Copart Conversation

[Pz10420]

So i kind of accidentally won a 2017 WRX last night on the night cap sales auction. After reading about the NCS auctions, I learned that there is little to no competition on bids like there is on the day time auctions. So I made one bid on the wrx that only brought the price up to $2300 and won the auction on approval. Which means that the seller can either accept the bid if it didn't reach the reserve or you can counter with a higher bid. After reading a lot of comments on a Copart forum, most people said never to raise your bid. Just let it ride and see what happens. So I received a message this morning that my bid was accepted much to my surprise. I know it was not a smart move to bid on something without previewing it first, but I figured I couldnt lose money on this one. It a 2017 manual wrx with what looks to be a front end collision that jacked up the bumper, one headlight and the hood. I am sure there will be some other hidden stuff as well that I will find when it gets delivered. It was a run and drive car and had a video of the engine running and the car still has a clean title somehow and the interior looks decent as well. I've always kind of wanted a wrx, so we will see in the next couple of weeks if I made a great or terrible decision. After I won the auction I was able to get a pic of the title and Facebook stalked the previous owner and he had pics of the car on his profile from just 2 months ago that show it in perfect condition. Still weird on the clean title, all I can assume is he didn't want to go through insurance for some reason to keep it off his record or he didn't have insurance...time will tell the whole story someday soon perhaps.

 

[Mag71k5]

So i kind of accidentally won a 2017 WRX last night on the night cap sales auction

I cant wait to show this to my wife, LOL.

Any pictures?

 

[Pz10420]

 

[Pz10420]

Looks to be bone stock which is definitely a good thing with these things.

 

[Mag71k5]

Very nice, you should document the repairs. It would be a cool addition to the thread. Are you planning on doing the work yourself?

 

[Pz10420]

Yup, the only thing that I may farm out would be the paint, but I may do that as well. I have no problem fixing anything mechanical, electrical or welding. I am hoping to keep the parts bill to $2-3k, but time will tell on that. I know I will need quite a few brackets and core supports and other little bits that I am sure will nickel and dime the project. The engine will be the biggest question mark I think. It sounded ok, but that can be deceiving and still have other issues.

 

[Inukshuk]

Did this cost $2350 or $50?

 

[Mag71k5]

Did this cost $2350 or $50?

I think he won the bid at 2,300.00.

 

[Pz10420]

I think he won the bid at 2,300.00.

Correct, my description of the bid could have been much clearer, and has been edited. Haha

 

[unimogguy]

You guys considering this will also want to explore how your insurance company deals with a vehicle once “totaled” will be going forward. I was told by my insurance company that if I kept a salvage vehicle then return it to a rebuilt title if it’s in another accident I will get a fraction in a settlement. Or you might find that your insurance company won’t offer comprehensive or collision coverage.

Currently going thru this with a vehicle I have that was recently “totaled”. Granted I’m dealing with an out of state salvage title and once it’s repaired I will be transferri g the salvage title over to CO the going thru the rebuilt title process. Insurance companies can also opt to not cover the previously damaged areas. Obviously a rebuilt title value payout is going to be significantly less than a clean title vehicle.

But this is a great way to get an inexpensive vehicle!

 

[LARGEONE]

I looked around for a Cheap RV through these auctions. Never pulled the trigger but I did go several times to look at them in person and it was pretty easy over there near Brighton. It would be really great if you could find an auction for light damage and then find a car at the junkyard with the opposite side wrecked so you could grab all the fixit parts cheap at the same time.

Love this thread!

 

[HDavis]

Ive been doing the copart thing for awhile now. Here are a few of the vehicles I have purchased and rebuilt.

Link to 80 build



Link to 200 build



Link to 100 build




Ive bought others, but those are my highlights.

 

[MDH33]

How big of a deal is it if airbags are deployed? Seriously expensive to reload? Best to pass?

 

[HDavis]

How big of a deal is it if airbags are deployed? Seriously expensive to reload? Best to pass?

