I'll let you in on a little secret. To find blog ideas, I use Google Alerts. So, when an alert came across for a 2004 Jeep Wrangler with Salvage Title for $1000 I was intrigued. It seemed like a good price for me - until I did a little digging. It has to be one of the biggest "No Deal" used cars I have ever stumbled upon.
Turns out the $1000 was only the current bid for this used Wrangler on eBay. The Wrangler has a "buy it now" price of $10,500. I practically spit out my Diet Coke because Edmunds.com says it's worth $8449 - and that's not factoring in the salvage title.
Of course the prospective seller spins an interesting tale (with the original grammar):
"Here is the only downfall it does have a salvage title tho this jeep has never been on a big collision. When i bought it all it had was the damage that you see on the last picture. i got this repaired and it looks like new again. There is not another single thing wrong with this jeep."
Here's why I love eBay when it comes to buying used cars: the free vehicle history from AutoCheck. This Jeep was bought by a dealer June 19, 2009. It was given a title on July 13, 2009 at 69,054 miles. Then it was involved in an accident on Aug. 7, 2009 and given a salvage title the same day in Oklahoma. On Aug. 11, 2009 it was reported as being at an auction and was titled on Sept. 23, 2009, which makes me believe it was sold on that date to the person now selling it on eBay.
It was titled at 70,049 miles and is being advertised as having 70,201 miles almost two months later as I write this on Nov. 22 where it's being sold in Texas after having been bought at an Oklahoma auction. Don't be fooled. No private seller has owned this car and driven it regularly in spite of the folksy narrative.
By the way, Oklahoma says a vehicle must be given a salvage title if it is in a collision and the cost to make it roadworthy is 60% or more of the vehicle's value at the time of the collision. That means this Wrangler suffered at least $5000 in damage, which is a lot more than indicated in the photo accompanying the ad. (I love the fact that the Wrangler is parked in front of what looks to be a church!)
I have complete info on both Texas Salvage Title laws and Oklahoma Salvage Title laws to give you some perspective on the issue.
This is a definite NO DEAL in the used car market. Make sure you always read the free vehicle history report now being offered with all eBay used car listings. It is going to save you a lot of heartache.
OOYYO's comment: Vehicle history reports are a wise idea especially if your buying on eBay. Buyer beware.
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