatively trouble free since he dried it out and cleaned it up.

Jonas McFeely · #8 (**permalink**) 06-01-07, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam

A maxima though? Why not a used 03 CTS? I've seen a few around 17k.

$17k is a bit too much. Plus,i dont like the CTS. I would take a Maxima over one any day. Ive driven a few CTS automatics and i didnt like them. I drool over the thought of a Maxima however. Im a Nissan and Mazda lover at heart,way before my obsession with Cadillac.

Jon · #9 (**permalink**) 06-01-07, 01:58 PM

Not worth it unless you plan on driving the car to the ground. Pain in the ass to sell.

Jonas McFeely · #10 (**permalink**) 06-01-07, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon

Not worth it unless you plan on driving the car to the ground. Pain in the ass to sell.

Thats what i was thinking...

Jonas McFeely · #11 (**permalink**) 06-01-07, 02:28 PM

What i think i really want... And can possibly afford later this year...

DBA-One · #12 (**permalink**) 06-01-07, 03:48 PM

I don't think a bank will give you a loan on a salvage car that needs repair. Much less a salvage car that has been reparied in most cases. I know my credit union will not.

DBA-One · #13 (**permalink**) 06-01-07, 03:55 PM

Those Maxima with the "center" sunroof, does it open?

Jonas McFeely · #14 (**permalink**) 06-01-07, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBA-One

Those Maxima with the "center" sunroof, does it open?

Nope,but it still looks badass

jchughes101 · #15 (**permalink**) 06-01-07, 04:13 PM

In addition, most banks would never finance a salvaged title car unless you just got a signature loan. The rates on those are 2x that of a used car loan, like 14 % . If you are looking into salvaged cars there is a site called erepairables.com that has lots of salvaged cars. My grandfather and uncle have purchased a few cars from this site. Sometimes they have theft recovery vehicles with clean titles for cheap as well. There are a couple of real nice sevilles on there right now that I would go check out if I didn’t just buy one that is already causing me problems.