I face a dilema
 

Edit: I have taken your advice and am not going to go for either of these two cars - ended up finding a good deal on a clean (and already turboed and tuned) FRS on this site and I plan to go through with it. Thanks for all the help.

I am in need of wisdom; I have either the option of

Option 1: FR-S with 34k miles on it for $11k but it was wrecked and written off as a total loss by insurance and apparently rebuilt back in 2015 and is registered under a clean title now. No other information is available on the car besides 2 previous owners saying it was in a fender bender in a parking lot (that caused a total loss?? I'm weary of that). The current owner bought the car without knowledge of the wreck and rebuild back in December.

Option 2:FR-S with 70k miles on it for $9k, motor was rebuilt by the dealer 2k miles ago (owner has paperwork and proof) but it has a big dent in the driver side fender.

The low mileage engine is enticing for me but I have been told too that a rebuilt motor is sometimes close to new as well. What do y'all think is my best option? I'm looking to slowly turn this into a track dedicated car as well.

IMHO keep looking unless you're able to fix mechanical stuff down the road. Just my 2 cents! ;)

Why not place an ad on this very forum, WTB a Twin. I'm sure you'll find something more appealing compared to the two that you are considering.

If it's to be track dedicated do either the salvage title on beater #1 or the dented fender on beater #2 really matter in the long run?

How is this a dilemma? I wouldn't touch either of those cars with a ten foot pole.

If you have up to 11K to spend on a car,use that as a down payment for something better.Depending on your credit situation,with that much down,you should have pretty low monthly payments on a brand new FR-S,or even one that's used but in much better condition than the two you are looking at.

well I have a 2014 Focus ST fully paid off that I daily and autocross with. Wanted to get a fun RWD car for track days and as a project car for the next few years. Not looking for a perfect twin by any means, just something cheap I can drop mods into for track performance but still function as a daily driver when I'm in the mood for it.

Probably avoid both and buy a vehicle that wasn't at one time, or isn't currently a pile of poo.

For ~$100 /mo more get a car with a clean history.

Hello doctor_driver, and welcome to ye ol forum ...... :clap:

Looking for wisdom ... ?? I'm not sure you came to the right place ... :scared0016:

Oh, heck, I'd pick the one that has the color you like best ...... :D


humfrz

Because I honestly am just looking for something to make a track toy.

Track toy or casual driver I would go with whatever is the cheapest. If able to do your own work you could pick up a fender at the wreckers (probably even find the right colour) and swap it out pretty easy. Or just roughly pop it back out and forget about it. Not gonna win any shows but who cares?

Yeah that's what I was think exactly. I don't need anything to impress anyone, just something that could get me on the track that will hold up reasonably well and won't break the bank either.

I bought and restore my 15 FRS that I purchased from Copart best advice I would give you is to ask for pictures what it looked like before the repairs along with receipts.


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The rebuilt one is in the 3rd owner since the rebuild so no one really knows what happened.

Hmmm I would surely pass on that the key to buying salvage/rebuild cars is knowing what happened the repairs that were done.


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Money can fix anything and you'll be spending it plenty if you're racing it. If it's a track toy, I'd go for the cheaper one and have fun with it.
If it was a daily driver, I wouldn't touch a rebuilt/wrecked one and instead use the $9-11k for a down payment on new/certified.

Out of curiosity, how did that first cars second owner not know it was involved in an accident but you know now at this point?
Did you do a carfax and tell them then they acted all surprised?

For that car it went like this - 1) Original owner: totalled car 2) Bought at salvage auction and rebuilt by what i believe is some used car dealer 3) private party buys it (owner before current owner) 4) Current owner purchases and only knows what owner 3 told him.

For anyone who didn't see the edit: I'm not going through on either of these cars. Found a good deal on a car on this site, has a clean history (and turboed and tuned - things i was going to do anyways). Thanks for all the help!

I face a dilema
 

Some of us dont want to deal with car monthly payments and are willing to take risks, I've had zero issues on my salvaged 15 FRS its all in the draw of luck and repairs which I'm willing to take and insurance is a heck lot lower as well.


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I can respect that. Instead of paying $25k new, getting one for less than half that and possibly having to do some work on it, or maybe none, is a nice way to go if you work on cars yourself.
When I said "daily driver" it is more directed at somebody with only one car to rely on and who can't afford the lost time for repairs if and when it happens. $9k is very tempting for this car though
even if a little work has to be done.

I'm glad you found something that works for you but I'm going to say this for future reference for everyone else. Between the two you listed, as soon as you mentioned track toy, I'd buy the one with the rebuilt engine hands down. You're trusting your vehicle with your life and safety when you take it on track, and trusting a rebuilt vehicle that was deemed a total loss is undue risk IMO. The only exception would be if you have thorough documentation of exactly what happened to determine whether it was a big deal or not.

I face a dilema
 

That's the key to salvage market and always advice to everyone documentation, documentation. B is for Build and some folks on the build journals can attest to there if done right salvage cars can be $$$ savers.


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I would look into which turbo kit is installed and how it was tuned.

As you don't know how the previous owner driven his turbo FRS, it could be a ticking bomb waiting to blow yet you have no idea:iono:

Link to option #2 that you passed on?

Glad you found a car that worked for you!

I wouldn't touch either car. spend the extra 4k and get one that does not have issues.