Buying a first stang, but there's one catch....

[joseph james paone]

Short version: Found a mustang GT at an amazing price, but it stalls at idle when the engine is cold. Should I avoid this car?

Full version: Found a mustang GT premium convertible, exactly the year and look of what i've been searching for, not only that but i've bargained the lot down to a great price. 2250 for this car and its got 127k on it with an excellent condition engine and transmission. That catch, it has a salvage title from paint scratches all the way down the hood and both sides and also the engine stalls when its cold and the car is idleing. The paint scratches is no problem, a friend of mine works in a body shop and we can fix that for the price of the paint. The engine stalling when its cold and idling though... I had a camry in the past that did this and cleaning out the Idle air control valve fixed it, but i don't have experience with these cars. Is this the deal of my dreams or should I pass on this car?

Thanks! Any help is appreciated!

 

[Deleted member 38176]

Ask to take the car to a mechanic to have it looked at and pull any codes. It definitely sounds like the IAC.

 

[COramprat]

What year? But I agree...the IAC is probably the culprit.

 

[joseph james paone]

2002

 

[txredgt]

I would never put any money into a salvage title unless it was strictly a track car.

 

[Bob Hughes]

Are you sure that's the only reason it has a salvage title....???? I don't see an insurance company totaling a convertible mustang gt 10 years old because it needs touch up paint. There has to be more yo the story. I would check car fax or at least ask a few questions. Don't want to end up with a flood car or wrecked/totaled and find it the chassis is tweaked.

 

[COramprat]

I would never put any money into a salvage title unless it was strictly a track car.

That depends on the damage. A friend of mine got hit in a accident that tore up his truck bed. The insurance company totaled it so he bought it back and fixed it. It has a salvaged title but the truck is still the same truck with a new bed.

If the paint issues were negligence on someones part and it cost more to paint it than total then I could see where it would have a salvage record if the owner kept the car.

 

[txredgt]

That depends on the damage. A friend of mine got hit in a accident that tore up his truck bed. The insurance company totaled it so he bought it back and fixed it. It has a salvaged title but the truck is still the same truck with a new bed.

If the paint issues were negligence on someones part and it cost more to paint it than total then I could see where it would have a salvage record if the owner kept the car.

It does happen occasionally but your friend knew what totaled his truck, this is based on the assumption the owner is telling the truth.

 

[Bob Hughes]

Blue book on an 02 gt convertible is what $8-10k? Insurance companies normally go 60% of value in repair to total a vehicle....so unless you're going to dome crazy body shop, $4-5k for a paint job seems a little steep. Sounds like more to the story. Maybe this guy doesn't even know. He may have bought it with salvage title. just do your research and be careful

 

[wmburns]

FYI, the stalling at idle may be nothing more than the PCM has not had enough time to re-learn new idle trim values after a battery reset.

On the other hand, it could be a vacuum/exhaust leak leak, bad IAC, or 50 other things.

Suggestion. Get a Carfax report. This may give you a clue as to why it was salvaged.

 

[Jhussey1280]

It's sounds odd to me, I've never heard of a salvage title because of paint. Even a one day paint and body shop could do a cheap $500 paint job and save a salvage title. I would walk away from the car and keep looking. Dream car or not, you'll find another one if you just keep at it. If however you are set on this car, carfax it. It'll be the best $40 you ever spent. That will tell you exactly why it's a salvage title. I had a 91 fox body that was a salvage title because it was an old CHP car and they had to basically butcher the wiring harness to get all the electronics out. That and by law since it was a police car it had to be salvaged to sell to the public. Anyway my point it, I was never able to sell it for any amount of money no matter how much I fixed because of the title. I never buy a car with the intension of reselling but it should always be in the back of your mind.

 

[Noobz347]

What are they asking for the car? If it's super cheap then it might be worth it. If they're trying to get book for a salvaged title, then I'd walk.