2013 Scion FR-S Purchasing question
 

I'm looking for a Scion FR-S or a BRZ, and I found a 2013 FR-S for $15,900 with 51k miles...The issue is it has a rebuilt title. Would this price be adequate for a rebuilt title, and if so what should I look for if I go to check out the FR-S?

Multiple factors to consider.

Why does it have a rebuilt title?
If accident, what was broken? Physically inspect it.
I take it this is private party or a third party car dealer? Toyota/Scion dealerships would put that straight to auction or be selling it for less than $10k.
You could get one with a clean title with the same mileage for the same price. They're expecting you to either be gullible or price negotiate.

^ this. that's a lot to be asking for a R-titled fr-s. i'd definitely look around and find one with a clean title for probably that price. Unless you can get that one for like 8k (which I doubt you could), I'd steer clear.

Where is a place I can look for one that is sub 20k for a used 2013? I live in the southern ohio area. Most around me are 22-25k for a 2013 with anywhere from 5k miles to 40k miles.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...ear=2013&Log=0

Rebuilt/salvage/recovery Toyotas are flagged to void factory warranty coverage. Also, many insurance companies will not cover those types of vehicles so financing could become difficult since lenders usually require full insurance coverage.

definitely mess around with auto trader and I'm sure you will be able to find something. 25k for a 2013 used frs is outrageous. just be patient and call/email dealers to haggle with them a bit. also, try opening up your search radius a bit and make a drive for a deal if you have to!

Ya I'm willing to drive 500 miles out now that I see most of the FRS/BRZ in ohio are in that range of price... I found quite a few that are 15-20k and definitely in my price range. Thanks for the advice everyone!

i bought mine new for $25k. how the hell are they going for the same price as used??? what a rip off

Supply and demand comes into play. These cars can vary in value substantially from place to place. Not to mention all the grossly over stated "asking" prices that they advertise with the complete intention of being "talked down" to what they actually want.

A local car max about a mile away from me has a 2013 BRZ Premium with 40k miles for 22k... Most others are relatively similar. With a no haggle policy either, they wouldn't budge.

Yep. They may be in relatively low supply around there so they can ask a higher price. Doesn't mean they will get that price though and it will drop if the car sits long enough. If they do sell it for that price then it is good work on their part.

Don't know exactly how far south you are in Ohio but there were several in the $16 to $18k range on Autotrader. There were also a pile priced as high as $30K which seemed a bit odd.

Rebuilt titles are rarely worth it, they can be if you are very confident in what you are buying and well aware of what you might have to do to verify everything is in order. Many people have enjoyed salvage/rebuilt title cars, be prepared to take a massive hit on reselling and the aforementioned insurance issues.

Some cars with rebuilt titles will never ever drive straight down a level road, always pulling to one side due to a bent or ill repaired chassis or suspension.

As for used I'd watch this forum and be prepared to drive along with local craigslist and autotrader:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=69

Here's three recent cars under $22k ask but over $20k, negotiation is always an option.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86420
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86188
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87302

Cincinnati region. I've seen a few of those in my area, I think 2 of those were automatic, but I'm not 100% without looking at them again.

wouldn't pay more than $8k for a rebuilt title FR-S/BRZ. You can find clean title used examples for the same price you saw that rebuilt one for...

I got my 10 series with 74 miles, never registered, from a Toyota dealer for $19,100. Don't settle for anything less than a clear title unless it's a track car, you plan on heavy modifying and have the means to do so, or get it for half price and have mechanical experience.

What wizardry is this! :confused0068: I wish I had that luck around here. I found a nice one in Virginia I'm going to check out in the next few weeks for 17k with 56k miles, kind of high mileage but the price seems decent.

Locally, I'm in the same boat. It was listed on ebay in Massachusetts during a blizzard; paid about $700 if I recall to have it shipped. Best deal will most likely be online, and sometimes around military bases where guys get orders and sell the car quick.

Even Kelly Blue Book is saying that a 2013 FR-S with 50,000 miles in Excellent condition (average should be around 32K) is worth $17,000 Private sale and $18,365 retail. Interestingly, they also say anything Good or better is the same price retail.

Moving it to 32,000 miles only changes the "fair market value" by a few hundred dollars retail.

The very top of their "reasonable" range retail is $20,300.

Asking over $20,000 would only happen as a negotiating tactic or if someone dropped a bunch aftermarket stuff on it, or looking for a sucker.

High mileage and prior body work:
$16k
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87375

$17.5k
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87375

Used FR-S prices are firmly in competition with S2000's now.

To put this in perspective. I can purchase my leased FR-S for the residual of $16,456. The car is a 2013 originally leased for 25,XXX brand new. The car will have approx. 36,000 miles on it at lease turn-in.

You can buy it out for that but that is not what they would sell it to somebody else for. You can count on them adding at least a couple of K if selling as used.

Ha, Ha, Ha, we hear all the complaints about how these cars have "depreciated way too much" from the sellers and then we hear the complaints of "why do used ones cost so much" from the buyers!

Actually the values how come up a bit already.

Looks like it may actually be holding on a little bit. Per Edmunds the "average" car depreciates to 58% of True Market Value by end of model year Year 2. So, a $26,000 car three model years later should be at $17,940.


http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/ho...fographic.html

I'm guessing those distressed about excessive depreciation haven't bought a new Porsche, Mercedes or Lexus. Those are three brands I love buying used about 4-5 years old, still under drivetrain warranty but have cratered from MSRP.