Warranty options for salvage title vehicle?

[Wild and Free]

My wife has been looking at newer vehicles to replace her 03 VW Jetta TDI with almost 300k miles on it and she found a nearly new 2014 Jetta TDI with only 1300 miles on it but the problem is that it's a repaired car with a salvaged title. I test drove it this morning and it is an awesome little rig but having never bought a repaired car I decided to test drive it directly to the VW dealer to see if VW would still warranty it, they said on a salvage title used car no warranty unless it was repaired with 100% VW parts and even then it would be tough to get VW to honor factory warranty.

I will not buy a newer vehicle without a warranty so it is out unless there are warranty companies out there that are willing and able to put coverage on a car like this at a reasonable rate, It was a minor front collision, no body work needed all was bolt on replacement parts and no bag deployment, they replaced front bumper, radiator and coolers and hood and one fender.

Question is does anyone know of or recommend a decent warranty co. that would work with a car like this?

[flagmanruss]

I'm sorry but this just doesn't sound right.  If the damage was so minor, it would not have been "totalled" requiring a salavage title.   For such serious damage, surely the airbags would have deployed.  Are the airbags still in it?  Is it the right VIN in the hidden places?    This just stinks of shady dealings.  TGTBT 

 

I don't think I would have the patience to wade through this but maybe a car fax & trace the original owner & insurance claims.    

 

I can practically guarentee that VW will not honor warentee on a "totalled" vehicle.   You could probably purchase an aftermarket "warentee". 

     

[Wild and Free]

Been hashing it out on another forum and it has to have had considerably more damage than they led on according the this document from the ND DOT for a brand new car to have a salvaged title.

 

http://www.dot.nd.gov/divisions/mv/docs/faq-damage-disclosure.pdf

 

This sums it up for me about now. lol

 

[flagmanruss]

Like he said! 

[IBMobile]

That car is booking for about $23,000 so the damage had to be about that much or some type of damage that can not be repaired to industry standers IE: frame bent. Most after market or non factory warranties aren't worth the powder to blow them to hell. 

[Wild and Free]

That car is booking for about $23,000 so the damage had to be about that much or some type of damage that can not be repaired to industry standers IE: frame bent. Most after market or non factory warranties aren't worth the powder to blow them to hell. 

From the linked document. @ 23000 it would need $9200 in damage to meet the 40% of retail or $8000+, so at shop labor rates of around $100 and hour around here on average plus parts it is easily attainable without a major structure damage. My wife and I have been in very minor fender benders over the last few years and it is truly amazing what little it takes for a $3K bill a small dent that requires some body work and paint and maybe one bumper and light assembly ect and $3k is gone quickly so again 8-9k is easy for a frontal damage where they had to replace radiator and coolers a fender and a hood and bumper plus painting them all. I looked it over and the VW dealer looked it over and we were both amazed at the like new condition it is in yet, was a very quality repair job which this shop is known for in the first place.

 

How much damage does there have to be before it is required to be disclosed?

Damage that equals or exceeds the greater of $8,000 or 40% of the pre-damage retail value of the

motor vehicle as determined by the National Automobile Dealers Association Official Used Car

Guide must be disclosed. This does not include body or structural modifications, normal wear

and tear, glass damage, hail damage, or items of normal maintenance and repair.

If the damage is more than 75% of the pre-damage retail value, a Salvage Certificate of Title will

be issued.

[IBMobile]

 

If the damage is more than 75% of the pre-damage retail value, a Salvage Certificate of Title will

be issued.

 

So at 75% of $23,000 there was $17,250 or more worth of damage?

 

Most non factory warranties only will cover hard parts such as pistons, rods, valves, transmission gears, and shafts. They will not cover gaskets and seals. If you get an engine rear seal leak it wouldn't be covered. All so check the coverage for the control units.

[flagmanruss]

If you know who did the work & they are willing to show you what needed to be done, I'd feel a lot better about it.  Will the shop stand behind their work?  The purchase is still a fair amount of money...  but should be less than a comparable new car.   In the end, can you take the risk? 

