Should I buy a 1998 HONDA CR-V with 130,000 miles, salvage title FOR $3,800?

Question

I have decided to buy a small suv. Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 is my choice due to its Reliability and good gas mileage. I found ads from craiglists last week.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/car/384890590.html

I know that if it is not a good idea to buy a car with salvage title but the price is right? Should I buy it?

I also found another ads: Toyota RAV4 with 153,000 for $4,000. Is this a good deal? Should I be concerned about the high miles?

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/car/381663487.html

Thank you in advance for your answer. ^0^

Answer 1

LOWER miles, maggie! you are looking at cars with high mileage. you'll pay for it later.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I would never buy anything with a salvage title. That means that that person had been in a wreak. It is never a good idea to buy a car like that. You never know what it will turn out to be.
I love Honda, and most of my family work for them, but I wouldn't temp it.

I would go with the Toyota if that is the only other thing you can find. That does have a lot of miles on it if you look at just the two.

You should check out some dealerships, check kelly's blue book, and look in the newspaper. You can find some really great deals on them.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

Honda's have proved to be reliable cars under heavy mileage. Before getting a new car I owned a 94 honda accord with 240,000miles. Never got any major problems. The 98 honda seems ok with that mileage BUT the salvaged title? thats a NO NO. Ask for proof when the last Engine tune up was done, whether timing belt and water pump(this two go hand in hand) ever been changed and transmission status. Make sure the car is not a lemon. Check carlemon.com for more info. check kbb.com too for price.
Getting used car might cost a pretty penny.. Make sure the car has state inspection passed sticker. If not ask the owner to take it in. If he/she refuses to that and wants to sell as it is then demand low rate or don’t get it .You have to fix whatever needs to be fixed to pass inspection some states are pretty strict. i dont about CA.Obviously used cars will need high maintenance now and then from mere brake light bulb change to serpentine belt change, engine overhaul etc. You have to be ready for anything.
I wouldn’t touch the Toyota with 153,000 miles if it was me BUT then again am citing my answer from ONLY the mileage. The Toyota might be well maintained than the Honda. Toyota’s lasts a lifetime too.
OR
Go to approved second hand vehicle that come with warranty like carmax.com etc.

Answer 5

Hi....Dont do it!! No way!! I am a car wholesaler.....my book says 1998 Honda CRV LX 2wd books out at $3300 wholesale with 96K miles on it. The LX 4wd books out at $4500, and the EX 4wd is $5100, with 96K on it. As with any car, deduct 1/3 to 1/2 for salvage title, they may look good, but i dont deal with them. They always have stupid problems. Todays cars are unibody cars. Cars of the 60's had full frames, meaning you could cut and weld a frame that was crunched in the old days, and it might line up good enough to drive down the road in a straight line. A unibody car mean, the car's body is the frame....if it's involved in a hard hit accident, key things like wheel alignment or a shimmy are hard to fix or get right........I never by a "salvage title" car.......i am in the car business, and i have heard too many stories about nightmare cars. People get a certain car for a good price because its a salvage title. Low and behold, the car has all kinds of electrical, or mechanical problems soon after the purchase. Dont do it!!! No way!! Before you buy ANY car, go to kbb.com and look up the trade in value. This is close to wholesale.........you will see what the car is realy worth, or what a dealer might have paid for it. Deduct more for higher mileage cars, especially luxury cars. Good Luck!! PS just checked my book.......The Rav 4 is a better deal, but i looked at that one there......Book is $4000 for a car with 96,000 miles. The seller is asking that for a car with 153K miles. i wouldn't pay that much for it, but considering that car is in high demand, i know it will sell quick. As long as it runs good and has been serviced regularly, it should be a good deal. Just make sure you get the trans fluid changed immediately, and get the timing belt done, if it hasnt been done in the last 50,000 miles......

Answer 6

Hell NO!!!

This is a complete rip-off. First off, it has a salvage title on it sweetie, don't touch it!! Don't ever touch any car with a salvage title on it...NEVER!!! The price is not right on this car! It's almost $4, 000.00 for a 130,000 mile car. I just bought a decent, 1995 Mazda Potege, one owner with 96,000 miles on it for $2,000. It was on Craigslist.

You're looking for an suv, right now, suvs are selling cheaper than ever before because gas prices are up and people are trying to get out of suv's, so as a buyer, you have the advantage. I hate to say this, but if your looking to buy a decent used car, you have to look at the location that your buying your car in. So, let me be honest, if you buy a used car in a big city like L.A or Oakland or San Francisco, you will usually run into bad bargains. It's best to look for someone who is selling a car that lives in the suburbs. You may have to drive out a little ways, but the car will probably be legitimite.

I bought my car in Fremont, in the suburbs. I see you were looking at craigslist in LA, so I assume you live around that city. Try looking for some cars being sold in like Irvine or Santa Monica or something like that. You know your city and you know where the suburbs are in your area. It will be best.

Good Luck on your search and nothing over 100,000 miles, nothing over 80,000 if your spending $4,000 or more!

Answer 7

Salvage title can mean the milage could be wrong, the milage might be 230,000 miles instead, you just don't know for sure. And you don't know if the car came out of a river or a bad accident.

Sounds like you are trying diligently to find a good deal and a good vehicle. Salvage title 'could' work, but have the car carefully tested by a good repair shop BEFORE you buy it or commit! I checked out 7 (seven!!) cars before buying my salvage title civic. It worked out well but if I hadn't been careful, I would have gotten a lemon.

Oh, and the carfax type reports can help show if the milage is correct since they gather the smog tests and you can maybe see if there is a consistency to the mileage.

You can check kelly blue book for normal values, but they don't rate salvage. I paid about 60 percent of the kelly value for my salvage car.

Answer 8

Craigslist Sfv Cars

Answer 9

If you are constantly fretted about what can take place to your household, to your kids? Everyone want to feel safe and the best method to have this safety and security is finding out the self-defence toss this website https://tr.im/CyyRz
By blending actions of different disciplines and making modifications based upon scientific research study, the Patriot Self Defense system provides you a toolbox of transfer to puzzle and bewilder even one of the most hardened road criminals.
Don't waste any more time and discover how you can shield yourself and your love ones with the Patriot Self Defense system.

Answer 10

Michael Lee and Roger Hopkins posted the same question. You should see the answers side by side.