Sandy cars

[rw229]

Somewhat long...

I know of a very nice 3.2 G50 Carrera that was FRESH water flooded, just over the door sills to wreck the carpets and DME. At the time the owner had much bigger problems to worry about so he filed a claim with his insurance company and they wrote him a nice check.

Realizing he had a nice car, he negotiated to buy it back and had the carpets and DME replaced. The car now seems to to run fine with no smells, mold, etc. The car is very nice with low mileage (1987 with ~50k) but now carries a salvage title.

The unfortunate thing is that a salvage title is issued for any total loss... minor flood to a car that was hit hard and put back together.

Would you buy such a car? How much would you deduct knowing it's history and a flood/salvage title? Normally I would say deduct 30-50% but knowing the car and seeing the relatively minor damage I think that it's worth more.

Thoughts?

[KNS]

Unfortunately that car will be tainted (perhaps unfairly) forever. I would buy it as a great track car since it's nice and straight.

If prices really go insane in the future the salvage title will mean less. Not that a G50 Carrera will ever reach Ferrari values but nobody cares about a salvage title basket case if the car unearthed is 250 SWB. As long as the numbers all match people will completely restore a wrecked, submerged, painted three different colors car if it is highly sought after.

[dad911]

Damage from hurricane Sandy is not fresh water. Salt & sewer backup. My son's BMW corroded almost instantly.

Too many nooks and crannies in a 911, torsion tubes, door sills, etc....

[techweenie]

Your first instinct of 30-50% off sounds right. You may suffer unexpected results of contaminated water flooding over time. As Kurt says, if you're looking for a track car or just a weekend fun car, it might work for you.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by techweenie

Your first instinct of 30-50% off sounds right. You may suffer unexpected results of contaminated water flooding over time. As Kurt says, if you're looking for a track car or just a weekend fun car, it might work for you.

For salt water contamination, a full disassembly might be required, followed by a full rinsing of all the bodywork to get rid of salt and dirt.

For freshwater contamination, a full disassembly, followed by a rinsing of all the bodywork to get rid of human waste and dirt.

I wouldn't buy one of these cars unless there was at least a 50% discount.

[G450X]

I think if the damage was to an older car with little electronics it would be less because the fix should be much less.

Newer cars with electric everything would almost always be a total write off because of the cost to replace everything - I doubt it would be cost effective unless it was a special Porsche, Ferrari, etc...

I might consider an odd flood car if the price was low enough if it was a car that I really want and I did not think I would ever be able to afford one - kind of a mental victory to posses what I consider a work of art that I could touch an "hope" to restore in the future. I fully intend to own a 997.2 GT3 some day, but I doubt I could afford an F430 6 speed and a 997.2 GT3 - so for me it would be an F430 with a 6 speed manual transmission...

I just hope the 997.2 GT3's don't start to appreciate too much in the next 5 years before I can buy one now that the new GT3's have wanky electronics and are slushbox only - I may have to flip my dream car to a manual F430 and look for a flood 997.2 GT3!

[christiandk]

Originally Posted by G450X

I think if the damage was to an older car with little electronics it would be less because the fix should be much less.

Newer cars with electric everything would almost always be a total write off because of the cost to replace everything - I doubt it would be cost effective unless it was a special Porsche, Ferrari, etc...

I might consider an odd flood car if the price was low enough if it was a car that I really want and I did not think I would ever be able to afford one - kind of a mental victory to posses what I consider a work of art that I could touch an "hope" to restore in the future. I fully intend to own a 997.2 GT3 some day, but I doubt I could afford an F430 6 speed and a 997.2 GT3 - so for me it would be an F430 with a 6 speed manual transmission...

I just hope the 997.2 GT3's don't start to appreciate too much in the next 5 years before I can buy one now that the new GT3's have wanky electronics and are slushbox only - I may have to flip my dream car to a manual F430 and look for a flood 997.2 GT3!

You do realize that Ferraris is for men with buttoned down shirts and gold bracelets, right?

[pc100porsche]

Originally Posted by christiandk

You do realize that Ferraris is for men with buttoned down shirts and gold bracelets, right?

and maybe White Gucci Loafers ?

[CountD]

Originally Posted by SilberUrS6

F

For freshwater contamination, a full disassembly, followed by a rinsing of all the bodywork to get rid of human waste and dirt.

I wouldn't buy one of these cars unless there was at least a 50% discount.

This is right on. I have seen cars that have been flooded, then stripped down and washed out. There will always be problems in the future with electrics no matter how well you clean them. You can get the body, body cavities, and the rest pretty cleaned out and dried, then WD-40 every single nook and cranny. I have seen cars saved this way and there weren't too many long term problems (that I have heard of). The 911 can come apart pretty easily and you can get to stuff, but everything needs to come out. EVERYTHING.

I would buy it, but I would buy it knowing I would keep it for a long while, because not many people would want it because you would need to be truthful about it. It could be a really good car to you, especially if the motor is OK and so is the trans. I think maybe $7500-$8500 would be fair even with this title.

The most important part of your question, is that YOU KNOW THE HISTORY, and if this history is OK with you, then you're good to go.

I mean really, I know of 911s in Seattle and places where it always rains, and these cars are always outside, and always wet, so the water has to all come out sometime. It's just getting the salt out.

[trader220]

Would this car happen to be the green coupe offered for sale in PA ?

[rw229]

It is/was not. Car was sold for a decent price, I just wasn't willing to take the risk.

Originally Posted by trader220

Would this car happen to be the green coupe offered for sale in PA ?