[Wild and Free]

Come Monday I am going to make some calls and do some more investigating as to the terms of the state laws ect. and if it actually had enough damage to be a salvage title or if it just needs a damage disclosure from my learnings they are 2 very different things and want to clear it up with the place selling it and get more details from them first. Possibly I could get factory warranty on a damage disclosure vehicle versus a salvage title vehicle, this would change things up a lot.

[CTcummins24V]

Been hashing it out on another forum and it has to have had considerably more damage than they led on according the this document from the ND DOT for a brand new car to have a salvaged title.

 

http://www.dot.nd.gov/divisions/mv/docs/faq-damage-disclosure.pdf

 

This sums it up for me about now. lol

 

 

Hahaha run away!

 

He says he's already got one!

[Wild and Free]

Saw pics of the damage and it was pretty much bolt on replacement parts it needed, hood was the biggest along with all front nose components meaning grill radiator coolers bumper ect, other than headlights didn't look to be damaged, looked like they took on a deer or pole dead center front but not enough to pop any air bags, talked to them about why the salvage title and they said on new vehicles some insurance companies just total loss them and send them direct to the auction rather than deal with fallout from angry owners over issues of new vehicles being wrecked and not repaired to new condition or their standards or what it may be. They buy a lot of them this way, near new with little damage but ins co. total lossed them instead so they have a salvage title for this reason alone and not because of the dollar amount of damage.

I talked it over with my insurance provider and he confirmed this and ran a VIN check and said no problems on insuring it either, he said that the company that did the repair is his top pick for a lot of repairs and has total confidence in their work as well.

Wife test drove it today and really liked it, still thinking it over hard yet.

[flagmanruss]

This could be a really great deal...  depending on what you can buy it for...   Either way you'll feel better having asked the questions before making a move rather than after.  

[Wild and Free]

Wife is still pondering it, she has driven over 550K miles in the last 20 years in only 2 smaller cars " bought a new 1995 dodge neon put 310K on it and current 03 Jetta TDI @ 250K of her own miles" and is maybe wanting something a bit higher and bigger and more comfy going forward, lots of people do not want to ride with her to places due to her car sitting too low and being small and hard to get in and out of not to mention all the stuff she is hauling around all the time, back seat and trunk are always packed to the gills, she would really like a wagon or hatchback of some sort.

 

I can get the 2014 Jetta for 17,500 which is about 4500 less than book, not as low as I would like but in trade off it does only have 1300 miles on it. But in the end it is my wife's decision, she has to drive it not me.

[Wild and Free]

Before and after pics.

 

http://www.s2cars.com/volkswagen/jetta/14296856

 

http://www.ckauto.com/Profile_14ND21F_2014+Volkswagon+Jetta.aspx

[Wild and Free]

Wife just called me to ask what things to deal with them about. She is going to talk to them and make an offer I think. She likes the car and the deal apparently.

 

I am sitting here at work on the edge of my seat just waiting the outcome of her dealings after giving her a few items to ask for while possibly making a deal.  

[diesel4life]

If there was no structural damage I wouldn't be concerned about it. Seems like you've covered all your bases, if you can get it at a price you feel comfortable with, go for it! I would wager you can beat them up on the price a little, as green as everything in the "after" pictures is I'd wager they have been sitting on this thing since last year. A lot of people will be scared away from the salvage title, so you've got some leverage here.

The price is right, Bob!

Er, I mean Drew!

[Wild and Free]

Wife is dealing on it and 17,500 is their bottom dollar with a new battery. She I think may close the deal today but with me working night shift have not talked to her face to face for a couple days and I can't break free to get to town to help her.

 

The green is deceiving, we had an extra mild fall through November and no snow so things stayed green up to December.

 

OK just talked to her and she now owns it and is picking it up tomorrow, they are giving us 30 day guarantee on AC system in writing as that is one thing I wanted to make sure was charged and working as the front was replaced. They are installing battery and cleaning it up today.

 

Any body looking for an 03 Jetta TDI 275k ish miles, will be going up for sale in a couple weeks after giving the new one time and feeling confident in the new ride being trouble free.