2016 GT3 RS flood car up for auction

[DRAKE Werks]

Saw this and wondered what kind of risk a person takes buying something like this? I’m sure it depends how high the water got etc. Perhaps a future race car or? Anyone ever brought one of these flood cars back to life? I’m not that big a risk taker but thought the conversation of this would be interesting to say the least.

https://www.salvageautosauction.com/vehicle_detail/Salvage-2016-Porsche-911+GT3+RS-for-Sale/lot-41273807/Houston-Texas/id/6/pg/2

[ItzaMe]

Current bid at $75k

https://www.copart.com/lot/41273807

Flooded cars can be great but can be nightmares.

Some have minimal issues and barely tocuhed the interior but with newer cars this can still lead to problems in the future with airbag lights and other sensors malfunctioning.

This car shows a water line by the door but I call BS. The auctions have been scheming more than ever these days and that car looks like it was sold by someone and now being flipped by a buyer who doesn't want to deal with it.

I would stick with a car that is still owned by insurance that is in your area that you can actually go check out the day before it goes and smell the interior for signs of mold etc.

[Catorce]

That car looks like it was totally submerged. Plan on a complete overhaul of almost all systems. I personally like salvage cars, but in this case, you'd need to pay below what it is currently bid at to have it make sense.

In many cases a collision salvage is a much more straightforward repair.

[SalParadise]

Originally Posted by Catorce

I personally like salvage cars, but in this case, you'd need to pay below what it is currently bid at to have it make sense.

This is very true. A Salvage anything should not scare anyone off. They can be tremendous bargains - and if it's a crash it can be fixed probably for a lot cheaper than buying something whole. I remember buying my BMW Z3 for $4K when non-salvage ones were going for $11K. But every single time I have encountered a flood victim that was purchased by a very enthusiastic buyer - the guys I knew of all threw up their hands and moved on because the water problems are often a ticking time bomb - and years down the road wiring corrodes, corrosion eats from the inside (lots of times mud washes into the box sections - I have seen this with Ferraris) and then what do you do?

[NorCal Ollie]

I'm always suspect that high end cars that are "Flood Salvaged" were totaled purposely for the insurance money. Dunking a car in water is always a guaranteed total loss payout with little risk to the owner.

Example, this Bugatti owner that went to jail for insurance fraud.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NJmB1F2mdE

Doesn't really change the salvage value of the car but it feel like bad karma

[SalParadise]

Originally Posted by NorCal Ollie

I'm always suspect that high end cars that are "Flood Salvaged" were totaled purposely for the insurance money. Dunking a car in water is always a guaranteed total loss payout with little risk to the owner.

You are probably right. This is quite sinister. But easy to accomplish.

[deemsriddle]

I don't think that it was totally submerged because the gages are not cloudy or dirty inside. I am sure my mechanic could get it running, after all he keeps multiple early Jaguars running. I am going to build a house shortly. If not doing that, I would fly there and look it over. How cool would that be, me owning a GT3 RS.

[DRAKE Werks]

I thought the same thing about the instruments. Local dealer had a prior flood GT3 RS that had water up to bottom of seat cushions. My friend is their race mechanic and we took it out for a drive. It looked and ran perfect. Had a hard time selling it due to flood history. But it was a clean car in every sense of the term. Someone got a bargain on it. They bought it right and finally sold it to someone for a decent profit and great price for the buyer. This one looks a bit scary with the hood discoloration.

[deemsriddle]

I like that they did not do a " mop and glow " on it to help deceive you of the condition of the car.

[Catorce]

My really good friend runs one of the largest exotic car salvage yards in the country. I have even bought a collision salvage from him. When I asked him about flood cars in general, he told me to RUN. And this is a guy who is in the business.

I do my own work on all my cars and I have a PIWIS II (expensive) to diagnose the later cars. GT3RS has modules everywhere, all of which can go bad in a flood. Dirty secret: Even if you have an account at SSF like I do and can buy wholesale, many of the electronic modules can only be bought at Porsche. DIRTIER secret: Even with a PIWIS II some modules need to be programmed with special codes given out only by Porsche AG to a dealer, which means you WILL need to take the car into the dealer for something,

It's the electronics that are the problem. A door module alone which reports the status of the lock and window can cost hundreds of dollars. If the car's programming is damaged it can usually only be repaired at great cost by a dealer.

[deemsriddle]

Good advice for all of us to heed. Thanks.