Would this be a bad investment?

[Ambush]

http://www.greatcardealsva.com/inventory/details/23012922

 

[tuckerdog1]

Don't know I'd call it an investment. But darn nice $10K car ( provided no issues ).

Tuckerdog1

 

[Gunkk]

I own a '12 4.6 and love it. But I recommend doing a VIN check at a dealer first for service history, and if you go forward get the best aftermarket service warranty you could find. Because if you have a transmission issue, it will cost more than the car is worth to replace.

 

[Fgpalmer71]

It depends on what you plan to do with it honestly. That place specializes in wrecked cars. If they rebuilt it themselves, and you have it checked out, AND intend to keep it until its wheels fall off then yes. I think that's a "decent" deal, if it checks out. If it is being sold with additional repairs required then maybe not so much. Most banks won't give you an auto loan on a car with a branded title either. So you'd have to pay cash if that's the case, unless they have some sort of financing available. It will be EXTREMELY difficult to sell a car with a branded title from my experience. Hence the keep it until the wheels fall off comment. I purchased a 1996 Lexus ES300 in 2000 that had a rebuilt title. 72k miles, pristine for $8500. Couldn't give it away a few years later so I kept it until the tranny went @ 220k mi. I'd never buy another car with a branded title again though.

I also would definitely not look at the purchase as an "investment" either.

 

[dougmcp]

If you're buying this to drive, maybe it would be OK provided you keep it til the wheels fall off. Fgpalmer71 was right on target here; as an investment. unless you are a genius mechanic, master car flipper and are familiar with the car sales biz I'd pass. The KBB trade in value of this car is between $10K and $12K with a clean title. Even if it's great car with a rebuilt, salvage or branded title subtract a few thousand from that and you have it's actual value.

 

[Mark_888]

The main thing to worry about for that model year and engine, is the transmission. 2012 was the first year for the Hyundai-designed 8-speed transmission that has had to be replaced by Hyundai under warranty a lot more times than average. This issues with the 2012 transmisisons has been documented on this forum many times.

The 2012 4.6 engine should be solid if not abused by the owner. But no one can know for sure how a used car has been treated. The 2012 5.0 engine is a different story.

 

[Ambush]

Yeah. I saw that and my eyes popped out. My 2012 3.8 has 109k on it from driving to work every week and I want to park it so bad. This would be a semi-replacement (always wanted to experience the V8) and maybe sell it later since the miles are kinda low.

Come to think about it, the DIS/info-tainment and ZF Transmission (BTW the plant is in my state of SC). If they die, that would kill me in repairs.

If this were which I think it is a salvaged vehicle, how does one create/clean the title? I bet insurance company will frown and not allow you to put full coverage on something like this? I have never experienced this before. Just want to park my Genny for awhile and I saw the price and I was dumb founded.


Thank you all for your input!

Ambush

 

[Fgpalmer71]

You won't have any problem insuring it at all. There are ways to "clean" a title, all of which are shady. They all involve transferring the title over to a state that does not require branding of the title on a rebuilt car, then applying for a replacement title, and then transferring the title back to your home state. I think AZ might be 1 of those states, but don't quote me on it. You'd need to research that a bit. A lot of sleazy car people buy up flood cars during disasters and clean the titles this way. The end user ends up with a car he/she THINKS to be legit only to have electrical issues down the line. That's why carfax is a must.

If you want to give it a go I'd definitely try to work that price down a bit. Dougmpc was right about the values. Try to get it down to 8k or under. But it's imperative you have it checked out. Make sure you get it on a lift, check the frame, alignment, etc. If the car doesn't track straight as an arrow I would personally walk away and never consider it again. My father in law has owned a bodyshop for 35+ years. Any time you have even the slightest of bends to the frame your going to eat tires at an alarming rate. If you plan to keep it for the duration I personally don't see anything wrong with a car that's been rebuilt. Just don't be shocked if getting rid of it down the road is painful. There's no way your going to make $ in the deal....well, the chances are miniscule rather. A sucker is indeed born every minute so when it's time to sell you may always run across one of those. But you shouldn't be thinking of it as an investment at all. Mentally prepare yourself to get hosed should you buy it and decide to sell it before you got what you consider to be 9k worth of use.

I also understand your mileage anxiety, and find it funny, just like my own. We Americans have this obsession with the 100k mile mark. That's not the case in just about any other country on the planet. If a car is properly maintained it should last well beyond 100k miles these days. But, I understand and suffer from the same illogical thinking when my odometers approach 6 figures!!

 

[Ambush]

Going back and forth...I may go look at it. Not written in stone at all.

Thank you everyone for the wonderful advice.