Date:         Mon, 10 Mar 2003 07:41:43 -0500
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Converting 'Salvage' to 'Clean' title? How honest is it?
In-Reply-To:  <001a01c2e5e4$86185140$dfcb4518@compaq5420ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

> Salvage laws make absolute sense when it comes to late model
> cars for safety purposes.  But from an insurance companies point
> of view, our vanagons aren't collectable, economically rebuildible
>  (new parts), or replaceable.  So they'd rather dish out cash...


That is very true.  Consider that just the font and rear bumpers on a
late model Vanagon with fiberglass bumpers would be several thousand
dollars alone (since they're dealer only). Since the insurance company
is obliged to use original quality, new replacement parts, not used
ones, and a later model Vanagon with high mileage might only have a book
value of a few grand, even bumper damage (or something similar) could be
enough to result in a salvage title despite the fact that about $500 at
a junkyard would make it good as new.

My '77 Westy almost ended up with a salvage title after someone stole
the stereo. They broke into the bus, and ripped off all of the cabinet
doors by the hinges rather than bothering to push the little release
button, then scratched up the sofabed base slightly removing the
subwoofer. No other damage to the vehicle. Since the cabinet doors could
not be bought separately, and the new price of a new cabinet was
something like $1500 at the time, the insurance company wanted to junk
the bus and pay me the low blue-book value. I fought it very hard, on
the grounds that while the NADA book listed the bus as worth about
$1500, a collectable/antique blue book showed about $3000. I eventually
ended up with a settlement of about $2500 including the cost of the
stereo, with no salvage title. But if they'd succeeded, the bus would
have had a salvage title because of damage to a few cabinet doors,
simply because its NADA book value was low.

By comparison, my present '89 Westy also has a salvage title, because it
was once in a flood, and (at the time) deserved it.  The engine, trans,
and wheels/brakes had been nearly submerged in water. The cost of a
brand new VW engine, trans, and brakes/wheels exceeded the book value.
(Fortunately, I can get the parts a bit cheaper. :-)  After putting in a
new engine, trans, all new brake parts, and (just to play it safe) all
new hoses, the van has run for years trouble-free (other than the usual
things).  And I was able to get a good deal on the Westy because it
needed those major repairs. But this seller was less than honest, and I
was not ripped off only because I knew the vehicle and saw what he had
somewhat tried to conceal.  Had there been no salvage title, I have no
doubt that this particular seller would not have been forthcoming about
the history of the van (and the repairs that it needed, which he was
well aware of).

I think salvage titles are a good idea as they can give a prospective
buyer some warning. And I have no inclination to try to remove the
designation from my Westy, even if I could, as I do think it would be
less than honest. However, as the other post noted, it's worth
considering that even some minor and relatively unimportant damage can
lead to a salvage title due, to the relatively low book value of these
vehicles versus the high cost of some dealer-only replacement parts.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215)  234-VWVW

_____________________________________________
Toll-Free for Orders by PART # :  1-866-BUS-DEPOT




Regards,

Mike


----- Original Message -----
From: "George Goff" <thx0001@aol.com>
To: <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2003 5:50 PM
Subject: Re: Converting 'Salvage' to 'Clean' title? How honest is it?


> Who and the hell asked this inane question?  How honest is it?  It's
> dishonest as hell and you damn well know it, so why waste the
> collective effort of these good people with some pointless discussion.

> If you want
to
> apply your relative morality in order to screw some schlemiel looking
> at a refurbished junker which you are selling, at least have the
> gonads to go
at
> it alone.
>
> In Pennsylvania, the salvage title saves lives.  Before a vehicle
> which
has a
> salvage title can be licensed for use on the public roads, it must
> pass an inspection performed by the PA State Police, no less, and
> their roadworthiness inspection is far more rigorous than the yearly
> state
safety
> inspection.
>
> George
>