There's a nice 2017 Sedona I'm tempted to drive 4 hours and check out due to low miles and price. Those with experience with rebuilt cars, any opinions when you see these pics?
There's a nice 2017 Sedona I'm tempted to drive 4 hours and check out due to low miles and price. Those with experience with rebuilt cars, any opinions when you see these pics?
So, you're not buying it damaged? You're buying it fixed? But, these are the pictures from the damage?
That A pillar behind the front wheel looks like it's been shoved back. If that's the case, that could be a challenge to fix.
I see the need for replacement bumper cover, replacement front fender. Maybe replacement door.
The questions then are how was the slide door and rear quarter fixed? Replacements or filler? Bring a magnet. A soft magnet like a Rock Auto magnet could be good enough.
How much was repainted? The rear bumper needed paint and filler to hide the scuffs?
SkinnyG (Forum Supporter) said:That A pillar behind the front wheel looks like it's been shoved back. If that's the case, that could be a challenge to fix.
It does seem that the front door damage is from the wheel being pushed back into the door. The small spare tire hides some of the fact that a full size wheel would probably not fit on in the same place. How much left side suspension and drive axle has been replaced?
If the seller is forthcoming with the "before" picture will he also supply you with a parts invoice or some sort of shop total for the work done?
Sorry, 2nd pics are "fixed" and at a buy here/pay here. Googled the VIN and found the Copart pics.
The one "fixed" pic has DFW Body in the background. I was hoping you were buying directly off the body shop that did the work.
Picture is taken from here:
Is either ZMax or Discount Motors 1 the lot selling the car? It might be that one of them is also the same owner as the body shop.
John, I am always impressed at your detective work when evaluating used cars.
There's a phone number in the FB ad that points to this site, https://amautosale.mycarsonline.com/home/
Not super impressed. I'll ask if he knows where the work was done.
In reply to Crxpilot :
Can you post the sale ad or the copart link for more evaluation?
Crxpilot said:There's a phone number in the FB ad that points to this site, https://amautosale.mycarsonline.com/home/
Not super impressed. I'll ask if he knows where the work was done.
A&M which seems to be located 1.5 miles from where the pictures were taken. Though, the place where the pictures are taken are much more flattering than A&M's own lot. I've never been there but there's some shady E36 M3 in this neighborhood. It all pawn, and bail bonds, and title loans, and buy here/pay here, etc.
Seller says "Fahd Auto Shop" which looks like it's been open a year https://texas-biz.com/co/fahd-auto-group-inc
I'm getting less enthused about the van. Thanks for thoughts and direction.
The FB ad gives this address:
I'll bet the steel building, deep on that lot is where the work was done:
The copart auction was out of Denver.
Yeah, the van looks great in the pictures but the whole thing looks sketchy. Another thing I wonder...is the van still available? The FB ad says its been for sale for weeks now.
These operations are know as "refurbishes" they do the quick and dirty bodywork with som cheap labor, maybe Russian or similar. They are located in these buy here neighborhoods because these dealers will then buy the car off them with no auction fees they just sell to them directly.
But, I bought my second Prius off a body shop in central Cleveland in generally a sketchy area. The shop was Asian owned and specialized in refurb'ing Prius, Camry and Corolla. It has been a great car and I got it at a good price. They were forthcoming with before and after condition. I've put nearly 100k miles on the Prius and it's been wonderful.
Front and back pics of the place I bought from:
Would it be productive to take it to an independent alignment shop and see what they find?
If you click on the sellers nam in FB you can also see that he is associated with 74 other cars being sold. Most of which are refurb and most photo'ed in the same spot.
Crxpilot said:Would it be productive to take it to an independent alignment shop and see what they find?
Getting under the car would be wise!
Most of what you want to know will be evident from driving the car at all speeds.
Cheap, thin body panels wont be your concern in non-rusting Texas. Your long concern will be secondary paint that fades at a different rate than the factory paint.
Will you need a loan for this purchase? Is your lender cool with "rebuilt"? If you have a loan, you'll need full coverage insurance. Is your insurance company cool with rebuilt?
I never answered those questions for myself. I bought that Prius in cash ($5k) and carried liability only insurance.
There are all kinds of levels of sketchy.
There are little hole in the wall shops that do great work. And there are big fancy shops that pump out garbage.
And there is everything in between.
That doesn't really look that bad to me, but it would require a thorough inspection before purchasing.
Unless this the absolute only option for a people mover (it isnt) I would either spend more or get a decontented older version before I messed with that turd. It checks all the boxes to be garbage.
Not a super great car to begin with (check)
Not rare or uncommon in any way (check)
Crashed, pretty hard (check)
You dont know anything about how it was rebuilt (check)
The guys selling it isnt the guy rebuilding it (check)
I wouldnt cross the street to look at it, let alone burn a whole day.
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