Looking into an R Title mustang

[nethix]

I found an '04 Mustang GT with 37,000 miles for sale with an r title. I looked at the car and drove it around a bit. There doesn't seem to be any frame damage from what I could tell. It drives straight and it looks like the tires have even wear. I couldn't hear any suspension noises. The body panels line up decently. The competition orange paint is faded a bit, but the front bumper and roof are like brand new condition. He is asking $8500 for the car.

The car had front end damage at around 300 miles. I talked to the current owner and the guy that fixed the car (Dakota Motors in Red Lion, Pennsylvania) about the damage. They said he replaced the radiator and the front bumper. I assume he also replaced the crash support and radiator support and condenser.

I just find it a little hard to believe that the car would be considered totaled with that kind of damage. I am really interested in this car and would like to hear what you guys have to say about this.

Thanks!

 

[Modular2v]

I found an '04 Mustang GT with 37,000 miles for sale with an r title. I looked at the car and drove it around a bit. There doesn't seem to be any frame damage from what I could tell. It drives straight and it looks like the tires have even wear. I couldn't hear any suspension noises. The body panels line up decently. The competition orange paint is faded a bit, but the front bumper and roof are like brand new condition. He is asking $8500 for the car.

The car had front end damage at around 300 miles. I talked to the current owner and the guy that fixed the car (Dakota Motors in Red Lion, Pennsylvania) about the damage. They said he replaced the radiator and the front bumper. I assume he also replaced the crash support and radiator support and condenser.

I just find it a little hard to believe that the car would be considered totaled with that kind of damage. I am really interested in this car and would like to hear what you guys have to say about this.

Thanks!

Make sure you check and make sure you can insure the car. A lot of insurance companies wont allow you to carry collision and comp on a Rebuilt title. I know there are companies out there that will but at extra premium. Just something to consider

 

[trinity_gt]

I just find it a little hard to believe that the car would be considered totaled with that kind of damage. I am really interested in this car and would like to hear what you guys have to say about this.

Thanks!

You'd surprised how an insurance company will rationalize writing a whole car off if, say, the airbags have gone off...

 

[1977cobra]

I bought my 02 Mustang from Huffmans auto in Mt. Pleasant Pa. It is an R Title. I found it hard to believe they totaled the car. It was hit in the front It took a fender, bumper, and hood, air bags and the corner of the radiator support. I had about $700 in parts to get it back on the road. The only thing I lack is paint. The car wasn't hurt at all. Never hurt the frame. I even used the original radiator and condenser. It doesn't take much damage for them to total a car. Oh, and the insurance thing... I live in Pa and have full coverage through progressive. No problems at all from the insurance company. Go for it.

 

[puma1552]

I wouldn't pay $8500 for a rebuilt car when there are non rebuilt cars around for that price.

 

[BurningRubber]

I found an '04 Mustang GT with 37,000 miles for sale with an r title. I looked at the car and drove it around a bit. There doesn't seem to be any frame damage from what I could tell. It drives straight and it looks like the tires have even wear. I couldn't hear any suspension noises. The body panels line up decently. The competition orange paint is faded a bit, but the front bumper and roof are like brand new condition. He is asking $8500 for the car.

The car had front end damage at around 300 miles. I talked to the current owner and the guy that fixed the car (Dakota Motors in Red Lion, Pennsylvania) about the damage. They said he replaced the radiator and the front bumper. I assume he also replaced the crash support and radiator support and condenser.

I just find it a little hard to believe that the car would be considered totaled with that kind of damage. I am really interested in this car and would like to hear what you guys have to say about this.

Thanks!

The two parts in bold would make me walk away. Body panels should line up as well as it would from the factory and the paint shouldn't be faded.

That says to me that there may have been some frame damage with respect to panels not lining up and that they didn't do a full effort to repaint it to factory specs.

My bike has a salvage/rebuilt title. Not incredibly hard to get on a bike, but when you look at it there is not one thing that suggests it has been down. Not a knick on the frame, forks aren't bent, etc. I bought it because it was super cheap, but I'm not a fan of buying a car that's not super cheap with an R title. You never really know.

On the other hand, my buddy had a 03/04 Cobra with an R title. Car was hit front and rear. Front needed the bumper, quarter panels, radiator support and some suspension replaced. Rear required a new trunk, bumper, both 1/4 panels... it took a hit. The shop that fixed it worked that car over well. Looked and drove just as straight as a factory car. My buddy road raced it and never had an issue, just sold it for $11k or so with that title and over 100k on the odometer.

I wouldn't pay $8500 for a rebuilt car when there are non rebuilt cars around for that price.

Exactly. The low miles are nice, but I rather have higher miles and a car that has never been hit. Mine had some minor right rear quarter damage that I wasn't aware of until after I purchased it, but it pisses me off every time I think about it and look at the crappy re-paint on that quarter. Never affected the title and it was nothing beyond cosmetic.

 

[fullrearview]

Don't do it... It's just not worth it.

 

[nethix]

Hey guys,

Thank you for the replies. I couldn't get any detailed information or pictures of the collision, and I don't think I want to go through the hassle of dealing with rebuilt title so I decided to skip this one.

For now, I'll just be on the lookout for a good deal on a clean title. I'm in South Central Pennsylvania, so feel free to message me if you know of anything for sale in this area.

 

[fullrearview]

Hey guys,

Thank you for the replies. I couldn't get any detailed information or pictures of the collision, and I don't think I want to go through the hassle of dealing with rebuilt title so I decided to skip this one.

For now, I'll just be on the lookout for a good deal on a clean title. I'm in South Central Pennsylvania, so feel free to message me if you know of anything for sale in this area.

Good choice... Salvaged titled cars should be avoided like the plague with very few exceptions.