It depends on the vehicle. An 80 is easy. 2 airbags and the sensor under the console.

 

[Pz10420]

The worst part I am finding so far is that there is still such a toyota tax even on wrecked yotas on copart. You will see 20 year old crashed tacos still going for over $5k. I am still hopeful of scoring one of them or a GX or 200 at some point. But dang, its hard to spend a lot of dough on a crashed car that will still have so many unknowns until you really dig into them.

 

[HDavis]

The worst part I am finding so far is that there is still such a toyota tax even on wrecked yotas on copart. You will see 20 year old crashed tacos still going for over $5k. I am still hopeful of scoring one of them or a GX or 200 at some point. But dang, its hard to spend a lot of dough on a crashed car that will still have so many unknowns until you really dig into them.

There used to be much better deals. Copart fees went up and more people have caught wind that you can buy there as the public due to YouTube and Copart's own advertising.

 

[Pz10420]

Well to my surprise I got a call at about noon today saying my car would be there in about 45 minutes. They asked me if I had a forklift to unload cause they said it doesn't run. I told them no, but told them I had a cruiser with a winch to help pull it off the trailer. A friend came over to help me get it off the trailer and up into my garage. So we gave it a good inspection and I was pleasantly surprised with everything i could see so we winched it off the trailer and I signed off the paperwork and hooked up a tow strap. I had the driver meet me at the school down the street so he wouldn't get stuck in my cul de sac and our area was pretty snowy and icy from last night. We towed it back to the house with the 80, then my buddy tried to start it and it fired right up and sounded great and I was able to drive it right up and into my garage. All we can think is the tow driver didn't push the clutch in far enough to get the car to start. He was eastern European and didn't speak much English other than "car no good, no run" haha. I am really stoked with the initial inspection. There was a few clues i saw in the pics from copart that made me think it would be a well maintained car like, a good matching set of Bridgestone tires and a brand new Subaru battery. The interior is mint besides the steering wheel. It has a brand new android headunit and has a nice kicker sub made for the wrx in the trunk. The underside is pretty clean as well with only minor surface rust and the engine and transmission both sound healthy.

 

[Mag71k5]

Well to my surprise I got a call at about noon today saying my car would be there in about 45 minutes. They asked me if I had a forklift to unload cause they said it doesn't run. I told them no, but told them I had a cruiser with a winch to help pull it off the trailer. A friend came over to help me get it off the trailer and up into my garage. So we gave it a good inspection and I was pleasantly surprised with everything i could see so we winched it off the trailer and I signed off the paperwork and hooked up a tow strap. I had the driver meet me at the school down the street so he wouldn't get stuck in my cul de sac and our area was pretty snowy and icy from last night. We towed it back to the house with the 80, then my buddy tried to start it and it fired right up and sounded great and I was able to drive it right up and into my garage. All we can think is the tow driver didn't push the clutch in far enough to get the car to start. He was eastern European and didn't speak much English other than "car no good, no run" haha. I am really stoked with the initial inspection. There was a few clues i saw in the pics from copart that made me think it would be a well maintained car like, a good matching set of Bridgestone tires and a brand new Subaru battery. The interior is mint besides the steering wheel. It has a brand new android headunit and has a nice kicker sub made for the wrx in the trunk. The underside is pretty clean as well with only minor surface rust and the engine and transmission both sound healthy.

Sounds like a winner to me, very cool.

 

[Mag71k5]

2003 LX470, South Denver Lot

this one looks like a good starter rig for someone out there looking, of course you'll have to get a broker to bid for you unless you have some sort of wholesaler or dealer license.

 

[Pz10420]

Just saw this sweet Pajero go through the block and sell for $2k on approval, so maybe it'll come back up in a week or 2. They have it listed as a montero but it actually a JDM Paj.

https://www.copart.com/lot/78512215/salvage-1997-mitsubishi-montero-co-denver