To Salvage, or not to be.

[Truckless]

Hello friends,

Need a place to vent. Last night I crashed my 2011 Ranger I’ve had for the last 7 years. Been eyeing the mavericks for a while and finally the order bank is opening, but we all know I’ll still be waiting another year for the truck to get delivered, but in the meantime I need a new car now..

As fate would have it I actually found a 2022 XLT with ~5k miles, close to me that is *only* marked up by like $3k. As much as it pains me to give into it, I’m thinking about paying it since similar builds in my area are going for easily 33k-40k+.. what a time to be alive.

I was thinking about getting a Fusion, but I test drove it today and immediately felt homesick for a truck.

Rather than get a car I don’t like, have it immediately depreciate (16k now) and then not have the money to get the 2024 model, I think long term it’ll be less financially detrimental to take the hit now on getting the Maverick. Especially with the price hikes coming to this year’s models plus the removal of features.. I’ll be paying basically what the new MSRP is suppose to be just.. for a XL. More importantly I’ll have the truck today instead of Ford’s SOON TM maybe??

One big problem though- the truck has a salvage title so I won’t be able to get full coverage in California, only liability. Carfax reports it was written off as a total loss. According to the dealer it was involved in an accident while on the back of a car carrier trailer. Dealer of course is making it sound like it’s no big deal, the damage wasn’t substantial, but I’ll have to press him on it tomorrow when I go to see it. But the fact that the insurance wrote it off as a total loss is obviously concerning and will require some investigating. Maaaybe it exceeded the 75% threshold because of limited/expensive parts that needed to get replaced? Especially since it wouldn’t take much to cross that normally for some repairs since the normal MSRP is so much lower than other vehicles. Wishful thinking I’m sure.

According to the car fax it was *also* one of the Mavericks that got recalled for the under hood fire thing. Then the dealer told me the truck isn’t available until tomorrow because they had to replace some fuse or something too.. I know I know, it just keeps sounding better and better lmfao. The attached photo is not exactly inspiring confidence either. SIGH.

Then two weeks later it’s listed at the dealership, ready to be resold.. so maybe that’s a good thing? Maybe I t didn’t actually have significant damage that required extensive or structural repairs and it was more of an insurance company thing..?

After last night I’m just not sure if it’s worth risking it- getting a vehicle that I knowingly can’t get full coverage on, especially since this would be worth more than my last truck. I only had liability on my truck since it was beat up POS and pretty worthless anyways lol, but this situation is different.. Maybe I’ll just make sure I don’t get in an accident again! easy lol. Then again, most of the value these Mavericks have is just scarcity and markup anyways right guys.. /s

Idk, life’s a gamble. God forbid if I get in another crash I’ll just doom myself to a Fusion.

-As I was typing this though, I got a call for a new 2023 XL… asking 8k over for. I countered with 4k over which is still ridiculous, but at least I would have a clean title. Says he needs to check with his manager in the morning.

Advice? Opinions? Feel free to call me stupid because I feel like I’m in the twilight zone.

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[bighap]

Paying 3k over sticker for a salvage title is just silly. Don't do it.

 

[Truckless]

Paying 3k over sticker for a salvage title is just silly. Don't do it.

Yeah, smells like a bad idea so it probably is. It’s just very frustrating, I feel just as silly paying a markup on an XL but I don’t think I have a better option. Probably smarter long term to get a clean title, especially if I’m concerned about making smart financial choices.

 

[Montana]

Never.

If you can't get a salvaged title for essentially 90% off, it aint worth it. Even then for 99% of people, still not worth it.

 

[Hardening2753]

Hello friends,

Need a place to vent. Last night I crashed my 2011 Ranger I’ve had for the last 7 years. Been eyeing the mavericks for a while and finally the order bank is opening, but we all know I’ll still be waiting another year for the truck to get delivered, but in the meantime I need a new car now..

As fate would have it I actually found a 2022 XLT with ~5k miles, close to me that is *only* marked up by like $3k. As much as it pains me to give into it, I’m thinking about paying it since similar builds in my area are going for easily 33k-40k+.. what a time to be alive.

I was thinking about getting a Fusion, but I test drove it today and immediately felt homesick for a truck.

Rather than get a car I don’t like, have it immediately depreciate (16k now) and then not have the money to get the 2024 model, I think long term it’ll be less financially detrimental to take the hit now on getting the Maverick. Especially with the price hikes coming to this year’s models plus the removal of features.. I’ll be paying basically what the new MSRP is suppose to be just.. for a XL. More importantly I’ll have the truck today instead of Ford’s SOON TM maybe??

