A battery fire should dry them right out...
"I'm not gonna try it, you try it...let's get Mikey!"
One of the best deals I ever got was a 1988 911. It ran for months. Bought it for 13k, sold it at 25k.
Remember when porsches were that cheap?
Since these rehabilitated cars almost have to be sold as used, the question becomes “Does the lower price and the rehab still make it a good deal?”
I got a great used low mileage fleet car for a very low price because the original operator smoked cigars in it. Is a cigar smell that dissipates after a few weeks enough to dock $1000 or more from the price? I think so.
Rehabs vary a lot, which is why you should always have a trusted mechanic examine the used vehicle before purchase. Just their telling you it was a flood vehicle gives you huge haggling power.
Last but not least, both the government and the auto makers are cramming all sorts of unnecessary and invasive crap into automobiles. State governments should pass laws that permit consumers to opt out of such crap by requiring makers to provide crap-free versions of their products on request.
Imagine how this crap would be affected by floodwater. And they expect consumers to pay for its replacement.
It’s hard to grasp what would happen to a Hybrid or an EV let alone all these electronic laden late model vehicles.
Bought an ‘07 F150 sight-unseen during Cash for Clunkers (average auction price jumped from $11.5 to almost $20K over that summer, all in the name of unionizing GM and Fiat, I mean, Chrysler). No disclosure, but turns out it was a VT two-year lease and had rust issues from the day we bought it — found out 6 mos later.
Kept an eye on it, but rust is cancer, and we had to give it up this summer. Got 13 years out of it — not bad for a flood car, but, boy, it was accelerating by this summer, frame rusted through in two spots, body panels, etc. Sold it cheap to a mechanic in Maine who said he’ll use it as a snow plow, as that way he won’t have to worry about rust — already has it, lol!
Rust just isn’t something you want to worry about.
Hi.
Well, water (fresh or salt) doesn’t play well with car electronics.
My brother’s wife was driving on Bayshore (Tampa) one fine “no name storm” day and viola, no more new Mercedes 500.
.
Family still talks about that one.
5.56mm
WATCH OUT ARKANSAS! It is quite a scam here to get a new clean title for $45 for a flooded or wrecked and repaired car from out of state!
My friends daughter graduated from a state university and moved to Florida for her first job.
Her car was totalled this week due to flood waters.
chassis harnesses have sealed connectors. Body, IP, door not so much.
Got caught in bumper to bumper traffic during a hurricane in Houston around 1975. Had a ‘69 Ford Custom. The water kept rising until it was up to the bottom of my steering wheel. My buddy and I floated the car onto the where we thought the shoulder of the road was and waded home in waist deep water. After the waters receded, I went back and to my amazement the car started. I drove it a few miles home and disconnected the battery, opened all doors and let it dry out for a week or so. It had a jerky sort of drive thereafter and I took it to a service station, had the transmission fluid drained and replaced. Worked fine afterwards. Kept car for about 3 more years and another 100k miles with no problems. I guess I lucked out.
Rd later.
