Since I've been DIRECTLY involved with rebuilding Volvos, I can say that they are good rebuilders. Plus I drive rebuilt ones as well since they're easily obtained.

There are two ways to look at a rebuilt/reconstructed (i.e. ex-Salvage) title.

First, if you're the buyer directly after the salvage title was issued, a lot of times you get a car that just had major service, and had all the proper care along the way. The owners had no intent to get rid of the car, and therefore you sometimes get a piece that was babied beyond belief. Like my 940, with one owner and only 60k miles or so when I got it (right side crash). The P.O. obviously had zero intention of dumping the thing anytime soon.

Second, if the car has done some miles (about 100,000) since it was rebuilt, obviously the accident(s) did little to harm the longevity of the car. The owner would be more harm to longevity than an accident.

Note that it it takes a MASSIVE accident to cause actual bend to the whole car. THat is the beauty of unit frames. Sidesway damage is virtually a cakewalk because of frame rail crush structures in the front and rear. But it is also easy to straighten the unit frame vehicles compared to full frame vehicles. The unit frame cars can be put back to virtually "like new" conditions by any decent shop. (now... paintwork is another story). The gentleman who suggested a magnet must be shopping for a $40k Lexus. Are they asking $10k for this thing? I mean, it IS a cheaper car, isn't it? A 1990? Almost every older piece on the road has Bondo in it somewhere, and your underpowered magnet will detect it. Too powerful of a magnet it will slide right past. My point is, body filler is used to fill MINOR dents. Even on Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, you name it. A wavy panel that costs $2000 is cheaper to shrink, fill, and finish for $1000. Body filler doesn't mean it was put together in a ghetto shop.

The other day I was looking at a co-worker's Prelude that he had in the shop. In the light I could see some VERY faint grind marks. Only the light actually tipped me off. I said, "I see the quarter panel had some paintwork."

His reply: "Nope, it's never had any paint. All original."

I said, "I can see the paintwork right here."

He actually got pissed. "The car NEVER HAD PAINTWORK."

I'm sure that's exactly what he was told. Just like a lot of people were told that their car had never been hit when in fact it had. Then you find out that it has two replacement doors in it. I suppose they got replaced for fun... right? But that's the car-buying and car-selling game most people play, and that's life. Most older pieces have had paintwork or bodywork somewhere at some time. And even some of the people who say they have a good eye miss everything but the kitchen sink. Trust me on this; I have looked from the eyes of a professional. ANd EVERYTHING stands out then.

Notice that the accident that caused the salvage/rebuilt title was NOT listed on the Carfax report. The left side collision was a prior, unless they drove around with it for five years and then claimed it. So the damage on that particular accident was not listed on the report. Not a big deal, and very common for CARFAX to miss a lot of things.

Most importantly in my opinion is that miles are actual, and that the accident history is known to you. Better than the non-salvage car that was hit just as hard or worse, but because it was hit like that in 1990 or 1991, even $10k of damage was repaired rather than totaled as the car was still worth 20k. And those are a lot of times, the cars that people say "have never been hit".

Forget buyer beware. Buyer be INFORMED.