One big problem though- the truck has a salvage title so I won’t be able to get full coverage in California, only liability. Carfax reports it was written off as a total loss. According to the dealer it was involved in an accident while on the back of a car carrier trailer. Dealer of course is making it sound like it’s no big deal, the damage wasn’t substantial, but I’ll have to press him on it tomorrow when I go to see it. But the fact that the insurance wrote it off as a total loss is obviously concerning and will require some investigating. Maaaybe it exceeded the 75% threshold because of limited/expensive parts that needed to get replaced? Especially since it wouldn’t take much to cross that normally for some repairs since the normal MSRP is so much lower than other vehicles. Wishful thinking I’m sure.

According to the car fax it was *also* one of the Mavericks that got recalled for the under hood fire thing. Then the dealer told me the truck isn’t available until tomorrow because they had to replace some fuse or something too.. I know I know, it just keeps sounding better and better lmfao. The attached photo is not exactly inspiring confidence either. SIGH.

Then two weeks later it’s listed at the dealership, ready to be resold.. so maybe that’s a good thing? Maybe I t didn’t actually have significant damage that required extensive or structural repairs and it was more of an insurance company thing..?

After last night I’m just not sure if it’s worth risking it- getting a vehicle that I knowingly can’t get full coverage on, especially since this would be worth more than my last truck. I only had liability on my truck since it was beat up POS and pretty worthless anyways lol, but this situation is different.. Maybe I’ll just make sure I don’t get in an accident again! easy lol. Then again, most of the value these Mavericks have is just scarcity and markup anyways right guys.. /s

Idk, life’s a gamble. God forbid if I get in another crash I’ll just doom myself to a Fusion.

-As I was typing this though, I got a call for a new 2023 XL… asking 8k over for. I countered with 4k over which is still ridiculous, but at least I would have a clean title. Says he needs to check with his manager in the morning.

Advice? Opinions? Feel free to call me stupid because I feel like I’m in the twilight zone.

I would buy a Honda Civic for 15K, probably have 100k miles, put an order in for a Ford Maverick and sell the Honda Civic when the Mav gets here. Honda civics going to retain most of its value at this point and just don't take any road trips with it

 

[Hardening2753]

Never.

If you can't get a salvaged title for essentially 90% off, it aint worth it. Even then for 99% of people, still not worth it.

Agree it's the biggest double sucker punch over MSRP and salvaged what's the point

 

[Truckless]

Never.

If you can't get a salvaged title for essentially 90% off, it aint worth it. Even then for 99% of people, still not worth it.

I’m assuming for multiple reasons like Insurance, resale value, risk of problems, etc? But it’s not like it’s salvaged as in physically wrecked and rebuilt, so it seems.. Of course I don’t know the full story yet but is buying vehicles with salvaged titles really just for fools then? :/

 

[Johnkn]

Hello friends,

Need a place to vent. Last night I crashed my 2011 Ranger I’ve had for the last 7 years. Been eyeing the mavericks for a while and finally the order bank is opening, but we all know I’ll still be waiting another year for the truck to get delivered, but in the meantime I need a new car now..

As fate would have it I actually found a 2022 XLT with ~5k miles, close to me that is *only* marked up by like $3k. As much as it pains me to give into it, I’m thinking about paying it since similar builds in my area are going for easily 33k-40k+.. what a time to be alive.

I was thinking about getting a Fusion, but I test drove it today and immediately felt homesick for a truck.

Rather than get a car I don’t like, have it immediately depreciate (16k now) and then not have the money to get the 2024 model, I think long term it’ll be less financially detrimental to take the hit now on getting the Maverick. Especially with the price hikes coming to this year’s models plus the removal of features.. I’ll be paying basically what the new MSRP is suppose to be just.. for a XL. More importantly I’ll have the truck today instead of Ford’s SOON TM maybe??

One big problem though- the truck has a salvage title so I won’t be able to get full coverage in California, only liability. Carfax reports it was written off as a total loss. According to the dealer it was involved in an accident while on the back of a car carrier trailer. Dealer of course is making it sound like it’s no big deal, the damage wasn’t substantial, but I’ll have to press him on it tomorrow when I go to see it. But the fact that the insurance wrote it off as a total loss is obviously concerning and will require some investigating. Maaaybe it exceeded the 75% threshold because of limited/expensive parts that needed to get replaced? Especially since it wouldn’t take much to cross that normally for some repairs since the normal MSRP is so much lower than other vehicles. Wishful thinking I’m sure.

According to the car fax it was *also* one of the Mavericks that got recalled for the under hood fire thing. Then the dealer told me the truck isn’t available until tomorrow because they had to replace some fuse or something too.. I know I know, it just keeps sounding better and better lmfao. The attached photo is not exactly inspiring confidence either. SIGH.

