|
In some areas that price is more or less right.
If you are wondering about accident damage, forget checking body gaps and such things. Someone could've rammed the trunk full of something and forced it shut, bending the lid (common).
What you want to do is pull the carpet in the trunk and look at the frame rails. They'll be bent if it was rear-ended badly enough to even think about. Also look at the gas tank since it might be dented as well (from the muffler). If the car was rear-ended above the bumper then you'll certainly find some sign of that inside the trunk as well.
Additionally, look for tack welds along the perimeter of the rear wheel arch (from the outside). That would indicate new quarter panel(s). Then look in the trunk along the same areas and look either for primer or paint, or something to indicate that it was stitched together from that. Check for overspray on the rear springs or suspension. Remember that just because a car got a new quarter panel, it doesn't mean that it means much. Many of us drive around with new quarter panels, doors, etc., that have gotten killed in minor fender-benders.
If the car sat in a salvage yard within the last five years, 95% the title will read "rebuilt salvage" or "insurance claim paid" or some such indication.
I have a problem finding cars (in the north part of the US) that haven't been in some sort of accident at one time or another. Never believe the "no accidents" statement. Do your own work. I've had my car rebuilt after a pretty large accident and I honestly could care less. In fact, my 87 240GL was rebuilt three times, two front, one rear. And it finally got killed on the fourth wreck, which did something like $8500 of damage. The frame was stretched three times already and the damage exceeded the car's value by twice, so I cashed it in. I should've fixed it again; it would've been better than most even to this day.
|
