My sister's 190E has a salvage title because it was in a decent front end fender bender about 4 years ago. It was repaired pretty well, and drives/looks normal. Minor welding around the front passenger bumper area. We didn't really care, because the car is awesome looking and had tons of $$$ dumped into it, and we only paid $1500 for it.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

A salvage title may be a good deal for someone who does not mind doing a bit of leg work. I would consider a salvage titled car if i bought it before the repair. In some cases, you can get some great deals and if you're the type that likes to buy cars and drive them until the wheels fall off. It would be a good decision.

By the time that you end up replacing it, the equivalent clear title car will be worthless and you can part your car out and probably make more money then the guy that sells his clear title equivalent.

If you're buying an already repaired car, then you need to be careful and pay attention to the quality of repair. If you plan to only keep the car for a short while, it may not be such a good deal as it's hard to get a loan on a car with a salvage title which will eliminate many buyers.

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With best regards

Al

I bought my '71 on a salvage title. After two years, the branded title has been the least of my worries.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

Depends on the damage. The Sentra we bought for my sister has a salvage title, but it was very minor. The seller had pictures of the damage, all it needed was a new bumper cover, trunk lid, and brake light, no sheetmetal work.

The price and mileage was very good and she is going to trash it anyway so resale isn't a concern.


As long as the damage is minor its not a big deal. But I wouldn't touch a flood car or something that was really smashed.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Depends on why. My 300 sdl now has a salvage title because it was totalled. If the damage exceeds 75% of the fair market value it is a total loss according to state farm ins(and PA)

I kept it took the money and fixed it.

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86 300SDL. 250,xxx on #14 Head. One eye always on temp gauge.. Cruising towards 300K

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87' 300D, Currently undergoing an OM606 swap/build! SUPERTURBO!!!
03' 2500HD Dmax + goodies!
82' 300SD, parting out!
93' 300TE 4matic, parting out!
83' 240D Project Cheap Drive
89' 300E, parting out!
74' Datsun 510 wagon
88' RX7 10thAE, 13B track car build soon

Skippy~ As for perception: Drive what you like and can afford. Those who don't like it can supply vacuum to one of your components. LOL

If you need parts, I have some!

When I bought my car it had a salvage title, the seller never told me and I found out after the sell. Partly my fault; I should have looked at the title before I handed over the money. Not that I would not have bought the car but it would have given me a better bargain tool to lower asking the price even more.

I got rear ended and they totaled the car again. In both cases it just had body damage, but because parts being rare they totaled it. So now it's salvaged twice. The insurance company only gave me 70% of what the car was worth according to them; I had to get a "light and brake inspection" what did cost me $95 and new plates and salvage title at the DMV what was around $200.-

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).