Help Buying A Restored "Repairable Write Off" From Used Car Dealer

[Country Girl]

Hi, I need some advice. I've come across a VZ commodore wagon for a really good price with low km's (70K). It's cheap. The dealer advised me it has been in an accident. Was a 'repairable write off'. He tells me it was the front side and door. Is fixed and drives beautiful....better than another vz they have which hasn't been in an accident. The car is in the western suburbs caryard. My partner heard from a mate whose been in the business for years....that the dealers are really dodgy out there ....
Should I buy this car or is it going to be a problem reselling later on or is it a bargain I shouldn't let get away? Has anyone ever bought a car like this? I'm really keen but a bit alarmed at how good it sounds and cheap. Thanks

[PaulSV6]

I would steer clear of any car that has been in a accident & is for sale. You dont know how much the cars structual integrity has been compromised.

Personally i havent bought a repairable write off nor would i buy one. Keep searching till u find what you like that hasnt been in a accident.

[mattsv6]

Do not buy it. It's not worth the risk.

[davenmarcia]

unless your buying it with no finance don't bother as not many finance company will do repaired write off cars. also insurance companies may or maynot insure them. I was in a similar situation a few months ago was offered a VY S pac with ss front and lights but couldn't get any finance and insurance was painfull to find.
Our friends have bought 3 cars from this person and he does a great job on repairs and even the slightest structural he scraps the cars for parts.

[Exidor]

Is it a Vic Reg vehicle?
Go here and do some research.
VicRoads: Vehicle Status Checks
Dont forget to type in the words at the bottom to get the damage details.
Or supply me with the Rego and I will do it for you.
Will then post results.

Of course it will be a problem selling it later. You do get what you pay for.

Or buy a VIP. See attached file.

[the_trademarc]

How cheap are we talking? 7,8? 10-12? You can find a lot of VZ Exec's, with a few k's on it, albeit, for about 10-11 now.
And for 7,8, you're better off looking at VX S-Pack, or maybe a Berlina

[GetToDaChopa]

I'd pay a professional come with you to check it to make sure everything else is ok.

[the_trademarc]

Always worth a REV Check and a NRMA Vehicle Inspection Report before you buy any vehicle

[VesperZ]

To be honest I think you're setting yourself up for more pain than it's worth. Do you really want to be chasing insurance, do you really want to be relying on a car that has been repaired from a write-off? It may be cheaper but in most cases in the end it will cost you more in time and effort. If you're keen then definitely get it checked out first!

[0081]

Just get it checked out to make sure it has been done in the correct way,

Just because its a repairable write off dosent mean the dammage was that bad it just means that it was not worth fixing, from a cost point of view.

You can always get a quote to insurance it

If its fixed the correct way, its a good price, it looks good and drives good i would take it. You could hold out and get a nother car that has been damaged and repaired with out even knowing.

I think it was good of them to tell you anyway

[Benboy]

Don't overlook the fact that it may be a 're-birth'. Components of stolen vehicles (especially those written off) put together and vehicle sold as though legal. Can be extremely difficult to spot. Even many Police Depts. sometimes can't pick them. Be carefull.

[Reaper]

I'd think very long and hard before I bought that car.

Reaper

[cewing]

I wouldnt buy a 2nd hand car from parramatta road period. especially one which has a mysterious history. Before i got my berlina i owned a repairable writeoff, but i did the writing off, so i knew excactly what was damaged, so the insurance company could insure it accordingly.
I dont know how insurance works on repairable writeoff's, but i wouldnt buy it unless it had a comprensive engineering/structural report

[bezz]

If the car is repaired properly I can't see a problem with it. You'd be suprised how many used cars you find in car yards are repaired cars from auctions- doesn't mean they're going to fall apart in a heap. I've owned repaired cars before and have had absolutely no problems with them.

Oh and lol at the guy who thinks insurance companies won't touch you because the car has been repaired... if its declared roadworthy its just the same as insuring any other car.

[UFO]

your profile doesnt say where you are located, which makes advice hard to give- different states, different rules etc.

might be idea to use this service from RTA https://ols2.rta.nsw.gov.au/VehicleHistoryCheck/

Personally I wouldnt touch a car that has been written off and then repaired, but IF you are still keen doing the relevent checks on the VIN and engine numbers to ensure you are still able to actually register it would be a good idea.

Again, depending on which state you are in, you are certain rights as a consumer when buying a car from a dealer. Make sure if you do intend to purchase, you dont sign those rights away in the event you have trouble registering. But I wouldnt touch it... no way, even if 'good value'. If it was so good, why isnt the dealer arranging repairs and then onselling.

[0081]

I just dont see why people are so worried about a car that has been damaged, have you not seen the amount of cars in the body shops all around the place. would you buy one of them? but how would you tell
Will you only ever buy a new car so you know 100% its never been damaged (still then you hear stories) or do you know the compleate history about the car your driving now, do you know if it has been in a accident???

where do you draw the line as to the amount of damage done to a car that you class it as unsafe?

If it has been damaged in a way that makes it unsafe then its classed as a statuary write off.

As it has been said if it has been repaired in the correct way then there should be no problem at all

[VesperZ]

I just dont see why people are so worried about a car that has been damaged, have you not seen the amount of cars in the body shops all around the place. would you buy one of them? but how would you tell
Will you only ever buy a new car so you know 100% its never been damaged (still then you hear stories) or do you know the compleate history about the car your driving now, do you know if it has been in a accident???

where do you draw the line as to the amount of damage done to a car that you class it as unsafe?

If it has been damaged in a way that makes it unsafe then its classed as a statuary write off.

As it has been said if it has been repaired in the correct way then there should be no problem at all

Judging by what you have just said I would just like to add that a car is never the same once it has been in an accident. In saying that, that doesn't apply to all accidents. To determine whether a car has been in an accident is quite simple. Most commonly by checking whether the paint looks newer to other parts of the car, and if you can't tell by that you can then most certainly determine by checking the thickness of the paint through-out the whole car. It is very hard to fail that test unless the whole car has been resprayed. Hope that answers your question.