Then two weeks later it’s listed at the dealership, ready to be resold.. so maybe that’s a good thing? Maybe I t didn’t actually have significant damage that required extensive or structural repairs and it was more of an insurance company thing..?

After last night I’m just not sure if it’s worth risking it- getting a vehicle that I knowingly can’t get full coverage on, especially since this would be worth more than my last truck. I only had liability on my truck since it was beat up POS and pretty worthless anyways lol, but this situation is different.. Maybe I’ll just make sure I don’t get in an accident again! easy lol. Then again, most of the value these Mavericks have is just scarcity and markup anyways right guys.. /s

Idk, life’s a gamble. God forbid if I get in another crash I’ll just doom myself to a Fusion.

-As I was typing this though, I got a call for a new 2023 XL… asking 8k over for. I countered with 4k over which is still ridiculous, but at least I would have a clean title. Says he needs to check with his manager in the morning.

Advice? Opinions? Feel free to call me stupid because I feel like I’m in the twilight zone.

As you mentioned, Major insurance companies generally will not fully insure a vehicle with a salvage title, and a lender won’t Finance a vehicle w/o full coverage in order to protect their interest. If you need to borrow in order to purchase, your options will be very limited and costly.

Buying a vehicle with a salvage title can certainly occasionally have its place and be a good deal, this doesn’t appear to be that place.

Good luck
.

 

[Hardening2753]

I’m assuming for multiple reasons like Insurance, resale value, risk of problems, etc? But it’s not like it’s salvaged as in physically wrecked and rebuilt, so it seems.. Of course I don’t know the full story yet but is buying vehicles with salvaged titles really just for fools then? :/

That's the problem no one really knows what went down with it and what they fixed. Can you be sure that there's no hairline fractures in critical places of the truck from this? Probably not. This might be a situation where another vehicle crashes into you and you walk away versus you get a concussion. I know that's an extreme scenario but that's the problem with salvaged titles.

 

[Truckless]

Agree it's the biggest double sucker punch over MSRP and salvaged what's the point

Well, yes it is salvage title but physically it’s not like it’s actually wrecked. Or if it was, then it was fixed. But it’s seeming like it’s not even worth my time even drive there and find out lol

 

[Truckless]

As you mentioned, Major insurance companies generally will not fully insure a vehicle with a salvage title, and a lender won’t lend money on a vehicle w/o full coverage in order to protect their interest. If you need to borrow in order to purchase, your options will be very limited and costly.

Buying a vehicle with a salvage title can certainly occasionally have its place and be a good deal, this doesn’t appear to be that place.

Good luck
.

Yup. The financing wouldn’t be a problem in this case, but I see your point. Seems like the only good salvage deals would be vehicles that are already very depreciated.

 

[skyhawk]

oh helllz no. don't even waste your time looking at it.

 

[Montana]

I’m assuming for multiple reasons like Insurance, resale value, risk of problems, etc? But it’s not like it’s salvaged as in physically wrecked and rebuilt, so it seems.. Of course I don’t know the full story yet but is buying vehicles with salvaged titles really just for fools then? :/

Yes. All of the above. Insurance, financing, and a big one would also be resale value. 99% of the time it's better to get a new vehicle financed even if you have to make compromises on what you can afford.

I know some very good mechanics and you can see some on YT that do this kind of stuff for the own POV's and they do great work - but it's still a salvage title and always will be. If you ever wanted to get rid of it you'd get pennies on the dollar (unless you rip someone off like the seller you are looking at).

Can we ask, is this a private seller or a dealership? If a dealership, where and who?

 

[Truckless]

That's the problem no one really knows what went down with it and what they fixed. Can you be sure that there's no hairline fractures in critical places of the truck from this? Probably not. This might be a situation where another vehicle crashes into you and you walk away versus you get a concussion. I know that's an extreme scenario but that's the problem with salvaged titles.

Yeah pretty much what I figured. The smart thing would be to not mess around and find out. Is it really worth gambling your life over a slightly cheaper maverick.

 

[Truckless]

Yes. All of the above. Insurance, financing, and a big one would also be resale value.

I know some very good mechanics and you can see some on YT that do this kind of stuff for the own POV's and they do great work - but it's still a salvage title and always will be. If you ever wanted to get rid of it you'd get pennies on the dollar (unless you rip someone off like the seller you are looking at).

Can we ask, is this a private seller or a dealership? If a dealership, where and who?

“Andrew” from Welco Motors Rancho Cordova. Dealer seems sketch. Asked for a $500 cash deposit to hold it. Fishy.

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