Nope.

Are you financing or planning on getting comprehensive or collision (not basic) insurance on the car?

Most banks won't finance a car w/ a salvage title, and most insurance companies won't want to offer full coverage on the car...

... and resale will suck... if you can find anyone who wants to buy it at all.

As an "investment"? No, If the car is sound and you have no intention of selling it the maybe. A salvage title will always be worth much less than a car with a sound title. If you were to want to sell it then you would have a hard time doing so and would take a big hit financially.

What resale? That salvaged machine is a show ( if flawlessly rebuilt ) or track car! No, no and then no!

As a former car salesman of 7 years, I can say with confidence that you'll be wasting your money buying a car with a salvage title if you plan on trading it in.

If you plan on building a dedicated racer, then go for it as you'll probably tear out some stuff and make it your own.

Take the money you have left over from the sale of the FJ and apply it as a good down payment on a new machine, or search out a nice preowned for about $19k (there's a Whiteout at a nearby dealership with one in my town. Hell, there's a brand new 2013 10 Series with a cracked windscreen for $2 grand off at the local Toyota dealer!)

Honestly my gut said hell no before I opened the thread.

But the OP's description of the comprehensive inspection by a third party is tempting.

Like was said above, I have a hunch you might have trouble selling it for $10k a year from now, but at >$10k less than a new car it is tempting...

I vote no on the salvage... I just picked up my 2013 FR-S with 18k and it's CPO for 19,700.

Just keep looking and you'll find the right car. I checked out 6-7 before I found the one I purchased.

This is the correct answer.

Correct. As a salvage vehicle, any and all warranty coverage from Toyota is null and void. Even with only 12,000 miles. You can be assured the vin has already been flagged by Toyota as such.

Try finding a car coming off lease. I was advised by my local dealer that an off lease vehicle is classified as new in regards to a car loan which may help out making a deal work at a lower interest rate. Stay away from a rebuild. Too much risk IMHO.

As someone who bought a rebuilt vehicle when I was in college (needed a car, money was tight), I would say no. I had it inspected, everything checked out great. With time I noticed issues and more issues kept popping up, regardless of whether every issue was due to the previous wreck and rebuild or not, in your mind they will become connected and it will detract from you enjoying the vehicle. I sure as hell won't go that route again.

from my experience no.

i purchased my previous vehicle with a salvage title and regret doing so. everytime i tried to fix it, more issues came up... it was headache after headache after headache... plus after i paid it off i tried to trade it in and most dealerships wouldnt give me 2 grand for it...

i will never buy a car with a salvage title again... its not worth it in my opinion...

My Brz was salvaged but my dad and I did the rebuild so we know exactly what was done and how it was done. Paid much less in the end compared to most people on this forum

back in 2004 i bought a 1998 corolla with 38,000 miles for $5k. Sold it in 2012 with 110k miles for $2000.

Sweet! Can't beat that with a stick.